One can’t deny the huge impact of social media on our lives. Everywhere you look, you see users scrolling through their smartphones, posting selfies, or sharing what’s on their mind. Social media usage is especially noticeable among students and teenagers, prompting schools to take action. Twitter, YouTube, and Facebook to name a few, are all banned inside school premises. However, there is a way to unblock them.
In this guide, we will show you how a VPN can get past network restrictions and give you access to Twitter when you’re at school.
Why Do Schools Ban Twitter?
Your school’s network administrator blocks Twitter and other social media platforms using a firewall. You can still browse the internet, but access to such apps is off limits. So basically, the administrator chooses which online content students are allowed to see.
There are several reasons behind the Twitter ban in school. First, administrations don’t want students to view any inappropriate content. Second, they think that Twitter can distract students, and shift their focus away from studying and learning. Furthermore, schools seek to preserve network bandwidth and limit internet consumption as much as possible.
One can’t argue with that logic. Allowing Twitter in the classroom will most definitely cause distractions, which could lead to bad grades and performances.
So I guess you can say that blocking Twitter serves the best interests of schools and students alike.
But what if you only use the app during breaks, or to research a school project or assignment? Shouldn’t you have access to Twitter then?
How to Access Twitter at School with VPN
Twitter doesn’t have to be a distraction if students use it outside class hours and during breaks. The social media app can also be quite educational if you use it for research purposes.
Therefore, it should be allowed in school. But in case you can’t convince your principal to lift the ban, you have to get a virtual private network (VPN).
A VPN can bypass your school’s firewall using software that can spoof your location. This tool allows you to connect to a server of your choice, and changes the public IP address that you’re using. This will make you appear as if you were surfing the internet from outside your school where Twitter isn’t blocked.
VPNs also encrypt your traffic, so you’ll be able to tweet and access other social media apps like YouTube anonymously. Your school can’t monitor your traffic nor trace anything back to you.
Just follow the below steps and you’re all set:
- Sign up with a VPN provider. See the list below for recommendations
- Download and install the app on your PC, Mac, iOS, or Android device.
- You can also set them up on routers, smart TVs, and gaming consoles.
- Sign in and connect to any different server.
- Visit WhatIsMyIP.network to check if the IP address change was successful.
- Tweet your heart away.
Best VPNs to Unblock Twitter
Students aren’t usually familiar with the VPN world, so choosing a good brand can be a bit challenging. That is why we rounded up the highest-ranked providers in the market to help you:
- 30-Day Money-back Guarantee
- Unlimited Bandwidth
- Apps For All Your Devices
- 24/7 Live Support
ExpressVPN
ExpressVPN sits top of our list because it offers a set of top-level features. The company has over 1,000 servers spread across 94 countries. This gives you access to almost any restricted content in the world.
Furthermore, it offers security and privacy measures that few others can match like AES 256-bit encryption. This is the strongest protocol in the business, and it guarantees that no one can monitor your online activity, not even your ISP. Additional security specs include split tunneling, DNS leak protection, and a kill switch. Also, ExpressVPN does not keep or store your data.
Moreover, the brand has complete access to Netflix libraries, including the US version; and it allows full torrenting and P2P activity.
If that’s not enough, you can install it on almost any device or operating system, including Windows, Mac, Android, Linux, and iOS. It is also compatible with routers, gaming consoles, and smart TVs.
IPVanish
IPVanish is another excellent brand that you can consider. The company provides some strong features for its users like AES 256-bit encryption, which is a standard among top industry performers.
Moreover, it has a large network of servers, with over 1,200 servers in 60 countries, most of which are in the US and Europe. It also has high levels of speed, so you can access any website you want in a jiffy.
Furthermore, the brand allows five simultaneous connections under one account, meaning you can use it on multiple devices at the same time.
NordVPN
You could pick NordVPN as well. The Panama-based company uses AES 256-bit encryption and a no-logging policy. But those are just two from a long list of features available for subscribers.
The company has over 5,000 servers in 61 countries, which makes it one of the largest networks in the industry.
Additionally, NordVPN is based in Panama, where there are no data retention laws.
The brand is also an official partner of Liverpool FC, meaning it has a strong presence in the UK.
How To Use Twitter in Class
Twitter isn’t just a tool for distraction and time-wasting, it could have educational advantages like:
- Updates about due dates or assignments.
- Follow the latest news and topics.
- Share notes.
- Research Tool.
- Communicate with different classrooms.
- Communicate with parents.
- Plan field trips.
- Post questions and make inquiries.
How to Access Twitter at School – Final Words
Limited access to the internet can be quite frustrating no matter where you are. And even though some decisions have the students’ best interests at heart, amending them wouldn’t hurt. Yes, Twitter can be distracting in the classroom, but it is also very helpful for students and teachers alike. So until schools change their policy concerning Twitter and other social media platforms, VPNs are your only way for unrestricted internet.