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Parents, movie buffs and office workers might all succumb to the novelty of Apple’s new ‘spatial computing’ device.

The new headset teaches a valuable lesson about the cost of tech products: The upsells and add-ons will get you.

Following the viral spread of pornographic AI images of singer Taylor Swift, government leaders are addressing the creation and sharing of sexualized AI-generated deepfakes.

On Jan. 30, a bipartisan group of Senators introduced a new bill that would criminalize the act of spreading nonconsensual and sexualized “digital forgeries” created using artificial intelligence. Digital forgeries are defined as "a visual depiction created through the use of software, machine learning, artificial intelligence, or any other computer-generated or technological means to falsely appear to be authentic."

Currently known as the Disrupt Explicit Forged Images and Non-Consensual Edits Act of 2024 (or the "Defiance Act"), the legislation would also provide a path to civil recourse for victims who had their images depicted in nude or sexually explicit images. Through the bill, victims could sue "individuals who produced or possessed the forgery with intent to distribute it" or anyone who received the material knowing it was not made with consent, the Guardian reported.

SEE ALSO: What to do if someone makes a deepfake of you

"The volume of deepfake content available online is increasing exponentially as the technology used to create it has become more accessible to the public," wrote judiciary chair Richard J. Durbin and Rep. Lindsey Graham. "The overwhelming majority of this material is sexually explicit and is produced without the consent of the person depicted. A 2019 study found that 96 percent of deepfake videos were nonconsensual pornography."

Senate majority whip Dick Durbin explained in a press release that the bill's quick introduction was spurred explicitly by the viral images of Swift, and the White House's demand for accountability. “This month, fake, sexually explicit images of Taylor Swift that were generated by artificial intelligence swept across social media platforms. Although the imagery may be fake, the harm to the victims from the distribution of sexually explicit 'deepfakes' is very real."

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In a statement from White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre on Jan. 26, the Biden administration expressed its desire for Congress to address deepfake proliferation amid weak enforcement from social media platforms. “We know that lax enforcement disproportionately impacts women and also girls, sadly, who are the overwhelming targets of online harassment and also abuse," Jean-Pierre told reporters. "Congress should take legislative action."

The creation of deepfake "porn" has been criminalized in other countries and some U.S. states, although widespread adoption is yet to be seen. Mashable's Meera Navlakha has reported on a worsening social media landscape that's disregarded advocates' ongoing demands for protection and accountability, writing, "The alarming reality is that AI-generated images are becoming more pervasive, and presenting new dangers to those they depict. Exacerbating this issue is murky legal ground, social media platforms that have failed to foster effective safeguards, and the ongoing rise of artificial intelligence."

A climate of worsening media literacy — and the steep rise of digital misinformation and deepfake scams — prompts an even greater need for industry action.

If you have had intimate images shared without your consent, call the Cyber Civil Rights Initiative’s 24/7 hotline at 844-878-2274 for free, confidential support. The CCRI website also includes helpful information as well as a list of international resources.

February is the new January, and it's not too late to start thinking about goals for the rest of 2024. If sticking to a fitness schedule is on your list for the next 11 months, Amazon has Garmin smartwatches on sale for up to 25% off that'll help you stay on track.

Best Amazon deals on Garmin smartwatches Best Garmin deal for the music lover Garmin Venu Sq Music (GPS) $219.95 at Amazon (save $30.04) Get Deal Best Garmin deal under $300 Garmin Forerunner 745 (GPS) $299.99 at Amazon (save $100) Get Deal Best Garmin deal for long battery life Garmin Venu 3S (41mm, GPS, Pebble Gray) $384.19 at Amazon (save $65.80) Get Deal

A smartwatch can be a life changer when it comes to both productivity and tracking fitness stats. If you're a serious runner or cyclist, keeping tabs on essential stats like distance, time, and heart rate can give you a more accurate training guide for the future. Or if you're aiming to get in more steps each day while walking the dog, there's nothing more functional than a smartwatch with fitness tracking.

Regardless of your goals, a smartwatch combines some of life's essentials, like checking text messages or answering phone calls (or, you know, checking the time). Thanks to today's deals on Garmin smartwatches at Amazon, you can keep closer tabs on your fitness and schedule.

Here are our top picks for the best Garmin deals at Amazon as of Jan. 31.

Best Garmin deal for the music lover Opens in a new window Credit: Garmin Our pick: Garmin Venu Sq Music (GPS) $219.95 at Amazon (save $30.04) Get Deal Why we like it

If your motivation gets a kickstart from music, the Garmin Venu Sq Music is the smartwatch for you. As of Jan. 31, it's just $219.95 at Amazon, down from the normal price of $249.99, which means you'll save 12%.

The Garmin Venu Sq Music is designed for those who want to have on-wrist music options. Download songs or playlists from your favorite music app like Spotify for Amazon Music, connect to your wireless earbuds, and you're set for on-the-go music without a cellular connection. Take it with you on your first run of the year or use it to amp up the motivation during that 10k you signed up for. Whatever your adventure, the Garmin Venu Sq Music allows for uninterrupted listening in addition to all of the health stats Garmin offers like sleep tracking, stress level, body battery, and pulse oxygen level.

Best Garmin deal under $300 Opens in a new window Credit: Garmin Our pick: Garmin Forerunner 745 (GPS) $299.99 at Amazon (save $100) Get Deal Why we like it

Thanks to today's deal, the Garmin Forerunner 745 is just $299.99 at Amazon, down from the normal price of $399.99, which means you'll save $100 on your fitness-tracking investment. Recommitting to your workouts this year? If so, the Garmin Forerunner 745 is here to be your favorite companion. Making use of multiple satellites, the smartwatch aims to accurately track each workout, giving you full access to the stats you need. The Forerunner 745 takes the "smart" in smartwatch seriously, giving you access to on-device run and cycling suggestions based on your current training load and VO2 max levels.

If you're looking for something with more pizazz than a white or black watch, this deal extends to the Red and Tropic colorways so you can add a pop of color to your look.

