There are a lot of pros for social media. The Arab Spring for example. There are also a lot of cons too, not least it’s ability to spoil the ending of any TV show you want to watch.
It only takes one load of Twitter when not watching a show for the entire plot line to come crashing down in a tweet-sized explosion.
When away from home it can be the worst. A week’s worth of shows you’re missing out on, but feel you know every last detail because of Facebook.
However, it doesn’t need to be that way. You can watch shows while abroad live, even if the channel isn’t available in that particular country.
Yes, even in the likes of Spain and Germany you can get your weekly fix of ABC’s latest drama or your favorite Friday night sitcom on the BBC, and that’s all possible through a VPN.
For the most part, the reason you can’t live stream home TV channels through their on-demand service is due to geoblocking.
What that does is prevent access if your network is being flagged as from a country outside where they broadcast. So, for example, you wouldn’t be able to watch a BBC drama outside of the UK.
A VPN (virtual private network), will allow you to work around this, with the private network allowing you to bypass any blocking by encrypting data.
What this allows you to do is manipulate your connection, opening up sites that wouldn’t normally allow you.
That means Game of Thrones is ready and waiting, US Netflix is ready for binging, and the alarm can be set to watch your side in the NBA Finals.
It’s the perfect solution to watching US and international TV shows abroad, and what’s more, they’re incredibly accessible.
You can click here to find out plenty more about VPN’s, while they are readily available with a simple Google search.
Another bonus to them is they do make your access a little more secure, which can be particularly useful when logging on to unknown hotel wi-fi networks or in coffee shops.
Because you’re operating privately, you’re less visible to potential hackers, giving you an extra layer of security.
They’re something well worth considering if you’re traveling to unknown territories. You’ll be safer online and, more importantly, not have your favorite TV show ruined by your friend who’s live tweeted an entire episode!