As Netflix rolls out its plan to crack down on password sharing, analysis of Google search data has revealed that many have searched for information about how to cancel their subscriptions.
Since the streaming service started emailing UK users who shared passwords outside of their homes, the number of searches has increased by more than 30 times the norm.
Online interest in ‘Cancel Netflix account’ increased by 2,393 per cent in the United Kingdom on May 24, according to comparison site KingCasinoBonus, while searches for ‘Netflix password sharing’ soared by 1,469 per cent.
According to research firm Digital-i through the Guardian, over a quarter of Netflix's 15 million UK members share their password.
Ionut Catalin Marin, CEO of KingCasinoBonus said on the findings: “Netflix’s plan to target password-sharing users is aimed at encouraging more people to subscribe. However, users appear to have been turned off by this move.
“These findings show a staggering rise in Netflix users looking to cancel their accounts. As the cost of living crisis continues to hit UK households, this change may encourage users to switch off for good”.
Customers in 103 countries and territories, including Australia, Brazil, France, Germany, Mexico, and Singapore, received an email from Netflix on Tuesday, May 23 with information regarding sharing accounts.
The email that’s been sent to many users begins with: “Your Netflix account is for you and the people you live with - your household.”
In an effort to increase the number of members, it has also started informing users that sharing their account with someone outside of their family will cost them £4.99 per month.
However, some people are baulking at the expense in several nations where it has previously undergone testing.
According to Kantar, it lost more than a million members in Spain in the first three months of the year after charging 5.99 euros (£5.27) for an extra account.
