Spotify’s co-CEO, Alex Norström, recently revealed on the earnings call that the company is cracking down on users of the Family Plan who share the subscription with non-household members, using a new QR code verification method that requires the plan manager to scan their phone. TechCrunch reports that Norström described this as a “routine improvement” rather than a significant crackdown, noting that the Family Plan has been around for about 12 to 13 years and constitutes a substantial portion of Spotify’s user base.

However, let’s roast this announcement a bit. Is a QR code really the pinnacle of verification technology? It’s like asking someone to scan a barcode to prove they’re not a cat. Sure, it works, but it feels like Spotify is still using punch cards for data processing in the digital age. Plus, does scanning a QR code really solve the problem of non-household members sharing the plan? What if someone’s roommate is just a temporary houseguest, or a friend pops over for a study session? Will they need to scan the QR code every time?

Moreover, Spotify’s claim that this is a “routine improvement” might just be a way to mask a deeper issue. The Family Plan has been around for over a decade, yet only now are they tightening the reins? It’s like waiting 13 years to realize your umbrella is leaky. Perhaps Spotify was too busy counting the beans of ad revenue to notice that sharing was becoming a bit too casual.

On the flip side, the QR code method could be a win-win. It adds a bit of friction, which might deter casual share-ers, but it also keeps the experience smooth for regular users. Still, one wonders if Spotify could have gone further—maybe integrating with smart home devices to verify location or using AI to analyze listening patterns to detect non-cohabitants. Until then, Spotify’s QR code check might just be the cat scan of the music streaming world, a bit quaint but functional.

So, kudos to Spotify for finally getting their QR codes straight, but let’s see if this routine improvement doesn’t leave a few users feeling a tad QR-d.