Netflix has come under fire from some users for one of its latest features.
Film and TV lovers across the globe first took to their keyboards in outrage when the streaming service revealed it would be introducing ad-supported plans, however, now there's another controversy gracing social media to do the feature Netflix first announced back in 2022.
Netflix first introduced the ad-supported plan - called 'Basic/ Standard with Ads' - back in October 2022 in a bid to make the service more accessible to the masses.
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Alas, despite the the ad-supported plans coming in at a lower monthly fee - $6.99 - the decision was met with some backlash from users.
And some discontented viewers have now reared their heads again after hopping onto their Netflix to find that some of their favorite films and TV series appear locked behind 'a pay wall'.
An X user took to the platform yesterday (May 8) to share a screenshot of what happened when they tried to watch The Equalizer.
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Their post reads: "Y’all are SO ever unserious with this @netflix.
"Why can’t the $7 plan folks watch The Equalizer without upgrading our plan ????????????"
Another user reshared the post, adding: "A pay wall inside of a subscription based streaming service is absolutely crazy."
While someone else claimed that was why they 'cancelled their subscription'.
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However, there's a specific reason why the 'locked' feature is cropping up for users on the ad-supported plan.
An X user wrote: "Tbf it’s likely a licensing issue and not just netflix arbitrarily deciding certain users can’t watch certain movies."
And indeed, back in 2022, a press release from Netflix stated that 'a limited number of movies and TV shows won't be available due to licensing restrictions', adding that this was something they were 'working on'.
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Netflix's website also states: "While the vast majority of TV shows and movies are available on an ad-supported plan, a small number are not due to licensing restrictions.
"These titles will appear with a lock icon when you search or browse Netflix."
It reassures: "Sign up for Standard with ads today and choose from several payment options.
"You can easily change your plan or cancel at any time."
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However, some users are simply still fuming that ads were even introduced in the first place.
An X user wrote: "Let me go even further to add you shouldn’t have ads on any streaming service you pay for. ads should only be for free services.
"You shouldn’t have to pay for an extra plan to avoid adds especially because these days they are getting longer than commercial breaks."
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However, another simply resolved: "Subscriptions cost the higher amount. If you want no ads, you instantly pay more.
"If you want no ads, there’s no cheaper option. Everyone pays the higher price since there’s no ad revenue. So either pay more, or watch the ads since they’re paying for the rest of your subscription."
And hey, who doesn't love feeling like a kid again and seeing how quickly you can race to the loo and have a wee or to the kitchen to grab a snack during a commercial break? No? Just me?
UNILAD has contacted Netflix for comment.
Topics: Entertainment, Film and TV, Netflix, Social Media, Twitter
Poppy Bilderbeck