HBO Max Sends Creepy Email Warning Users to Stop Sharing Accounts

In a move straight out of a dystopian tech thriller, HBO Max—technically still just “Max” until its summer re-rebrand—has begun emailing users suspected of sharing their accounts with family and friends outside their household. “Looks like you’re sharing your Max account,” the bold email reads, urging users to either stop or pay $7.99 per extra member. According to the company, only people living under the same roof should be streaming together. Warner Bros. Discovery, Max’s parent company, admits this eerie outreach is just the beginning.

CEO JB Perrette says this “soft messaging” will get stricter in late 2025, with future enforcement possibly locking out remote users altogether. The strategy mirrors Netflix’s 2023 crackdown—but users are already revolting. From Reddit rants to canceled subscriptions, fans are furious over rising prices, buggy apps, and what they call Max’s "greedy" tactics. Adding fuel to the backlash is Max’s whiplash-inducing decision to return to its old name, HBO Max, just two years after dropping it. The announcement came during a flashy Madison Square Garden event where execs joked about their branding addiction. But subscribers aren't laughing—many are still trying to figure out why their screen just went dark while watching The White Lotus.
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