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Question

china blocked youtube on macbook; back home, can't unblock.

Jul 28, 2012 4:13PM PDT

Whenever I go to China, youtube, facebook and most videos are blocked. This time, when I got back home in the U.S., the sites remain blocked. I don't know what they did to block the sites, so I don't know how to unblock it. Suggestions? Yeah, it is a weird one.

Discussion is locked

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Answer
Do you get any sort of message when this happens?
Jul 28, 2012 11:17PM PDT

Make sure that you have the correct DNS configuration for your ISP, Network in System Preferences.

P

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china blocked youtube
Jul 29, 2012 2:41AM PDT

Thanks for the suggestion. I checked my laptop and discovered there was a different DNS configuration than on my iMac desktop. So I changed the laptop DNS so that it matches the iMac. Tried to connect with YouTube, and it still wouldn't go. I started looking around in the settings and found that I have a list of "preferred networks" -- my network at home plus lots of international hotels. I made certain it was selected to the correct network. Tried to connect with YouTube, and it still wouldn't go. I re-booted, thinking that would help. Nope, still won't connect to YouTube.

The problem with China censors is that they are tossing the baby out with the bathwater. I browse news sites regardless of where I am and, these days, most news sites are cycling video through YouTube, Twitter, whatever. I noticed while in Shanghai that I would look at a story on, say, CNN. The text would come up, but the accompanying video would just cycle and cycle and cycle. I glanced to the lower left and, invariably, it had hung up on one of the social media sites.

I wish I knew what mechanism they are using to block the sites. You never get a panel saying "The Site Is Blocked!" It just won't connect, or you will get "Trouble Loading Page".