New York Times Cracks Down on Password Sharing

The New York Times has begun enforcing stricter policies against password sharing, a move that follows similar initiatives by streaming giants Netflix and Disney. This crackdown aims to convert users of shared accounts into paying subscribers. The newspaper introduced "Family" subscriptions last fall as an incentive for users to obtain their own accounts. In an earnings call earlier this year, Times CEO Meredith Kopit Levien referred to these family plans as the "carrot version of password sharing," suggesting it was a strategy to encourage individual subscriptions. Previously, home delivery subscribers were also offered bonus subscriptions that could be shared. The current enforcement appears to be the "stick" phase, where excessive use of a single login across multiple devices may require verification via an email code. Elizabeth Young, senior manager of communications at The New York Times, stated that the company "is always monitoring and testing new approaches with our audience, as many digital subscription businesses do." She also referenced the Times' Terms of Service, which prohibit sharing registration login credentials. These terms have remained unchanged and explicitly forbid giving login credentials to others. The company's move indicates a broader industry trend of digital subscription services seeking to maximize revenue by limiting account sharing.