YouTube Premium’s Family plan has always carried a condition that is members must live at the same address as the account manager. For a long time, that line in the terms looked more like fine print than something enforced. Many people simply added friends or relatives who lived elsewhere. Now, that gap between the written rule and everyday practice is closing.
First Signs of Change
Over the past few weeks, some subscribers have started receiving warning emails[1]. The notices explain that their Premium access will be paused if location checks show they’re not based in the same household. Users are given a 14-day period before changes take effect. Once the deadline passes, those accounts remain in the family group but revert to the free version of YouTube, with adverts and without music streaming or offline downloads.
How the Plan Is Structured
The Family plan costs about $23 a month in the United States. One person manages the account and can invite up to five others. Officially, those members must be at least 13 years old, have their own Google account, and live in the same home. The platform runs electronic check-ins every month to verify addresses. Until recently, those checks rarely led to action. That seems to be shifting as more people report losing their Premium benefits.
Part of a Larger Industry Shift
YouTube is not the first to make this move. Netflix introduced restrictions on account sharing in 2023, drawing heavy criticism but later reporting an increase in subscriptions. Disney Plus and Hulu brought in similar rules soon after. In each case, the change started in select countries before reaching wider audiences. Early signs suggest YouTube is following a similar pattern, though the full rollout may take time.
Reaction From Users
Some Premium members say they have only just received their first warnings, while others claim they were flagged months ago. Online forums show frustration[2], with several people suggesting that the service should rename the plan to “Household” to make its limits clearer. For those who relied on sharing across homes, the new approach is unwelcome. For YouTube, it reflects an attempt to bring practice into line with policy and may, as other platforms found, lead to more people paying for their own accounts.
Notes: This post was edited/created using GenAI tools. Image: DIW-Aigen.
Read next: Court Orders Google to Open Search Data and End Exclusive Deals[3]
References
- ^ some subscribers have started receiving warning emails (www.androidpolice.com)
- ^ show frustration (www.reddit.com)
- ^ Court Orders Google to Open Search Data and End Exclusive Deals (www.digitalinformationworld.com)