Best Garmin deal for long battery life Opens in a new window Credit: Garmin Our pick: Garmin Venu 3S (41mm, GPS, Pebble Gray) $384.19 at Amazon (save $65.80) Get Deal Why we like it

One of the least appealing elements of smartwatch life is limited battery life. There's nothing more frustrating than getting ready to head off on a run and feeling a vibrating alert warning you of a low battery. The Garmin Venu 3S aims to ease those annoyances thanks to a battery life that can extend up to 10 days. The bright 1.2-inch AMOLED screen is especially useful on sunny days. The Garmin Venu S3 also helps keep you connected with the ability to make and take calls from the watch.

More Garmin smartwatches on sale at Amazon

• Garmin vívofit 4 — $71.76 $79.99 (save $8.23)

• Garmin vívofit jr. 3 — $77.21 $89.99 (save $12.78)

• Garmin Venu Sq — $131.61 $199.99 (save $68.38)

• Garmin epix Gen 2 — $579.50 $799.99 (save $220.49)

• Garmin Enduro 2 — $999.99 $1,099.99 (save $100)

During author Truman Capote's time in New York high society, he assembled an inner circle of socialite women he dubbed his "swans" — elegant, poised, and presenting a finely curated image of perfection.

But as Feud: Capote vs. The Swans reveals, there's more to the "swan" nickname than just coiffed white feathers and polished exteriors. The way Capote (Tom Hollander) tells it in Ryan Murphy's Hulu series, swans may appear effortless, yet tremendous work goes into keeping up the illusion that they are gracefully afloat. The birds' feet churn furiously below water, just as Capote's elegant entourage tirelessly labors to maintain their good standing in society. They weather affairs, illnesses, and anxieties in relative privacy, only presenting their most dazzling face to the world.

SEE ALSO: 'Expats' review: Lulu Wang and Nicole Kidman team up for a painful exploration of grief

As a season of television, Capote vs. The Swans follows in its namesakes' footsteps, its fabulous façade hiding something deeper and more complicated. Big-name stars, promises of Real Housewives-esque drama, and an air of overall glamor lure us into what is ultimately a tragedy of friendships gone irreparably awry.

Feud: Capote vs. The Swans follows Truman Capote's real-life fall from grace. Tom Hollander in "Feud: Capote vs. The Swans." Credit: FX

At the center of all these bonds is Capote, who, aside from being a celebrated author of works like In Cold Blood and Breakfast at Tiffany's, makes a name for himself by regaling New York City's wealthiest and trendiest with witty stories and hot gossip. Everything from embarrassing bathroom habits to accusations of murder is on the table. Capote's eager listeners eat it up: As one character puts it, he's "the most fun there is."

That tendency for frivolity has made Capote the friend, social guru, and confidant of a host of high society women. Among them are Slim Keith (Diane Lane), C.Z. Guest (Chloë Sevigny), Lee Radziwill (Calista Flockhart), and the closest and favorite of all his swans, Babe Paley (Naomi Watts).

These friendships come to a spectacular halt when Capote publishes an excerpt from what is meant to be his next novel, Answered Prayers. Titled "La Côte Basque, 1965," the story features thinly disguised versions of his dear companions — and their most shameful secrets. Capote's betrayal leads his swans to shun him completely, excising him from the high society he held so dear. A downward spiral soon follows: Capote's alcoholism surges, and he is unable to focus on Answered Prayers. His trajectory is as bleak as the swans are beautiful. Feud: Capote vs. The Swans reckons with that duality — and why Capote wrote "La Côte Basque, 1965" in the first place — throughout.

Feud: Capote vs. The Swans is stunning yet deeply sad. The cast of "Feud: Capote vs. The Swans." Credit: FX

Elegance is the name of the game in Capote vs. The Swans. Showrunner Jon Robin Baitz and episode directors Gus Van Sant, Max Winkler, and Jennifer Lynch regale us with high fashion from the '50s all the way to the '80s, elegantly plated meals, and exquisite parties. No wonder people crave proximity to this lifestyle.

Yet Feud wields this glamor like a double-edged sword. The swans are often miserable and insecure, trapped in gilded cages, sometimes of their own making. Babe is the prime example; her pursuit of perfection has alienated her from her children and means she stays with her cheating husband, media mogul Bill Paley (Treat Williams), in order to keep up appearances. Then, of course, there's Capote himself, whose fall from grace prompts a string of self-destructive choices, including abusive relationships and substance use. For everyone, it's better to be in and unhappy than out and alone.

SEE ALSO: The 20 funniest comedies on Hulu, because we all need a laugh

Capote vs. The Swans uses these personal woes to elevate major set pieces. A standout is an episode focused entirely on Capote's legendary 1966 Black and White Ball, explored here in monochrome documentary-style footage. Capote dangles the coveted title of Guest of Honor in front of each of his swans, giving us a glimpse into the kind of strange, symbiotic relationship between the author and his so-called friends. He needs them to sustain his relevancy in society, and they need him to access loftier social echelons. It's a glamorous high-wire act, lending each catty remark or gossiping whisper a surprising pathos.

Tom Hollander and Naomi Watts dazzle in Feud: Capote vs. The Swans. Naomi Watts and Tom Hollander in "Feud: Capote vs. The Swans." Credit: FX

Holding this web of backstabbing socialites together is Hollander, who captures the tragedy of Capote along with his many flaws and quirks. Sporting the author's trademark high-pitched voice, Hollander delivers gossip with callous verve, then turns around and explores Capote's deep pain and remorse — sometimes in the same scene. Playing Capote could easily lead an actor into caricature territory, but in Hollander's hands he remains a flesh-and-blood human, fun and flawed in equal measure. Even in Feud's more surreal scenes — such as discussions with Jessica Lange as Capote's glamorous Force ghost of a mother (this is a Ryan Murphy production after all) — Hollander stays grounded.

