US users are becoming increasingly interested in VPN services following the news that TikTok, WeChat and other Chinese-made apps could soon be banned outright in the country. As reported by CNBC, VPN downloads skyrocketed over the weekend as more citizens realized that they will soon be unable to access TikTok and other Chinese apps. VPNs allow users to change the IP address of their computer, tablet, or smartphone to an address in another country where access to certain websites and services has not yet been blocked. Ironically, Chinese users already rely on VPNs to access Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and other Western apps and services blocked by the country's massive firewall. Now, however, it looks like US users will soon have to do the same if they want to continue using TikTok and WeChat following President Trump's ban on both apps.
VPN Downloads
CNBC spoke with NordVPN digital privacy expert Daniel Markuson, who provided additional insight into the recent surge in VPN downloads, saying: “Waiting for a (TikTok) ban to go into effect on Sunday, people rushed to look for a VPN. more actively: this weekend alone, applications from the United States increased by 34%. " ExpressVPN has also seen a significant increase in traffic, the company's vice president, Harold Li, told the outlet: "We have seen a 20% increase in traffic to our website from the United States as a result of the initial announcement. of a possible ban on TikTok and WeChat in early August." In August, searches for online VPN services also increased amid rumors that the Trump administration would soon ban TikTok. In fact, this trend tends to repeat itself every time a country tries to prevent its citizens from accessing online sites and services, as was the case in Hong Kong before the implementation of the law. Chinese new national security law. While the TikTok ban will hit younger users the most, the WeChat ban is a different story, as many Chinese living in the US and Chinese Americans use the chat app to keep in touch. with members of the United States. his family in China. Both apps have a large user base and VPN downloads could increase exponentially if the US government goes ahead with its plan to ban them for national security reasons.- Also check out our full list of the best VPN services.