Younger Adults Most Likely To Share Streaming Passwords

An Aug. 10-14 Morning Consult survey asked people if they currently subscribe or have access to streaming services like Netflix or Hulu, but it left out a significant demographic: those who share passwords to access that content — be it with friends, family or others.

A new round of polling, conducted Aug. 17-19, reveals that while most people (63 percent) do not share their streaming accounts, young people were much more likely to do so, with 56 percent of 18- to 29-year-olds saying they share their passwords.

The earlier survey showed that Netflix was the most popular streaming service, and that was also reflected in the new poll. Out of the 37 percent of the 2,200 adults who said they share at least one account, the vast majority (85 percent) said they shared a Netflix password. Coming in second was Amazon.com Inc.’s Prime Video, picked by 40 percent of those who said they shared passwords. YouTube TV (21 percent) was third.

Eighty-nine percent of all those surveyed in the new poll said they personally do not pirate movies, television shows or music. A plurality of adults (46 percent) also consider it theft, while 35 percent said it was not.

However, among the youngest respondents, a greater proportion said they did not see piracy as theft. Of those aged 18-29, 34 percent said they saw the pirating of music, movies or television shows to be stealing, while 44 percent said they do not consider it theft.