The Resurgence of Restrictions: The Influence of VPNs on Digital Streaming

While not a new concept, VPNs have gained prominence since Netflix began actively blocking their use as some users attempted to bypass geographical restrictions on its service. A VPN, or Virtual Private Network, connects multiple devices as if they were physically in the same location, emulating local network connections. This creates a secure tunnel between your device and a private network, allowing access to work or home networks while traveling, hiding browsing data, and accessing geographically restricted sites.

The rise of VPN usage has noticeably impacted the growth of various platforms. Netflix, for instance, geographically segments its catalog to maximize performance and comply with contractual agreements, specifying that content is primarily available in the country where the account was created. To prevent access to restricted content, the platform detects VPN use and blocks playback until the user disconnects from the virtual network.

Some of the top VPN services include ExpressVPN, offering over 2,000 servers across 148 cities in 94 countries, and NordVPN, which provides 1,095 servers in 61 countries and features a kill switch to protect user privacy in the event of a VPN failure.