Disney+ puts an end date on shared accounts

The trend that Netflix started was obvious that it would end up having an impact on other streaming services. Is now Disney+ which already sets a date at the beginning of the campaign to end the shared accounts that many of its users enjoy.

Change does not come without would have been notified in advance. Already in 2023 Disney said that its streaming platform would end the ability to share accounts. The company saw that the invention did not go badly for Netflix and decided to jump on the bandwagon to try to improve its statistics. Now they are preparing to press the button and have everything change on their platform once and for all.

There is little time left

Disney+ said that the first users who would encounter this change would be Canadians, but Americans have already received emails notifying them of this. Therefore, it seems that the change it’s going to be faster than one could imagine, especially given that the entity is also making it effective on its other platform, Hulu.

The changes to the Disney+ account sharing policy became legally effective on January 25, but compliance It will not be mandatory until March 14. This means that there is still more than a month until users who share an account will see a warning message appear on the screen requiring them to identify their location to find out if they reside at the registered address or not. Notice emails have not yet been sent in other regions, but they may arrive between now and March.

How will Disney do the blockade?

In principle, the system should be similar to the one used by Netflix. In the Disney+ bases themselves, for now in the North American and British ones, it is specified that those devices that are associated with the personal main residence and the people who live there will be able to share accounts. That is, it does not matter whether you connect from the Smart TV, from your PlayStation 5 or from your mobile phone if you or your family members are always inside the home.

Disney assures that, in the event that it encounters irregularities, it could implement restrictions on the account or even block it. To be sure that they will be making an adequate verdict, they say that “They will analyze the use of your account”. However, as was the case with Netflix, these processes remain, in practice, too much up in the air, and it is unknown how they really work. In principle, the only safe way to avoid problems will be to adhere to the new rules and not use the account outside the group of devices in the home.

The exception, as is also the case with Netflix, is in those cases in which you want to use the Disney streaming service away from home. For example, while you are on the subway or when you have gone to spend some time away from home somewhere else. In this type of situation, it is to be expected that the platform implements a system similar to that of its maximum rival, resulting in it being necessary, from time to time, to that device is used from home to confirm your identity. That way you would have no problems continuing to watch Disney+ on public transportation no matter how much this new philosophy is incorporated.

However, given that the system has not yet been implemented and it remains to be seen if it works exactly like this, there are still doubts. Something that also worries users is whether those who use VPN connections will have problems using their accounts. In principle, it is a tricky topic that It is already generating criticism among users although it has already been proven that it is going to be a trend that all streaming services end up opting for.

Of course, something to keep in mind is that Disney+, at least for now, has not introduced a new payment option to add additional user profiles who do not live in the family residence. Yes, it is a possibility available on Netflix, so they may end up adding it in the future. Or they may be planning to launch some additional fee to cover this interest.