The cornerstone of Capote vs. The Swans is Capote's relationship with Babe, whom Watts initially plays with ice-cold poise. Once she cuts Capote out of her life and begins to reckon with her ailing health, Watts allows regret to disrupt Babe's hard-won perfection. Why did her closest friend hurt her? Was she right to cut him out of her life, even as the two of them struggled while apart from each other? What is genuine here, and what is performance?

In Feud: Capote vs. The Swans, it's impossible to truly be one's self in the swans' cutthroat world. Authenticity comes second to image. But Feud makes sure that all its images — as alluring as they are — serve the characters' pain, no matter how hard they may try to hide it. You may come to Capote vs. The Swans for the promise of glamor and capital-d Drama, but you'll stay for the devastating fallout and surprising bonds between its characters.

The first two episodes of Feud: Capote vs. the Swans premiere Jan. 31 at 10 p.m. ET on FX, with episodes available to stream on Hulu the next day.

SAVE $40: As of Jan. 31, get Sonic Superstars for $19.99. That's a 68% discount and $40 off its usual price of $59.99.

Opens in a new window Credit: Best Buy 'Sonic Superstars' (Nintendo Switch) $19.99 at Best Buy (save $40) Get Deal

Sonic fans have had a great time over the past couple of years. Sonic Frontiers offered exciting open-world exploration, while the most recent Sonic adventure, Sonic Superstars, serves up great classic gameplay that feels like a fun throwback to the platforming franchise's glory days on the Sega Genesis. If you haven't yet had a chance to try it out, now's a great time, as it's up for grabs on the Nintendo Switch for one of the lowest prices we've seen.

As of Jan. 31, Sonic Superstars is just $19.99 at Best Buy, down from its normal price of $59.99. That's $40 off and a discount of 68%. It's one of the lowest prices we've seen on the game since its October debut, making this an even sweeter deal given that it's only a few months old.

SEE ALSO: Get an Xbox Elite controller for under $100, plus more gaming deals this week

This side-scrolling platformer has you playing as Sonic the Hedgehog, Miles "Tails" Prower, Knuckles the Echidna, and Amy Rose as you work together to take down the nefarious Dr. Eggman, par for the course for a Sonic game. Eggman has allies Fang the Hunter and Trip the Sungazer under his control, and Sonic and the crew have to find seven Chaos Emeralds to thwart the evil gang.

It's high-octane, fast-paced action across 12 unique zones with 26 levels and a number of special stages that take advantage of each character's unique abilities. It's one of the Sonic games that's gotten closer to what made the original games so great, and even if it isn't perfect, it's still some pretty great fun for $20 for Sonic fans. So if that sounds like a (Sonic) blast, you might want to go ahead and grab a copy while it's this cheap.

TV streaming records were broken in 2023, with some surprising shows named as the most streamed in the U.S. last year, according to media audience measuring firm Nielsen.

In Nielsen's new report tracking American streaming habits over the year, Suits was crowned a winner as 2023's most popular TV show on streaming.

SEE ALSO: The 20 best TV shows of 2023

Suits beat a previous record held by NBC's The Office, which was streamed for 57.1 billion minutes in 2020. Despite running from 2011 to 2019, Aaron Korsh's legal drama saw a massive resurgence in viewership last year, being streamed a whopping 57.7 billion minutes on Netflix after it was added to the platform in June last year. The series famously saw the screen breakthrough role of Meghan Markle, Duchess of Sussex.

The second most-streamed show of last year was the animated children's hit Bluey, clocking up 43.9 billion minutes on Disney+.

Other older sitcoms and dramas comprise much of the rest of the most-streamed list: the rest of it, successively, is NCIS, Grey's Anatomy, Cocomelon, The Big Big Theory, Gilmore Girls, Friends, Heartland, and Supernatural. Four of the 10 ten most streamed TV shows on the list are currently on Netflix exclusively, while other three titles stream on Netflix and a few other platforms – like Suits, which appears on both Netflix and Peacock.

None of the top 10 streamed shows originally aired on the streaming platforms where they took off in 2023, which is notable given the year was dominated by the Hollywood writers strikes. However, Apple TV+'s Ted Lasso garnered the most viewership for an original series, with 16.9 million minutes for its third and final season. Netflix's The Night Agent, Ginny and Georgia, Virgin River, and Love Is Blind rounded out the top five originals. But none of these shows, including Ted Lasso, were in the overall top streamed list.

Of course, just because something's popular doesn't make it...good. Here's Mashable's picks for the best TV shows of 2023, regardless of their viewership numbers.

The best ways to watch 'Feud: Capote vs. the Swans': BEST OVERALL Hulu (with ads) monthly subscription Free one-month trial, then $7.99/month Get Deal BEST BUNDLE DEAL Hulu + Disney+ (with ads) $9.99/month (save $5.99/month) Get Deal BEST FOR T-MOBILE CUSTOMERS Hulu Basic (with ads) Free for one year on Go5G Next T-Mobile plans (save $7.99/month) Get Deal BEST FOR STUDENTS Spotify Premium for Students with Hulu Free one-month trial, then $4.99/month (save up to $12.99/month) Get Deal BEST CABLE REPLACEMENT Sling Blue $20 for your first month, then $40/month (save $20) Get Deal

If you like Ryan Murphy, high society betrayal, and capital-D drama, the second season of his anthology series Feud premieres this week. The eight-episode limited series is based on the bestselling book Capote’s Women: A True Story of Love, Betrayal, and a Swan Song for an Era by Laurence Leamer. It pits famed author Truman Capote against his coterie of elite Manhattan socialites known as his "swans." And judging by the trailer, we're in for quite the glamorous showdown.

Here's a sneak peek:

With an epic cast and crew and a Real Housewives dose of pettiness, betrayal, privilege, gossip, and self-destruction, it's one of our most anticipated shows of 2024. Here's everything you need to know in order to watch Feud: Capote vs. the Swans.

When does Feud: Capote vs. the Swans premiere?

The first two episodes of Feud: Capote vs. the Swans premiere on Wednesday, Jan. 31 on FX at 10 p.m. ET. Subsequent episodes air weekly every Wednesday night at the same time, with the finale set for March 13. Episodes will also be available to stream on Hulu the next day.

