Hulu's New Account Sharing Policy Is Way Harsh

By Dustin Rowles | TV | February 1, 2024 |

By Dustin Rowles | TV | February 1, 2024 |

Last year, when Netflix implemented its new policy prohibiting password sharing, there were many who predicted a backlash. Most of those, I suspect, were people who were using the Netflix accounts of their friends and family members; many of whom announced that they were done with Netflix, which was no skin off of Netflix’s back because they weren’t paying for the accounts anyway.

As it turns out, since the password crackdown, Netflix has seen its biggest subscriber growth since the pandemic. Many of the people who did not pay for their Netflix accounts wanted to continue watching Netflix because they couldn’t imagine going on with their lives without watching Suits.

Given that success, Disney has decided to see if they can replicate it by ending account sharing for their platform, as well, beginning March 14th for existing subscribers (and immediately for new subscribers). Per Hulu’s new service agreement, they are not screwing around:

We may, in our sole discretion, analyze the use of your account to determine compliance with this Agreement. If we determine, in our sole discretion, that you have violated this Agreement, we may limit or terminate access to the Service.

In other words, password sharers should not take a wait-and-see approach. They should change their passwords by March 14th and let their friends know that their access has been terminated, lest the account holder lose access to their Hulu account (I would like to assume that Hulu will at least send out a warning before termination). The service agreement, however, does suggest they may offer alternate plans that may allow limited account sharing for a fee.

It’s unclear how much this may goose new Hulu accounts. The streamer has a few decent originals, but its main draw has always been next-day reruns of network television shows, which are increasingly scant since the strike and since other networks began pulling their content. Still, it’s only a matter of time before Max, Paramount+, and Peacock follow suit. Prime Video may not, but who wants to give others access to their Amazon shopping history?