The expression describes a situation where users encounter difficulties accessing Netflix content while connected to the Surfshark virtual private network (VPN). It indicates a failure in the expected functionality of the VPN to provide access to geo-restricted content on the streaming platform. As an example, a user might connect to a server in the United States through Surfshark, anticipating access to the US Netflix library, but instead receives an error message or is shown the content library of a different region, or no content at all.
Circumventing geographical restrictions on streaming services offers a number of benefits. It allows individuals to access a wider variety of content than is available in their home country. This is particularly important in regions with limited entertainment options or where certain content is censored. Historically, VPNs became popular for this purpose as streaming services began implementing region-locking technologies. While VPN services often advertise the ability to bypass these restrictions, streaming platforms actively work to detect and block VPN usage, leading to inconsistent performance.