Here's an outline of the episode schedule:

• Episode 1: "Pilot" — Jan. 31

• Episode 2: "Ice Water in Their Veins" — Jan. 31

• Episode 3: "Masquerade 1966" — Feb. 7

• Episode 4: "It's Impossible" — Feb. 14

• Episode 5: "The Secret Inner Lives of Swans" — Feb. 21

• Episode 6: "Hats, Gloves and Effete Homosexuals" — Feb. 28

• Episode 7: "Beautiful Babe" — March 6

• Episode 8: "Phantasm Forgiveness" — March 13

How to watch Feud: Capote vs. the Swans without cable

If you no longer have a cable subscription but want to tune into the second season of Feud, you have a couple different options. Don't mind waiting until the next day to stream episodes? Sign up for a Hulu subscription and stream each episode the day after it airs on FX. Rather watch live? You'd be better off signing up for a cable replacement service like Sling TV or Hulu + Live TV, which gives you access to FX in real time (as well as many other networks). We've broken down all your best options for watching below, as well as the best ways to save some money.

Best for new subscribers: Hulu 30-day free trial Opens in a new window Credit: Hulu Hulu (with ads) Free one-month trial, then $7.99/month Get Deal

If you've never subscribed to Hulu before or you haven't subscribed in awhile, you can easily watch Feud: Capote vs. the Swans for free with your 30-day free trial. Hulu is pretty generous with its trial period, unlike many other streamers. You'll have to plan out your trial period to be able to watch every episode within a 30-day span, but it's definitely doable. If you decided to keep your subscription going after the trial, you'll have to pay $7.99 per month for the basic plan with ads or $17.99 per month for the No Ads plan. If you cancel before the trial is up, you'll owe zero dollars.

Best for T-Mobile customers: Hulu (with ads) included for one year Opens in a new window Credit: T-Mobile / Hulu Hulu Basic (with ads) Free for one year for Go5G Next customers Get Deal

T-Mobile customers on the Go5G Next plan can enjoy Hulu with ads for an entire year for free. Just head over to the promotion site, enter your T-Mobile number, and continue to login with your ID. Read over the terms and conditions, enter your personal details, and click submit. Then you'll be directed to Hulu to redeem your offer. Note: you must redeem it within 30 days of receiving your redemption code. After 12 months, you'll have to decide whether you want to cancel or pay full price ($7.99 per month) to keep your subscription going.

Best for students: Spotify Premium for Students with Hulu Opens in a new window Credit: Spotify / Hulu Spotify Premium for Students with Hulu Free one-month trial, then $5.99/month Get Deal

Students looking to tune into Feud Season 2 have a couple great options. Our favorite is Spotify Premium for Students, which not only gives verified students access to Spotify Premium, but also Hulu (with ads) for no extra charge. Not to mention there's a free one-month trial to test the waters. Once your month is up, you'll pay just $5.99 per month for both services. The only requirement is that you have to prove you're actually a student via SheerID.

Another option would be to sign up for a Hulu student account (no Spotify) for only $1.99 per month. While there's currently no free trial, at $1.99 per month, we're willing to look past it.

Best for long-term viewing: Hulu (with ads) annual subscription Opens in a new window Credit: Hulu Hulu (with ads) annual subscription $79.99/year (save 17%) Get Deal

Opting for an annual Hulu subscription instead of paying monthly will knock the $7.99 per month cost down to only $6.67 per month. That saves you about 17% simply by paying for a whole year in advance. If you only want to watch Feud and be on your merry way, this is probably not the best option for you. But with a long-term subscription, you can rewatch Feud Season 1 and 2 as many times as you want, plus tune into other Ryan Murphy shows like American Horror Story and Scream Queens, as well as more FX Originals we recommend like The Bear.

Best bundle deal: Hulu + Disney+ (with ads) Opens in a new window Credit: Hulu / Disney+ Hulu + Disney+ (with ads) $9.99/month Get Deal

If you're all about getting the most bang for your buck, the Hulu-Disney bundle (which includes both Hulu and Disney+ or Hulu, Disney+, and ESPN+) can save you up to 49%. Sure, you'll pay more overall, but you'll get access to two or three different streaming services for one low price. For both Hulu and Disney+, you'll pay $9.99 — that's just $2 more than paying for Hulu on its own. If you're a sports fan, you can throw in ESPN+ too for a total of $12.99 per month. It's maybe not the best option for someone looking to watch Feud and move on, but the Disney bundle is one of the best streaming deals around.

Best cable-replacement option: Sling TV Blue package Opens in a new window Credit: Sling Sling TV Blue package $20 for your first month, then $40/month Get Deal

Sling TV essentially works like an a la carte cable alternative. You pick your package and add on channels depending on what you actually watch. In order to watch Feud: Capote vs. the Swans live when it airs, you'll need access to FX network. That means you'll need the Blue package, which includes FX, as well as your local Fox and CBS networks, Bravo, USA, E!, and more. Unfortunately, there's no free trial to test the waters, but there is an introductory offer that slashes 50% off your first month of service. For the Blue package, you'll pay just $20 for your first month, then $40 per month after that.

Note: There are other live TV cable replacements like Hulu + Live TV, YouTube TV, or FuboTV, but they're significantly more expensive. Sling is the most affordable option — plus, it's completely customizable.

You may want to run, you may want to hide, but for most American earners, there's no escape from the inevitable: filing your taxes.

The oh-so-joyful tax season is finally upon us, but this year, there's a twist.

For the first time ever, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) will allow some taxpayers to file online for free directly to the IRS, using the agency's own in-house software and customer service support through a pilot program called Direct File.

The IRS has not announced when Direct File will begin accepting online returns, but it will start as invite-only in the beginning. Additionally, only taxpayers who live in Arizona, California, Florida, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Nevada, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Washington, and Wyoming will be eligible.

The IRS plans to make the pilot accessible to more people in those states as it assesses how well the program is performing.

