Password Sharing
With great social change comes great individual opportunity. Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, billionaires in the United States have added approximately one trillion dollars to their wealth. This has occurred even as millions of less fortunate Americans have lost their jobs and their savings. The world, and specifically our country, is not at all fair.
There is another group whose influence has grown during the pandemic; those holding passwords for online streaming services. Now that we are all inside and alone, with other warm bodies at a distance, the relative value of moving pictures, television or movie, has increased. And, therefore, the power contained in the password needed to access that content has also increased, dramatically.
Who are these influencers? Why do they chose to pay for streaming services and then share this access with others? How do they come up with the passwords? What do they feel when they get a text message at 10:30 PM asking if they received the one-time access code for a new device log-in? Why do they do what they do? And how do they wield their power?
I was fortunate to speak with one such keeper of passwords, on the condition of anonymity. What they are doing is, of course, highly illegal, punishable by stern emails or even a phone call from Netflix customer service. So we truly appreciate this person who, at great personal risk, gave us a view into the hidden and powerful world of password sharing. The interview has been edited for clarity and brevity.
Thank you for joining me today. Let me start by asking, how did you first get into password sharing?
**Voice modulated, face shadowed from view on the video conference.**
As maybe you know, in the early years of Netflix, they would physically send DVDs to your home using the US postal service. Password sharing was all but irrelevant. Those were dark days.
Then, in early 2007, Netflix started the transition. They began offering their subscribers streaming content, allowing people to log-on and immediately start watching, without any exchange of a physical item. Initially only a small proportion of their content catalogue was available for streaming online, but over the following years this proportion grew exponentially. Eventually Netflix ditched the DVD rental arm of their business and leaned into what they are today, the largest digital media and entertainment company in the world. It was during this transition at Netflix that I began my own rise to power.
You mention your “rise to power,” but I still don’t have a good understanding of how owning a Netflix password makes you more powerful. Could you speak on that?
Look, it's not only Netflix, that’s just where I got my start. It’s where most of us in the community got our start. But now the number of content platforms has exploded. HBO streaming has been a valuable password for quite a while, and you also got your Hulus, your Amazon Prime, your YouTube TV, your Xfinity cable on-demand, now Disney+ and AppleTV and Peacock…… the list goes on and on. And I’ve been close behind, reaping the rewards.
…What rewards are you reaping exactly?
I subscribe to all of these streaming services! So my password followers and I have access to all of the shows and all of the movies, as soon as they come out. And I have a Roku at home, so all of the different services are contained and organized on one menu, making it easy to find what I’m looking for. And I really only have to enter in the password when it changes, otherwise the Roku or the TV somehow stores each password and logs me right into my accounts. It’s pretty slick!
Right… Let’s switch gears a little bit. Without giving too much away, how do you choose your passwords?
That’s a great question. I rarely get asked that, which is strange because I give out my password to so many folks. You’d think more of them would would be curious about my process. I’m really quite innovative with when it comes to password synthesis, and I’m as prolific as anyone out there doing it. Last month I came up with 12 new passwords! That’s not a walk in the park. And then I sent each of those fresh passwords to all of my dependents.
Sure, like most people, when changing a password I generally iterate on the last one, changing a few special characters at the end, mixing up the capitals and lowercases, or including a new sequence of numbers while keeping the base word the same… I’m well-versed in all of the strategies for subtle tweaks. But, how do I come up with the originals? That, my friend, is one thing I can’t share… industry secrets. Let’s just say, if you know the names of my family members, including the furry ones, you might be on the right track… **leaning forward, gives an exaggerated wink into the camera.**
Ok… How has password sharing changed because of the COVID-19 pandemic?
You know, it’s been kind of a wild ride. There are now more people at home and more content to watch than ever before. Also, some movies and shows that would never have been available on these services are pivoting and releasing direct to online streaming, skipping the middleman. It’s a perfect storm, and I’m steering my ship right into it! **chuckles loudly.**
I’ve acquired additional passwords this pandemic, after signing up for Disney+ and Peacock, and I’ve been sharing the passwords with more individuals. Generally, in the past, I’ve only given out passwords to my nuclear family and maybe a few close friends. But since March when we locked down, honestly, I’ve gone a little bit crazy with power. There are probably… 30 people? Relying on me? Watching content on streaming services using my passwords? That doesn’t mean they all have the actual passwords, but they are at least in a household that I’ve shared one with. The other day I got a text from my cousin’s hairdresser, asking if my password ended in a @# or a %#… that’s when I realized how far this thing had gone. The pandemic definitely took it to a whole other level.
Wow, yeah, sounds like your network really has grown… So, again, before our time is up, my question is, why do you do this? Why do you share your passwords with others who aren’t paying for the streaming services? How do you benefit? What is your incentive?
Look… it’s hard to understand, but I have a talent for this. For coming up with new passwords. I was born with it, with this gift. Creating secret combinations of letters and numbers and special characters… it’s easy for me. Like breathing or walking or Velcroing my shoes.
So, why do I share my passwords? Because I love my friends and family! Because I want them to share in the benefits of my great gift. Password creation and management. Things are tough right now for a lot of people… I’m just trying to do my part.
Thank you for your time today, and thank you for all that you do for your community.
