How Much Longer Will Netflix Let Illinoisans Share Passwords?

If you're thinking "What's the big deal, doesn't everyone do that?" you certainly do have a point. Analysts estimate that the streaming service loses over $6 billion a year due to "account sharing."

It seems clear that Netflix knew that people would account (or, password) share from the get-go, even encouraging the practice...but when you're looking at billion dollar losses, it shouldn't be surprising that Netflix would really like you to stop doing that now.

A Study Of 1500-Plus People Shows That Almost Half Of Us In Illinois And Nationwide Are Depending On Someone Else's Streaming Account

If your whole reason for "cord-cutting" was to save yourself from big cable or satellite TV bills--but then you discovered that the costs of the various streaming services you were acquiring were starting to add up, you are far from being alone.

That's one of the biggest reasons given for password sharing. It's about saving money by sharing streaming accounts with friends or family, and 50 percent of those responding to the survey admitted to sharing their login info with people they didn't live with, violating the company's terms of use. They admit to sharing their login info with at least 2.3 other people.

Enjoy It Now, Because It Looks Like The Streaming Companies Are Getting Tired Of This

No word on whether other streamers are doing this, but according to a report at MentalFloss.com, last month Netflix began testing a pop-up in certain markets that asks viewers to confirm they live with the owner of the account. This can be deferred by selecting the "verify later" option, but that may not be the case for much longer.

The other tactic that Netflix has been employing, according to the report, is "to charge subscribers an additional $2.99 to allow outside users to access their accounts. They will test the new policy in Chile, Costa Rica, and Peru before deciding to launch it elsewhere."