SEE ALSO: 11 great apps for learning about mindfulness

Since the program will only be available to a fraction of taxpayers this year, you should still explore all of your options for filing online in 2024. That includes the IRS's existing Free File program, which offers free access to tax preparation software offered by certain private companies, as well as paid tax preparation services offered by private companies.

Ruth Susswein, director of consumer protection for the advocacy nonprofit organization Consumer Action, told Mashable that it's ideal if taxpayers have all the information they need before starting their return. This should include your and your dependents' Social Security numbers and any tax forms you have received, like a W-2 or 1099s.

"No one considers this fun, but just try to make this as painless as possible," said Susswein.

When will tax returns be accepted by the IRS?

If you'd like to get the 2023 tax season over with as soon as possible, you can submit a return as early as Jan. 29, 2024. The deadline to file is April 15, 2024.

Can I use Direct File?

The Direct File pilot will initially be invite-only. Certain government employees will be able to use Direct File, after which it will be opened up broadly to residents of the 12 eligible states, the IRS told Mashable.

It's worth paying attention to the rollout given the convenience that Direct File aims to deliver. For example, Direct File doesn't require you to buy or download software. It can be used on a mobile device as well, and is available in English and Spanish.

The service walks taxpayers through the return process and provides a checklist to easily review progress. At the end, users receive a summary of their 2023 taxes. The service also offers live assistance directly from an IRS Direct File customer service representative

If you live in one of the participating states, you should monitor the IRS Direct File website for updates. You can also subscribe to the Direct File newsletter. The IRS anticipates expanding access to the pilot in mid-March.

The IRS told Mashable that the agency wants to learn more about Direct File through the pilot. The agency will make a decision about its future — and whether to make it a nationwide initiative — at a later date.

While there is no income limit for Direct File, it is currently designed for simple returns. You will not be eligible if you have gig economy or business income, itemize your deductions, or claim credits like the Child and Dependent Care Credit or Saver's Credit.

Can I use Free File?

Free File is the IRS' no-cost service available for taxpayers whose adjusted gross income is $79,000 or less. Free File does not use any in-house IRS software but instead offers taxpayers access to tax preparation software from several private companies. The IRS' Free File partners include TaxSlayer and TaxAct.

To ensure that you're accessing free tax preparation software through this program, you must go to the IRS' website to begin your return. If you go to a Free File partner's website instead, you will not be able to access the software for free.

In the past, former Free File partner TurboTax "tricked" users into paying for their return when they were eligible for the free service, according to ProPublica. TurboTax is no longer a Free File partner.

Free File is designed to guide taxpayers through their return, and some partners allow users to also file their state tax return. The service is available in English and Spanish.

If you exceed the income limit for Free File, you can use the free fillable forms offered by the IRS to file your return online. These computerized forms allow users to enter all of their information for their return, but there is no software to guide them through the process.

Paid tax preparers

If you can't or prefer not to use Direct File, Free File, or the IRS' free fillable forms, you can use a tax preparer. Household names like H&R Block and TurboTax offer paid tax preparation services, as do local and regional accounting firms.

With the exception of qualified programs like Volunteer Income Tax Assistance and Tax Counseling for the Elderly, most tax preparation services are not free. In fact, the Federal Trade Commission just found that TurboTax engaged in deceptive practices when it marketed its tax products and services as "free" when many consumers were actually ineligible.

The commission prohibited TurboTax's parent company Intuit from claiming a product or service is free unless every consumer qualifies or its advertising discloses who qualifies.

What are the benefits of filing electronically?

Among the benefits of filing online are that it's free if you qualify for Direct or Free File, and you can receive any refund faster if you e-file and choose direct deposit.

Even if taxpayers don't owe any taxes for the latest year, Susswein urges them to file a return so they don't miss out on receiving the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), should they qualify for it. Susswein said the credit is meant to help low- to moderate-income workers receive money from their federal return. Parents with three or more children can receive as much as $7,430, and a child-free, single person can get a maximum of $600.

Consumer Action has a guide to who qualifies for the EITC and how to claim the credit.

Beware of anticipation loans and scams

As taxpayers navigate the tax return season, Susswein urges them to beware of refund advances, or tax anticipation loans, and scams.

Susswein said that refund advances offer a partial amount of a tax refund but come at a hefty cost, which can include fees and interest. While some filers might find an advance necessary, Susswein said that refunds can typically come within 21 days of filing electronically. If you can hold off on an advance during that period, you'll get the entire amount of a refund for no fee.

Additionally, be skeptical of efforts to obtain your personal and financial information during tax season. Susswein said that if you're suddenly hearing from someone purporting to be with the IRS, particularly over email or text, don't hand over any sensitive information. Such inquiries are all but certainly a scam designed to prey on stressed-out taxpayers.

ChatGPT can invite more of its chatbot chums to the party, as users can now directly mention other GPTs to bring them into the conversation. Cool, we guess?

Paying ChatGPT subscribers can extend an invitation to third-party generative pre-trained transformers (GPTs) powered by OpenAI by typing the @ symbol to tag them from a list of suggested apps. The chat-crashing GPT will directly join and have "the full context of the conversation", according to a tweet by the company.

Tweet may have been deleted

You can search directly for a GPT or browse recent and pinned chatbots, and you'll see a short description of the functionality of each bot in the search results.

Only the people who pay for the $20-per-month ChatGPT Plus subscription service can access both the GPT Store and the new in-chat @ mention feature. New subs were halted in November after a reported surge in sign-ups, but they're now available again.

SEE ALSO: OpenAI comments on alleged ChatGPT private conversation leak

The announcement comes just weeks after OpenAI launched its own GPT Store, where people and companies who have built their own chatbots using the company's AI can make them publicly available. Since OpenAI announced GPTs in Nov. 2023, over 3 million custom versions of ChatGPT have been created, the company says. These range from popular apps like AllTrails launching personalised hike recommendations to Khan Academy's Code Tutor and a chatbot for design platform Canva.

But as always, and we can't stress this enough, just be wary of what you're punching into that ChatGPT conversation.

