Streaming service Hulu is joining Disney+ in cracking down on password and account sharing outside of users’ households. This change aligns with recent announcements from competitors like Netflix, all aiming to boost revenue and subscriber growth.
“Unless otherwise permitted by your Service Tier, you may not share your subscription outside of your household,” the change to the agreement stated. “‘Household’ means the collection of devices associated with your primary personal residence that are used by the individuals who reside therein. We may, in our sole discretion, analyze the use of your account to determine compliance with this Agreement,” it continues. “If we determine, in our sole discretion, that you have violated this Agreement, we may limit or terminate access to the Service and/or take any other steps as permitted by this Agreement.”
Details of the Policy Change:
- Effective Date: March 14th, 2024
- Scope: Users cannot share accounts with individuals outside their primary residence.
- Enforcement: The company reserves the right to analyze account activity and take action against violators, including limiting or terminating access.
- Background: This decision follows similar moves by Disney+ and recent subscriber growth for Netflix attributed to stricter password-sharing policies.
Impact and Next Steps:
- It remains unclear how strictly Hulu will enforce the policy and how users will be identified as violating it.
- The move reflects increasing efforts by streaming services to maximize subscriptions and address revenue concerns.
- Users who share accounts outside their households will need to adjust their plans or face potential consequences.
