Netflix has recently launched its Extra Member feature, gradually introducing it to users worldwide throughout the year, now including Malaysia. Users are now being informed that they will need to pay an additional fee for utilizing this feature. The popular streaming service has in fact started sending emails to subscribers who share their accounts with individuals outside their households.

This Extra Member feature is exclusively available to subscribers on the Standard or Premium plan. Subscribers on the Standard plan can add one extra member, while those on the Premium plan can add up to two extra members. Each additional member incurs an extra cost of RM13 per month, charged to the account owner.

To add an extra member, users can navigate to their Netflix account settings and locate the newly introduced Extra Members section. Within this section, users can purchase a slot and send an invitation to the intended member outside their household.

Once the invitation is accepted, the extra member gains the ability to transfer their profile, including their viewing history and other account information, to their own separate account with a unique password. It is important to note that extra members can only stream Netflix content on one device at a time, and they are subject to the features and limitations of the primary account, such as 1080p streaming resolution for Standard accounts and 4K for Premium accounts.

Primary account holders retain the flexibility to change or remove the extra member slot as desired, with a maximum of two changes per billing cycle. To qualify as an extra member, individuals must be in the same country as the primary account holder and not utilizing Netflix through included packages or third-party billed accounts.

In the Malaysian context, extra members must be at least 18 years old, residing in the same country, and will have their own separate account and password outside the primary account holder's household. Additionally, each extra member is limited to a single existing or new profile, with access to all Netflix content on one device at a time. As depicted in the provided screenshot, if a standard package is being used, the cost for one extra member would amount to RM58 per month. This amount only covers the cost for extra members. If multiple members residing outside the primary account holder's household are added (up to four more members), the total cost would be RM100.

Netflix has not provided detailed information about the specific metrics that would trigger the additional fee requirement. However, one thing is clear: a previously free-of-charge feature now comes with a cost.

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