Spotify Wrapped is pretty much an event at this point, with people dropping everything to share their top tracks and discuss their "listening character".

But what if your listening activities are based on another platform, eh? What if you don't even use Spotify? Well, the good news for Apple Music enjoyers is they can already start tracking their 2024 listening preferences — and it's still only January.

On Tuesday, Apple dropped its Apple Music Replay for 2024, allowing listeners to start building their own version of Wrapped without having to wait until the end of the year.

SEE ALSO: Troubleshooting your Spotify Wrapped: How to get it if it's not showing up

Running for almost two years now, Apple Music Replay is essentially a Spotify Wrapped in real time — you can track your listening habits for the year as they evolve, following your favourite artists, play counts on songs, and overall time spent listening.

We have a whole guide on how to access your Apple Music Replay, but in a nutshell it's viewable through the desktop site or via the Apple Music app. All you need is an Apple account and you're good to go.

Oh, and if you need more things in your life to be Wrapped, it's no longer just music. Banking apps, porn sites, and Tinder are also getting in on the action.

9News apologized for the edited photo of the member of Parliament, Georgie Purcell, which it said was a result of “automation by Photoshop.”

This content originally appeared on Mashable for a US audience and has been adapted for the UK audience.

Online dating as a lesbian, for the most part, still involves having your space invaded by straight people.

The heteronormative weirdness got so alienating that lesbians began turning to TikTok as a means of meeting other single lesbians — turns out, it's a pretty good matchmaker.

But it's unrealistic to expect a social media app to work like a dating app for everyone. It's hard for some of us to comprehend, but not everyone spends every free minute on TikTok. Lesbians who have exhausted their local romantic options are still going to want to see who else is out there in time for cuffing season.

Is online dating difficult for lesbians?

For much of current history, some people have acted as though lesbians didn't exist outside of porn and Ellen DeGeneres, while jokes swirled about how girls only turned to dating women if they had a bad experience with a man. Even in 2023, these tone-deaf assumptions still find a way to rain on the lesbian online dating experience. If it's not a man appearing in your feed when you specifically marked that you're searching for women, it's matching with a woman just to be hit with the classic "My boyfriend and I are looking for a threesome."

SEE ALSO: The best dating sites and apps for women

There's one big problem: The apps targeted toward the straights are still where most of the queer users are, too. Though women-only apps like HER are gaining traction fast, they can still be a bit of a ghost town...or a scammer's paradise. You just have to decide whether you'd rather deal with the quirks of Tinder and have more options to swipe through or be fine with coming across the same profile three times as long as it's not a man.

What is the best dating app for lesbians?

A decent number of dating sites and apps specifically for lesbians do exist, but most are plagued with the same issues: Either their sole purpose is to sexualise lesbians and aren't really meant for genuine connection at all, or their lax security protocols make it way too easy for ill-intentioned men to sign up pretending to be women. If you're wondering why we left most of those so-called female-only apps out, that's why.

With that in mind, we have lined up a selection of strong options to suit lesbians and gay women. Hopefully, there is something for everyone in this roundup.

These are the best dating apps for lesbians in 2024.

This content originally appeared on Mashable for a US audience and has been adapted for the UK audience.

The bisexual community has an inside joke that describes what it's like to date as a bi person: People think it means double the options or double the fun, but it really just means double the rejection.

Self-deprecating jokes like this one are at the core of the Single People Club regardless of sexuality, but bisexual people do face extra roadblocks in the dating world.

Yes, online dating sucks for everyone. Horny jerks disguise themselves as relationship seekers, your DMs are constantly filled with bad pickup lines and overly persistent creeps, and many times, the site's algorithm ignores the filters that you've set. But the fact that there are no dating sites that cater specifically to bi people means that they're frequently swiping on people who don't take bisexuality seriously.

The "B" in LGBTQ+ makes up 50 percent of the queer community, but it's one of the least-acknowledged letters in the acronym. There are dating sites for lesbians and dating sites for gay men, but nothing specifically for those who identify as bisexual. What makes the bi dating landscape — especially the online one — so tricky to manoeuvre?

What is unicorn hunting?

One of the most antiquated stereotypes about bisexual people is that they're always down to get physical and down for polyamory. "Unicorn" is a term used to describe a bisexual person (usually a woman) who sleeps with heterosexual couples. In online dating, unicorn hunting is when a straight, taken female user toggles that she's "looking for women" — not genuinely looking for a girl to get to know romantically, but rather for a girl interested in a threesome with her and her boyfriend or husband or whoever. Of course, they don't mention this until later.

SEE ALSO: The best dating sites and apps for women

No one is saying that threesomes are bad. Reddit users who have experienced this mention that they don't have a problem with "ethical non-monogamy." They have a problem with being tricked into it.

Are bisexuals welcome on heteronormative apps?

Another frequent bisexual experience is one that all women face online, now heightened by the mere mention of "bi" in a dating app bio: men being creepy. Too many straight men have yet to grasp the concept that bisexuality is not a green light to ask a stranger how many girls they've been with or if she likes men or women better.

Catfishing is also an issue. Some men have such a rabid obsession with queer women that they'll sign up for a dating site as a woman just to see an all-women swiping field. It's a total privacy breach at the least, and certainly doesn't boost your willingness to meet up with someone in real life. Many dating sites are working to increase transparency about first name and age by requiring Facebook verification during sign-up.

Are queer dating apps inviting to bisexual users?

Does "gold star lesbian" ring a bell? The delineation is given to lesbians who have never slept with a man. Countless bisexual women have reported being ghosted after disclosing that they have been with a guy before, and profiles with "gold stars only" in the bio have popped up, too.

This crowd of Reddit users explain the ways they've experienced biphobia on gay or lesbian dating sites. They've been told that they're not "actually bisexual" if they haven't been with anyone of the same gender before or that they're "basically straight" if their most recent relationship was a heterosexual one. Summed up: if you're not monosexually gay, it's a cop-out. Invalidating someone's sexual experiences is the opposite of the supportive sex-positivity that you'd expect from inside the queer community, and it contributes to many bisexual folks' struggles of not feeling queer enough.

