Highlights
- YouTube is now actively enforcing its rule that all Family Plan members must live in the same household, pausing non-compliant accounts within 14 days.
- YouTube doesn’t offer a lower-cost option for users outside the household, forcing them to pay full price or lose Premium access.
- YouTube is reportedly experimenting with a discounted plan for cross-location sharing.
This should interest you if you’ve been sharing a YouTube Premium or YouTube Music Family Plan with friends or relatives who don’t live under the same roof. It appears your subscription benefits may soon be at risk. While affected users will still be able to stream videos and music with ads, the premium ad-free experience could be suspended. Here’s the full story.
YouTube Cracks Down on Family Plan Sharing
Following the path of Netflix and Disney+, YouTube has begun enforcing its Family Plan terms more strictly. The company has started notifying users who are part of a Premium Family group but live at a different location than the family manager. Multiple users across different social media platforms have shared screenshots of alerts they recently received from YouTube.
According to the alerts, their membership will be paused within 14 days if the issue is not resolved.
As outlined in YouTube’s Premium Family membership terms, all members of a family group must live in the same household as the account manager. While this rule has always been in place, YouTube had not actively enforced it until now. The change appears aimed at boosting revenue, as users removed from Family plans will need to purchase their own subscription.
A YouTube spokesperson confirmed to CNET, “Our family plan policy hasn’t changed and we are continuously enforcing it. You can learn more about the YouTube family plan here.”
YouTube Family Plan Rules and Restrictions
According to YouTube’s support page, a Family Plan allows the manager to add up to five members within the same household. The company emphasises, “Family members sharing a YouTube family plan must live in the same household as the family manager.” Additionally, a Family group can only be changed once every 12 months.
Unlike Netflix, YouTube currently does not offer a cheaper paid option for users outside the household to remain part of the plan. For now, those affected either need to pay the full subscription price or drop Premium altogether.
YouTube has reportedly been testing a discounted two-household plan for users who want to share access across different locations. However, this option has not yet been rolled out in the United States.
YouTube Premium and YouTube Music subscriptions are priced at $23 per month, with new users eligible for a one-month free trial.
FAQs
Q1. What change is YouTube making to its Premium Family Plan?
Answer. YouTube is now strictly enforcing its rule that all Family Plan members must live in the same household. Accounts outside the household may be paused within 14 days.
Q2. Can users outside the household stay on the YouTube Family Plan?
Answer. Currently, no. YouTube doesn’t offer a cheaper alternative for users outside the household. A discounted two-household plan is being tested but not yet available in the U.S.
Q3. How many members can be added to a YouTube Family Plan?
Answer. Up to five members can be added, but all must reside in the same household as the family manager. The group can only be changed once every 12 months.
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