So, I’ve been digging around trying to find ways to get to YouTube when it’s blocked, you know, like at school or work. It’s a real pain when you just want to watch a quick video during your break, right? Anyway, I stumbled upon a few methods and wanted to share what I found after trying them out myself.
Proxy Sites
First off, I messed around with some proxy sites. The idea is pretty simple. These sites act like a middleman. You go to their site, type in YouTube’s address, and boom, you’re watching videos.
- CroxyProxy: This one was the first I tried. It’s free and didn’t even ask me to sign up or anything. Just went to their website, and there was a big box to type a URL. I entered youtube, and it loaded right up. Worked like a charm. The videos played smoothly, no weird pop-ups or anything shady.
- Smartproxy: Next, I gave Smartproxy a shot. This one felt a bit more serious, talking about their big network of servers and whatnot. It also worked, but it felt like it was more for people who do a lot of this unblocking stuff regularly.
Direct Unblocked Sites
Then there are these sites that are just straight-up unblocked versions of YouTube. I tested some and they were a bit hit or miss.
- YouTubeUnblocked: It sounds promising, right? Well, it worked. I could access videos, but it was a bit slow. And I think it’s more for people in the USA and Europe, so depending on where you are, your mileage may vary.
Giving it a Go
So, I went ahead and tested these out. I used my old laptop, nothing fancy. I made sure my internet was decent because, let’s be honest, a bad connection ruins everything. I visited each site, typed in YouTube, and crossed my fingers.
CroxyProxy was a pleasant surprise. Easy, fast, and I could watch whatever I wanted. Smartproxy was okay, too, but it seemed like overkill for just wanting to watch a couple of videos.
As for YouTubeUnblocked, it was alright. It did the job, but the slow loading was a bit of a downer. But hey, if you’re in a pinch, it’s better than nothing.
In the end, if you’re just looking to watch some YouTube without any hassle, these sites do work. CroxyProxy was my favorite from this little experiment. It’s simple, it’s free, and it does what it says on the tin. Smartproxy is there if you need something more robust, and YouTubeUnblocked is a decent backup if you’re in the right location. Just remember, using these sites might not always be allowed where you are, so maybe don’t do it during class, okay?
I’ll keep looking into other ways to access blocked content and will share what I find. It’s all about staying informed and finding what works best for us, right?