Learn about the reasons why social media websites are blocked in some countries. What should you do to access social media websites in other countries?
Some of the most popular platforms on the internet are social media. People spend most of their time scrolling through Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, and other social media platforms. Perhaps the reason why social media is so appealing is because of the freedom that comes with it. At the same time, you’ll get the chance to personalize it according to your preference.
Additionally, you can get in touch with your family and friends through social media. You can update them on what is happening in your life now. To access any social media platform, you must go to the site and log into your account.
But sometimes this is not always the case. Most people believe they can access their social media accounts anytime and anywhere. Unfortunately, some countries prevent you from accessing social media sites, also known as internet censorship.
What Does Internet Censorship Mean?
Let’s dig deeper into the actual meaning of internet censorship. Ultimately, internet censorship occurs when there are some websites that you cannot access. Perhaps if you work in a company that blocks social media websites during office hours, you are familiar with this. However, some countries block websites too.
In other words, those living in this country cannot access these websites. There are various reasons why internet censorship is implemented in some countries. For instance, countries in the Middle East block anti-Islamic and explicit websites for religious reasons.
Buy why do some countries block social media websites? In China, it is common knowledge that the Chinese government is against social media and they are well known for their strict internet censorship. China has a Great Firewall, which they use for blocking specific websites. So, if you stay within their borders, you cannot access these websites.
Aside from social media websites, they also block foreign news websites and some Google services, including search engines and search functions for images and videos. Although other services, including Google Maps, can still be accessed in China.
Social media websites are blocked in China for political reasons. The Chinese government blocks social media websites because they believe the protesters are using social media platforms to plan protests and attacks against the government. Sometimes videos and photos of police brutality are shared on the internet.
There are also cases wherein the posts shared by foreigners created a bad reputation for the Chinese government. Simply put, it seems that the Chinese government was being humiliated through social media. And for them, the best solution would be to block all social media websites. And up until now, it remains that way.
However, this can be very frustrating for visitors of China who want to access their social media accounts so that they can post their videos and photos or wish to communicate with their family and friends.
Why Use VPN?
Fortunately, the best solution to the problem is to use a VPN. VPNs or Virtual Private Network has become more and more popular these days. All you have to do is follow the simple steps to get a VPN and you can get through geo-blocking and internet censorship. But how can this be possible?
First of all, the main job of the VPN is to provide you with a secure connection. This is done by encrypting your internet connection. This is crucial, especially if using unsecured connections, including public WiFi hotspots commonly found in restaurants, hotels, and airports. Commonly, these are used by tourists who want to access the internet in a foreign country.
Keep in mind that cybercriminals will thrive in these unsecured connections. Hackers can virtually see what you are doing on your device. Whether you send emails, access your social media accounts, or enter your passwords. As long as you are connected with your VPN, no one can see what you are doing, making you feel secure. Even the government and your internet service provider will not be able to access your internet traffic.
However, we are more concerned about its ability to unblock websites. By using a VPN, you can connect to a secure global server in another country. Once connected, your actual IP address will be hidden, and the server’s IP address will be used instead. This way, the website will think that you are from another country. However, you can also use web proxy servers to hide your identity while surfing the internet.