Should you put "bi" in your dating app bio?

Adding those two simple letters to your bio will draw some unwanted attention, and it's going to be a pain in the ass. But in the long run, it'll also act like a filter to weed out people who try to put sexual orientation into a box.

The idea that being bisexual is just a pit stop to being "fully-blown gay" — or that it means that you're attracted to everyone you see — probably aren't thoughts you'd prefer a partner to have. They're especially not opinions you'd like to hear about months down the road from someone you thought you knew well. The easiest way to ensure that you won't be left heartbroken over someone not accepting your sexuality? Let them know from the jump.

"Coming out" over and over again is unfair. But doing so right off the bat also acts as an early screening for people who identify as bi but say they wouldn't date another bi person — something that a lot of bi men experience from bi women.

Can you actually find a relationship online?

Do bisexual people get dealt a tough hand on dating apps? Yes. Does that mean meeting someone special online is impossible? Absolutely not. A 2017 study cited in the MIT Technology Review found that people who meet online are more likely to be compatible and have a higher chance of a healthy marriage if they decide to get hitched. Further, a 2019 study done at Stanford found that nearly two-thirds of modern same-sex couples meet online.

It sucks that there's no legit dating app specifically devoted to bi individuals and other singles who respect what it means to be bi — yet. However, this also means that a good portion of other single bi folks are probably on those popular dating apps that you've considered. At least you know the user base is there.

What is the best dating app for bisexual people?

There are a lot of dating apps out there, each offering a different set of features that will suit some daters better than others. To help you find something that suits you and your lifestyle, we have lined up a selection of standout options that should suit just about everyone.

These are the best dating apps for bisexual people in 2024.

This content originally appeared on Mashable for a US audience and has been adapted for the UK audience.

Most people have at least one horror story about online dating. It's a rite of passage that single people love to hate.

But the horror stories look a little different for members of the LGBTQ community. On top of the classic awkward Hinge date anecdotes and screenshots of a corny bio seeping with secondhand embarrassment, gay singles deal with all sorts of alienating interactions. Baseless questioning of sexual history, harassment, and fetishisation — some of it coming from cis straight people who shouldn't have popped up in your feed in the first place — don't exactly result in butterflies.

Still, dating apps have become crucial means of introduction for gay folks looking to settle down. A 2019 Stanford study and 2020 Pew Research survey found that meeting online has become the most popular way for couples to connect — especially for gay couples, of which 28 percent met their current partner online (versus 11 percent of straight couples).

But the Pew survey also dredged up those ugly experiences with harassment. This could be where options that bar heterosexual users, like HER and Grindr, come in. Their perfectly-tailored environments are so well-known in the gay community that they're essentially in a league of their own.

Is Grindr the only option for gay dating apps?

Though Grindr and HER are big players, they're not alone in the queer dating app market. Apps like Zoe, Taimi, and Scruff exist. But their plateauing popularity can be attributed to similar complaints: too many scam profiles and too few legitimate users (ones within a reasonable distance to plan a date, anyway). Chappy was a promising app for gay men that shut down just as it was gaining serious traction.

SEE ALSO: The best dating sites and apps for women

And at the end of the day, "everyone" apps are simply where masses of queer users are. Keeping Tinder on the back burner isn't just a straight people thing, especially for those who live in less-populated areas where Grindr and HER offer slim pickings. Plus, some mainstream apps do deserve credit for the steps they've taken to create a more inclusive atmosphere. Tinder, Bumble, and Hinge now offer lots of sexual orientation and gender identity options. OkCupid gets kudos for making that change years ago, as well as making social justice a core part of compatibility scoring — which kind of self-curates the type of people on the app.

What is the best gay dating app?

If you're part of the LGBTQ community and hate leaving your home, you're not alone. These are the apps and sites that'll maximise your opportunities while minimising your human contact.

These are the best gay dating apps in 2024.

This content originally appeared on Mashable for a US audience and has been adapted for the UK audience.

If you like porn but want to make things a bit more interactive, these are some popular dating sites that will help you achieve that. There’s a little something for everyone, whether you’re looking to explore your kinky fantasies, make a lasting romantic connection, search for senior love, hook up, or want to keep things safely socially distanced and just chat.

And if free videos with easy-to-search categories like Pornhub offers are what do it for you, there’s options out there for you. While these sites are by no means perfect and some of them are pretty raunchy, here's the scoop on what you're getting yourself into.

What do you need to know about dating on NSFW sites?

Keep in mind that “dating” on NSFW sites like Grindr and GetItOn is about as subtle as the names of the platforms: Users are there to find a connection for a night, a threesome, or an ongoing sex buddy situation — not a long-term partner.

Also, sites like this don’t operate without mutual consent and boundary-setting (and respecting). When you’re building out your profile, be specific and honest about what you’re looking for and wanting so you can find people who genuinely match up with you and your interests or fetishes.

Should you use a NSFW site for dating?

If you’re looking for no-strings-attached sex, or just a sexting or Skype-sexing buddy for the evening, NSFW sites can be ideal for getting your needs met and getting straight to the point. “Dating” here is a very loose term — think of these as sites and apps for hooking up.

SEE ALSO: The best dating sites and apps for women

Users on these apps tend to be fairly direct — don’t expect a dinner invitation before you get asked over to their flat. If that’s not your cup of tea and you need a little more of the getting-to-know-someone before jumping into bed with them, these might not be the right sites for you.

What precautions should you take when using a NSFW dating site?

If you’re on a site where you need to share personal information or choose a username, be careful about the information you’re giving out — and about what kind of information it is. Things like credit card numbers are vulnerable to hackers, and using your real name on platforms like these can compromise your safety if you happen to stumble upon the wrong sort of people on the sites.

Always choose a username that doesn’t have a relationship to your first name, and be careful about the personal information you share (like where you live, etc.).

What else is important to know when using a NSFW dating site?

