Everyone knew that January 19th, 2025, was heading their way. However, they all thought that the anticipated TikTok shutdown was just talk. Surely, the government would do something to allow its citizens to continue sharing and consuming content on the popular social media platform? How can one just ban an app that 170 million Americans depend on?
However, on January 18th, 2025, hours before the ban was to take effect, screams of terror were heard all over the United States of America. The social media app went dark. Suddenly, there was nothing to scroll on TikTok, and subsequently, nothing else worth doing.
People felt like their best friend had been snatched from their fingers. Eating was impossible, as was sleeping. A constant companion had disappeared, and nobody had any idea when (or if) TikTok access would be restored.
Things pretty much returned to normal 12 hours later. While that might seem like a short time to be without TikTok, Gen Z and Gen A were ready to pull their hairs out. This supposed ban was a wake-up call. Suddenly, America didn’t seem much like the land of the free.
It’s easy to think that you’re viewing the exact version of the internet as everyone else. Alas, that couldn’t be further from the truth. Internet restrictions exist. They may affect people in China and France at varying levels. However, it’s safe to say that you’re subject to content limitations whether you live in the US, UK, or India.
Luckily, local proxies do wonders in circumventing internet restrictions. These servers are your secret weapon in experiencing a freer internet, one without borders and limitations.
Restricted Content All Over the World
Content restriction occurs all over the world for varying reasons. Sometimes, corporations have to limit content due to copyright protections. In other situations, the population cannot access specific websites when governments deem them culturally or politically detrimental. Here are some examples you might be able to relate to:
1. TikTok
Did you know that people in India cannot access TikTok? Recently, it was banned for 12 hours in the US as well, and who knows if a ban will reoccur? Citing national security, governments can impose restrictions on certain applications, and this social media app is a great example of that happening.
2. BBC iPlayer
The BBC iPlayer is an excellent tool to enjoy BBC TV and radio over the internet. Sadly, it’s only available in the UK. That’s a shame, considering how much more entertaining the news sounds in the lovely British accent.
3. Hulu
Netflix is great and all, but sometimes you wonder what you’re missing over at Hulu, right? Well, if you live outside of the US, you won’t have the opportunity to indulge in great shows such as Abbott Elementary and The Handmaid’s Tale.
4. Reddit, X, and other sites
At times, particularly during elections and political turmoil, governments will resort to blocking their people from accessing specific sites. Sometimes, these bans are permanent.
Unlocking Doors With Local Proxies
That dreadful error page you get when you attempt to load a website that’s unavailable in your territory might feel all too familiar, but that doesn’t have to be the case with proxies. Rerouting your internet traffic via local proxy servers is the key to unlocking restricted content.
Without proxies, data flows from your device to a web server and back without stopping elsewhere. While that’s a fast and efficient route, the connection is completely open. Your actual IP shows up on the website’s end. Consequently, it is free to limit content based on your location. That’s why you’re getting that “Content Not Available in Your Region” error.
However, with proxies in play, you’re getting a day off from location-based restrictions. Now, all your traffic will make a pit stop before ending up at the final destination, picking up the IP address of the proxy you’re connected to.
Thus, if your proxy sits in the US, you’d be able to access content as if you were there. A proxy works great for unlocking content, whether it’s a game, TV show, website, or mobile application.
Understanding the Risks of Using Proxies
Despite what you may have heard through the grapevine, using proxies won’t land you in trouble with the authorities. It’s what you utilize them for that counts.
But what about the security risks of proxies? Wouldn’t you be annoyed if you used a proxy to anonymize your traffic only to discover that the provider leaked your data for its profit? Let’s not forget other threats, such as hacks and malware attacks. These are legitimate fears. However, when appropriately sourced, proxies aren’t dangerous.
Free proxies sure are tempting. Sadly, they’re not going to be of much use when you’re trying to access restricted content. That’s because the administrators of popular websites and applications are well aware of these free proxy servers. Their IPs would already appear on most blocklists.
Picking the Best Local Proxies for Accessing Blocked Content
Do not discount the importance of picking a reputable and trustworthy vendor. High-quality proxies from providers such as MarsProxies, particularly of the residential type, are the best at bypassing restrictions. As their IPs come from actual residential devices by ISPs, websites hold them in high regard, thereby letting them pass.
Now, let’s talk about prices, which run the gamut from absolutely free to exorbitant. You’d be remiss to think that there’s a strict correlation between cost and quality. Remember that a lousy vendor may still charge you upmarket rates, while a reliable supplier might prioritize affordability.
The basic premise about choosing a vendor is to ensure global coverage so that you have your pick of good local proxies. It should have a clearly worded privacy policy so you know that your data remains protected at all times. Take a moment to browse third-party review sites because that’s the best way to learn what other users are experiencing.
Unrestricted Content: Yesterday’s Problem
You are now in the know. With proxies, no longer will you encounter issues accessing websites and apps unavailable in your region. However, with your newfound knowledge comes great responsibility. Don’t forget to spread the word on local proxy servers and how can change the internet experience for the better.
And if you’re looking for a trustworthy supplier, we recommend MarsProxies. Their residential proxies come with non-expiring traffic, HTTP/S and SOCKS5 protocols, accurate geo-targeting (from state to city level), competitive pricing, and 24/7 support to help you get started and enjoy your online freedom.
But don’t just take our word for it – PCMag named the provider the best proxy service in 2025, so you know it’s worth checking out!
