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Spotify Cracks Down on Shared Family Accounts
23 Oct
Summary
- Spotify uses QR codes to verify family plan members' addresses.
- Users have seven days to scan the code or face account lockout.
- This is an ongoing effort to improve verification methods.
Spotify has introduced a new verification system for its Premium Family plan members, requiring them to confirm they live at the same address as the plan manager. Users might receive a notification prompting them to scan a QR code within seven days. Failure to comply could result in account lockout and a one-year ban from joining new Family or Duo plans, or the user may need to opt for an individual subscription.
This initiative is described by Spotify's co-CEO, Alex Norström, not as a crackdown but as a routine improvement of existing verification methods. The Family Plan, a significant contributor to Spotify's subscriber base, has been in existence for over a decade. The company is committed to continuously enhancing its verification techniques over time to address any potential loopholes.
The company is also working to prevent workarounds like using screenshots for QR code scans, especially for members living apart. While some users have shared strategies such as using video calls on separate devices for scanning, Spotify aims to keep its verification methods robust and up-to-date, viewing this as an ongoing process rather than a one-time implementation.
