Netflix has tightened password-sharing rules by requiring each profile to have its own unique email address. The streaming giant implemented this change to curb account sharing across households, a practice that had cost the company millions in lost revenue.

Previously, family members and friends could share a single Netflix account across multiple devices without restriction. Now, anyone wanting their own profile must have a distinct email linked to it. This applies whether profiles sit on the same household account or span different locations.

The policy affects how families organize their viewing. Parents managing accounts for children need separate email addresses for each profile they create. This creates friction for households that relied on shared logins, though Netflix frames the shift as protecting viewing preferences and personalized recommendations.

Lifehacker reports that workarounds exist. Users can generate temporary or forwarded email addresses through services like Gmail's alias feature (which creates addresses like yourname+profile@gmail.com) or dedicated email forwarding services. These bypass the unique-email requirement while keeping addresses linked to the same inbox.

The change arrives as Netflix cracks down on unauthorized account sharing. Last year, the company rolled out paid "extra member" accounts for people outside the primary household, priced between $7.99 and $7.99 monthly depending on region. These "add-on" memberships provide flexibility for adult children or roommates who want their own profile without abandoning the family plan entirely.

For parents, the shift means making choices about which family members get dedicated profiles versus who shares existing ones. Younger children might not need individual emails, while teenagers probably expect their own. Using email aliases offers a middle path that preserves account simplicity while technically meeting Netflix's new requirements.

The company has not announced whether it plans to close the email-alias loophole, though enforcement typically follows policy announcements gradually. Families should implement workarounds sooner rather than later if they want to avoid disru