YouTube is initiating a new policy to restrict Premium advantages for family members who do not live in the same household. This update impacts users of the YouTube Premium Family plan, which permits the sharing of the subscription with up to five individuals for about $23 monthly. Users included in a Family plan but not residing with the family manager are being notified that their membership will be paused. These users have 14 days to verify their eligibility to retain Premium advantages; if they fail to do so, they will forfeit these perks but will still be part of the family group, gaining access to YouTube with advertisements.
This policy aligns with Netflix’s 2023 strategy, which mandated that account users be physically associated with the same household. While YouTube has mandated that family members be within the same household since 2023, it is now applying this regulation more rigorously. The enforcement is still limited, with only a few mentions on social media and Reddit. This initiative comes after YouTube launched Premium Lite and began testing a two-person Premium plan, potentially driving more sign-ups for various subscription levels.
