If you’ve ever been kicked out of your Netflix account when attempting to log in on a new device, join the club.
Account sharing is an issue streaming services are set on tackling to increase their subscription revenue and decrease the amount of college kids on their parents’ account logging into their dorm TV. Understanding that Netflix just wants to maximize profit is difficult after the tenth time you ask for the SMS code from your mom. Can’t we just watch Grey’s Anatomy without the hassle?
Netflix offers three subscription plans, including a Standard with ads for $6.99 per month, a Standard for $15.49 per month, or a Premium for $22.99 per month. Both versions of the standard plans offer up to two devices, while the premium is up to four. Up to four means, if you have siblings who are also on the account, you’re totally screwed.
Although the premium plan allots for four devices at most, I personally struggled trying to log in on two TV’s. After being kicked off my family account, which I’ve used for the last 13 years, I went ahead and purchased my own premium plan and was shocked to see that the price for the highest resolution and ad-free option has almost tripled in nine years’ time. Remember when Netflix was eight bucks a month? Those beaver ads from 2011 are milestones from a different time. Too bad we’ll never see the same prices or weird and witty advertisements ever again.
Netflix has raised their price strategically and evolved into a 100-billion-dollar company since 2007.
“I’m kicked out of my phone and my TV,” said freshman Drea Robinson.
“All I want to do is watch a good crime documentary, but thanks to Netflix, I’m not able to,” said freshman Daisha Thompson.
Some people are more upset than others. Others include people who aren’t broke college students trying to afford their nightly soaps after a long day of being a Piedmont Lion. “I find the Netflix account debacle to be extremely frustrating and an overall cheap money grab by the company,” said junior Alyssa McSpadden. “My family was forced to fish out even more money to Netflix to buy me an extra member slot, and even still, it continues to log me out to this day,” McSpadden explained.
The extra member slots are the only option Netflix has presented at the low, low price of an extra $7.99 a month. People sick of being logged out of their accounts daily have no other choice or reasonable solution to turn to other than canceling their plan altogether. Sounds like Netflix is losing more money than they are making with this adjustment.
“It is beyond annoying that a multi-billion-dollar company continues to treat loyal customers like thieves,” said McSpadden. I second that.
