How Netflix is Cracking Down on VPN users to Stop Cheap Subscriptions
Netflix Subscription Crackdown: The Banwaves are Real
Netflix has been cracking down on subscribers using an illegal method to get around high subscription costs. In recent Reddit threads, Netflix subscribers revealed they have been using virtual private networks (VPNs) to bypass high subscription fees. VPNs work by scrambling your internet data, so a user could be in the USA but their data claims they’re in another country. However, Netflix got wise to the practice and is conducting “banwaves” on people abusing regional pricing.
The Consequences of Using VPNs for Cheap Subscriptions
“My Netflix was just canceled,” one Reddit user explained. “They said it was due to unusual activity.” “I was using a Turkish account from Australia. They are clamping down on those who use VPNs to get cheap subscriptions,” they added. Another Netflix user shared a similar story, noting that they were in the Netherlands but used a VPN to pretend they were in Turkey. “This strategy served me well until a sudden hiccup occurred last Saturday: my subscription was abruptly canceled on the grounds of fraud,” they explained.
Finding Solutions to Circumvent the Banwaves
Users shared on Reddit a few solutions to get around the banwaves; however, the risk is potentially getting banned from Netflix. While the streaming service is simply abiding by its rules, some critics say that the company “is digging itself a hole with cancelations like this.” “Everyone will get back to pirating and cancel the subs if so,” one person remarked.
Rising Subscription Costs and User Reactions
The recent wave of people using VPNs for Netflix service comes after the company announced an increase in fares last year. The company revealed that users on its Basic plan will begin paying $11.99 per month, up from $9.99. And those paying $19.99 per month for Premium would have to pay $22.99. Meanwhile, Netflix’s $6.99 ad-supported and $15.49 Standard plans stayed the same price. The recently implemented price hikes caused many Netflix users to reevaluate their subscriptions and cancel.
Netflix’s User Base and Subscribership Fluctuation
Netflix reported 80.13 million paid streaming subscribers across the United States and Canada in the fourth quarter of 2023. This figure follows a sharp decline in North American subscribers during the first nine months of 2022, per Statista.