Living in 2020 is considered by many people as the “worse timeline,” alluding to the Marvel movie wherein the possibilities are endless. However, as reality is often more disappointing than the film, we are currently in the middle of a pandemic. There is still no cure for COVID-19 on the horizon, as this article says, and the death toll has already skyrocketed to the millions. We have seen the devastation that the coronavirus pandemic has brought to both the economy and humanity in general, and it might just not end yet.
Meanwhile, here on the other side of the world, the New Zealand government has successfully controlled the onset of the virus. We are only a part of the very few that were not hit directly by COVID-19, even though New Zealand does have its losses. Most of the world thinks that we are relatively lucky since we have moved past the “dangerous” part of the pandemic that is still happening in other countries.
A significant advantage that most experts are pointing at our country is its isolation. Even though New Zealand is a well-known tourist destination, it can still be quite tricky (and expensive) to get here. People only know us because of big movie franchises and companies trying to exploit natural resources and affordable labor. With the pandemic going on though, the “isolation” went rather literal, and it became more apparent that being too far from the rest of the world is an advantage.
Boredom Is A Common Enemy
However, this still does not dispel other issues that other Kiwis are experiencing right now: Lack of entertainment.
You can always watch the local channels, but who does that anyway? Everyone in the world is already discovering the joys of streaming shows and movies. You might think that New Zealand, as a “Western” or “Developed” country, has good options for entertainment. Big production studios might come here for their shoots, but they never leave anything behind other than establishing tourism.
If you are living here, then you already know how it feels to see the same show or concept every time. Everyone knows New Zealand, but our people are always lampooned with Australians. There is nothing wrong by being grouped with them (sometimes), but it is just sad that the scenery overshadows our people. This might be the reason why our streaming options are always so bland or stale. No one wants to watch reruns of The Almighty Johnsons or Outrageous Fortune for the nth time, no matter how awesome these shows are for a rewatch.
One of the aspects of New Zealand entertainment that people notice is its lack of representation in the outside world. The Lord of the Rings by Peter Jackson is not a Kiwi product; it is just shot in our islands. However, it is still the most recognizable franchise that is associated with us. No one has ever heard of those previous shows outside of Oceania, and no one seems interested. Now, it has returned to us with a few more issues of its own.
Streaming is also rather late in New Zealand. Netflix, the arguably leading candidate for streams, only arrived here in 2015. During that time, most of the shows here were already licensed to another company. As they want to have their streaming service alongside Netflix, various franchises can’t be introduced to the world. Likewise, we are also stuck with the same choices that are not enjoyed by many people.
This is the reason that most Kiwi internet users these days opt to use a VPN or virtual private network to watch the shows they want. For example, you want to watch Hulu in the comfort of your home. Unfortunately, this recent Disney purchase is still not available here in New Zealand. It might take years, as several factors can affect the decision on the company you branch out here. In this case, our population might not be enough to warrant a full launch compared to other countries.
Advantages Of Getting a VPN
How VPN works might be a mystery for some people since it is only those who have spent a lot of time online who know about it. A VPN works as an alternative server wherein data exchange happens. Every time you go online, a piece of that information goes to the web, and it returns to you depending on what you want. Hackers can easily exploit this process since the internet does not have its governing body or safety protocol. With VPN, you can now hide your online activity without worrying about being tracked by other people.
If you enter any website that blocks outsiders from using it, you might see an error message or a warning about accessing it. This is the same way with streaming sites that are not yet available here in New Zealand. You might also encounter it with Netflix, even though it is already available here. Some shows are categorized as “location-locked”, meaning that only locals can access this content. It can be problematic for anyone who wishes to see these shows, especially since streaming sites are supposed to be “global” services.
When you already have a VPN account, you can easily change your location or your address online. This can open a wide variety of possibilities. Even if you are here at the ends of the world, you can still enjoy the same shows that other countries have in their streaming services. At first, it isn’t very easy since you need to register first with a good VPN service.
Choosing The Best VPN
1. Can Support Your Media Of Choice
As we moved to the new decade, various streaming services have recognized that VPNs can bypass their geolocation security system. Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon Prime have updated their terms of use as well as their security, making VPNs almost useless. However, VPN providers have also updated their software so that they can still give this kind of service. Instead of having full-on access to all of the streaming companies available, it went down to specific options only. These caveats on services are why you need to know more about your provider first before registration.
2. Wide Range Of Locations
Another sign of an excellent virtual private network is their choices for locations. Remember, you need to have a different address that would match with the content—accessing it while in another country is almost impossible unless you have a lot of knowledge about computer engineering. However, it is essential to note that having a lot of locations does not make a good VPN. Learn more about these locations: https://www.techradar.com/vpn/change-location-with-a-vpn.
3. Tough Security Measures
A virtual private network should also be secure enough that breaches to their security are almost impossible. As a user, you should be confident that no one is trying to track your online clicking habits. There have been VPN providers that were hacked in the past, causing data to be shared across the world. However, these hacks are few and far between, but you still need to be careful.
4. Effective, Efficient Yet Affordable
This is a dream for anyone who is into using these apps, and most of them do deliver. However, some are only good in the ads. Once you use their products, it becomes more apparent that it was just for show. Be thorough with any research on your VPN of choice since it is not something that you should randomly choose. VPNs can protect you to an extent, but your habits and internet use also plays a significant part in your overall safety.
Many people are still not educated enough when it comes to internet security. You might think that it is just easy to go online and do whatever you want. Websites these days are already telling their users that they might collect some data while you are browsing through their content. They need this for marketing reasons, and you should not be worried too much about it. However, others can take advantage of this practice, so you should always stay vigilant as the internet is still a dangerous jungle.
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