The Netflix logo. (Photo by Chesnot/Getty Images)
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Recently, you can say life has three constants: death, taxes, and rising Netflix prices. Over the past few years, the streaming giant has consistently upped the cost of its subscription service—and the internet isn’t happy about it at all.
The Netflix price hike is an interesting case study in how the internet and social media can operate as conduit for people to vent and express frustration, especially when it comes to elements out of their control.
Before we get there, though, let’s dig into the story a bit more.
What Is Netflix? And How Much Are Prices Going Up?
Founded in 2007, Netflix is a subscription-based streamer. Known predominately for movies and television, the company was one of the first to popularize the modern form of app-based streaming many of us now use on a daily basis.
At the time of writing, Netflix has over 300 million subscribers and, in Q4 2024, had a year-over-year revenue rise of 16%. Currently, its net income is $1.87 billion, compared to $938 million a year ago.
Shortly after these announcements, the company stated it was going to increase the subscription costs of its various tiers.
Netflix raising prices isn’t a new phenomenon. In 2011, a subscription to the streamer cost $8 a month. Since then, it has added different streaming tiers, as well as increasing the cost in 2019, 2020, 2022, 2023, and, now, 2025.
How Has The Internet Reacted To The New Netflix Prices?
Many individuals and Netflix account holders appear enraged about the company raising its prices again. Some are pointing towards how out-of-sync they believe the cost of Netflix is:
While others complain about what they view as a lack of quality for the new pricing structure:
Some have made memes about the news, referencing Plex, a piece of media software that allows users to stream their own content:
Finally, there’s a trend of some individuals and Netflix account holders drawing parallels between the new prices and Trump’s inauguration:
Why Are People Posting On Social Media About Rising Netflix Prices?
The clearest answer is the most obvious one: they’re angry. Something people use regularly is getting more expensive for no obvious extra benefit.
Yet there’s more in play here.
Increasing costs is a topic that has received a fair amount of research, with some papers explaining that the key element of customers’ relation to pricing is fairness. As the study says, to many, “the frequency of price adjustment ought to depend on economy-wide variables observed by consumers.”
In other words, if individuals see other items getting more expensive due to economic factors, then they can deal with the price increase of something else. Like Netflix.
As data from the U.S. Bureau Of Labor Statistics states: “Over the last 12 months, the all items index increased 2.9 percent before seasonal adjustment.”
On average, everything in the United States has gotten more expensive. People have seen this happen in real time with groceries, for example.
This means that, consciously or subconsciously, many probably expected the price of Netflix to rise. The move tracks.
In this instance, individuals can still be angry, but don’t feel that it’s necessarily unfair. If they were truly at the end of their tether, they’d simply unsubscribe from the service. Instead, Netflix got more expensive and they likely won’t do anything about themselves, which is frustrating.
These two contrary experiences create a sense of dissonance—and social media offers a way out.
By venting online, this discordant energy between anger and resignation can be expressed. Rather than feeling powerless, complaining about the new Netflix prices online can make people feel they have some control over the situation.
No one wants to pay more for things, but—no matter how much we wish it wasn’t the case—this simply isn’t the world we live in. When an item or service like Netflix raises its prices, we’re sometimes hit with conflicting emotions: anger at the move, but understanding that it’s part of a wider trend. In these moments, social media can be a tool to vent, let off steam, and release that dissonance.
We know next year will be filled with death and taxes, let’s see if it has a Netflix price increase too.
