
With the help of the internet, we live in a hyper-connected world. You can communicate in real-time with people across the globe, play video games with them, and access content that someone half a world away uploaded just seconds ago.
However, there’s one thing standing in the path – geo-restrictions.
Even online, not all regions are the same. Streaming platforms offer different content to people from different regions; even YouTube may restrict videos based on your country.
This is wrong. Why would you receive a different service/product while paying the same? Still, feeling bitter about this unfair treatment will get you nowhere. Here’s what you can do to overcome these geo-restrictions holding you back.
Entertainment
While geo-restrictions may pose many problems in many different aspects of our lives, this is most noticeable in entertainment. It doesn’t take much to figure this out. If you’re a US-based Netflix subscriber, chances are that you can’t enjoy the following:
- Rick and Morty
- Fargo
- The Office
- Only Fools and Horses
- Twin Peaks
- Friends
As you can see, this list is far from random. It contains some of the most iconic shows out there. To make matters worse, people paying for Netflix (the same subscription) can enjoy these shows just because they’re living in other countries.
Is this fair? Not! Fortunately, it’s not something that you’ll have to suffer for.
This is not exclusive to Netflix or shows. Some games, like Ragnarok Online II, Lost Ark, and PUBG, are also geo-restricted. So, you can watch others play them online and follow guides and streamers but never partake in their awesomeness? That doesn’t sound fair, either. You have the tools to get around it; it depends on whether you’ll act on it.
Get a better deal
Sometimes, the prices may be different based on your location. This is a completely predatory sales tactic known as milking the market. The retailer or manufacturer adjusts the cost of their product to the local purchasing power parity.
They use the same product (often even the same quality of product), charge less for it, and still make a profit. So, the only reason why you might pay more is because you come from a more prosperous region.
This happens with digital tools all the time, but it’s also common in the hospitality industry. Go to the bookings site or an e-commerce platform and check the prices. Then, bypass geo-restrictions on your Android device and try again, checking from a “different location.” This simple process might not take more than a few minutes, and the result may surprise you.
From a moral and ethical standpoint, this is completely justified. There’s no inherent right that the company in question has to charge you more for the same product. They try to squeeze a few extra bucks out of you, so why not make it harder for them?
Bypassing censorship
While we may risk sounding a bit like conspiracy theorists, there’s only so far you can trust government-funded media. Local media groups are often pushing their agenda or an agenda of the organization bankrolling them, and the only way to get around is to get some alternative information.
Internet censorship is a serious problem worthy of your attention.
Now, we’re not saying you can learn the truth by finding out what media groups in other countries are saying. You can get the other side of the story, which should help you complete the puzzle.
Also, some platforms may be restricted in your country (due to these reasons), and you might want to bypass them to get access. Sometimes, it’s not law or regulation holding you back but availability. This way, you can move around it.
It’s worth pointing out that international media groups sometimes don’t report the same on the same news in different countries. Sometimes, it’s worth checking out their narrative in a different setting. This can help you figure out who to trust.
Research purposes
This tip is, more or less, a combination of some of the things we’ve talked about earlier. You may need geo-location-sensitive content, information, and studies you cannot obtain.
As we’ve already mentioned, prices are different based on your location. So, imagine being a reviewer, writing a travel guide without providing accurate information because the location of your readers differs from yours. Sure, the price might not differ based on location (this is a common occurrence but not the norm); however, you have no way of knowing this.
In the previous segment, we discussed how media have different reporting habits in different regions. This information is important for someone dealing with media freedom or political commentary.
What about writing a TV show review or producing content regarding movie recaps? You can’t do this legally without being able to watch the show in question on the streaming service of your choice.
It helps you avoid piracy.
There’s this misconception about piracy: all the people who resort to it are inherently evil and malicious. Some spiteful basement dwellers work extra hard to rob creators of their work.
This is simply not the case. As mentioned, you just can’t watch some shows in some regions. So, even with the best intention to pay for the service and watch it, you will be unable to do so unless you resort to piracy.
By learning to avoid geo-restrictions, you’re actively finding a way to get what you want by avoiding piracy. Sure, using VPN and similar platforms may sound ethically dubious; however, there’s no denying that it’s morally and ethically “cleaner” than illegally downloading things online.
Once again, we’re not suggesting that watching that particular show is a matter of life and death. It’s just that the streaming service in question already offers that show, and you’re already paying them for the subscription. It’s not the same.
Privacy and security benefits
Using a VPN can protect your IP from nosy online parties, thus protecting you from anonymity. Just browsing the internet with VPN is much safer, let alone doing work or handling sensitive data.
VPN can also provide you protection from ISP tracking. By preventing ISP from seeing your online traffic, you’re adding one more layer to your anonymity, staying even safer than before.
If you’re using VPN for your mobile device, you may also use public Wi-Fi (at least occasionally). In this scenario, the protection provided by VPN is even more important.
Most importantly, if you’re dealing with financial apps or your Bitcoin stash, you want to take every safety measure available.
More convenient for traveling
Many people are accustomed to the apps they use and might even see them as an important part of their routine. The problem is that some of these apps may be geo-restricted. So, while traveling, you must find alternatives or forsake them entirely.
Fortunately, there’s another route. You can have your cake and eat it by going around geo-restrictions.
If you plan to relocate or spend more time abroad, you can use VPN to do some preliminary research. For instance, you can check ahead of time which apps will work there and which could cause you some issues. This way, you can raise your level of preparedness to the next level.
All is fair in love and war, and geo-restrictions drew the first blood
There’s nothing inherently fair or ethical about the existence of geo-restrictions. Most of the time, these are used to make you pay more or restrict services you already pay for. In some cases, these policies may even push you closer to piracy. Using VPN and similar methods is your best action in all these scenarios.
In some professions, these tools may be invaluable research tools, and you can use them to save money (by paying less for products and services). Finally, using a VPN also offers some quality-of-life and security-related benefits.