Besides not giving away any personal information, especially for things like anonymous encounters on cam or sexting sites, know the risks when it comes to sending nude or partially nude photos containing identifying details like your face or tattoos. While it’s against the law in many places to circulate private sexual images, that doesn’t stop people from doing it.

What is the best NSFW dating site?

There are plenty of raunchy dating sites out there that should suit just about everyone, but we get that you probably don't want to spend all day perusing the options (or maybe you do). To help you find the best NSFW dating site for you, we have lined up a standout selection.

We've tried to find something for every type of dater, with popular sites like AdultFriendFinder and GetItOn making the cut. You just need to pick a favourite.

These are the best dating site alternatives to Pornhub in 2024.

Apple's Vision Pro could very well be the most important new product Apple will launch this decade. It's a whole new product category for Apple, with a new, accompanying software platform called visionOS and an app ecosystem to match.

It's no wonder, then, that Apple has been extremely careful about how it handles this launch. The company invited only a handful of journalists for in-person briefings, and handed out review units to an even smaller group of people, whose embargoes for the review lifted on Tuesday.

The resulting reviews paint a (very) cautiously optimistic picture of the Vision Pro's future. All of the reviewers praise the tech – CNET's Scott Stein calls it a "mind-blowing look at an unfinished future," while The Verge's Nilay Patel calls it "magic," but warns that "the technology to build a true optical AR display that works well enough to replace an everyday computer just isn’t there yet."

Perhaps the most important takeaway is that there's just so much to cover about the Vision Pro. There's the display tech, the sensors, the user interface, the comfort, the weight, the accessories — the list goes on. There's also so much this thing can do; you could use the Vision Pro as an everyday work machine (or a virtual extension of your physical computer), or it could just be an entertainment device, a social device, or a gaming gadget. Finally, there's also the matter of the exorbitant price, and the question of what comes after.

This is why we decided to distill these early reviews into a couple of key points that everyone has a strong opinion on. It will take some time until we get a clear picture of what the Vision Pro really is and who it's for, but for now, here's what appears certain.

1. The tech is amazing

There's no two ways about it: All of the reviewers praise some aspect of the ingenuity Apple's engineers put into the Vision Pro. The displays are incredibly sharp, the passthrough video feed of the world looks great and has very little visible latency, and the hand-eye control interface is impressive.

According to Stein, the Vision Pro is "the best wearable display" he ever used, and he wrote the display quality and the interface "make the Vision Pro feel like it's in a whole other class."

"It’s the sort of first-generation device only Apple can really make, from the incredible display and passthrough engineering, to the use of the whole ecosystem to make it so seamlessly useful," wrote Patel.

2. It's heavy, and it will get uncomfortable after long sessions

We know the exact weight of the Vision Pro (21.2 - 22.9 ounces, or 600 - 650 grams, depending on the configuration, which doesn't include the 353g battery). But now, thanks to these early reviews, we also have an idea of how it feels to wear the Vision Pro on your head for several hours. The consensus is that it's not great.

"After half an hour the headset feels top-heavy," wrote Stein, referring to the setup with the Solo Knit headband. The Dual Loop band is "a better fit for long work sessions." YouTuber Marques Brownlee said the Vision Pro with Solo Knit might get "a little uncomfortable," though he also said the weight distribution is better with the Dual Loop band. But the Dual Loop messes your hair up, and is less comfortable according to Patel. Either way, it's a heavy device to be wearing on your head for hours. "You're just going to feel it after a while," wrote Patel.

3. Personas are...not great.

Personas are Vision Pro's virtual representations of its users, and while they are more impressive than the stuff Meta came up with, they're still quite weird. Patel called them "deeply weird and extremely uncanny," and CNBC's Todd Haselton said his Persona looked "like a much older version" of him.

The good news? Apple officially considers Personas to be beta software, so we can expect some improvements here.

4. The Vision Pro's best use might actually be the simplest one: viewing videos

Yearning to just disappear into some virtual landscape and watch a high-resolution movie on a massive virtual display? The Vision Pro might be for you, because, apparently, this works very well.

According to Patel, watching movies on the Vision Pro is a "ton of fun," and Stein said the experience of watching movies with the Vision Pro was "better than any TV" he had in his house.

Even better, 3D movies work too, and by the sound of it, they look better than what you'd get in a cinema. "It sometimes gives me chills," wrote Stein.

5. The floating keyboard isn't very usable yet

This is hardly a surprise, but reviewers say that the Vision Pro's floating, virtual keyboard you can theoretically type on with your actual hand is barely usable.

The virtual keyboard works, but you won't be typing novels on it. Credit: Apple

"The floating keyboard is useful for search or typing quick messages, but you won’t be able to type very fast at first. You look at each letter on a digital keyboard and select it, or reach out and tap the digital keyboard. I got faster during my time with the Vision Pro, but nowhere near as quick as I am on my iPhone or a real keyboard," wrote Haselton.

Patel wasn't as kind to the virtual keyboard, calling it "hilarious" and "not worth using for anything beyond entering a Wi-Fi password."

6. EyeSight is a dud

EyeSight, the display that's placed on the front of the Vision Pro's goggles to display a virtual representation of your actual eyes, apparently only looks good in Apple's promo photos. Stein pointed out that the people who saw it didn't "know what to make of it," while Patel wrote that "the idea that you’ll be making real eye contact with anyone is a fantasy." Several reviewers use the word "uncanny," and not in a good way. EyeSight, so it appears, needs to be improved by a lot, otherwise it will just be spooking people around you.

"In real life, I just removed the headset face when my wife came in to chat," wrote Haselton.

SEE ALSO: What’s inside the Apple Vision Pro box? 9 things that come with the headset. 7. You're still very far removed from reality

The passthrough video keeps you tethered to the real world, and EyeSight does make it a little easier for others to communicate with you. But make no mistake, while wearing the Vision Pro, you'll still mostly be alone, deep into your virtual world.

"I watch movies with AirPod Pro buds in, turning my living room into a movie theater. After a while my son taps me on the shoulder and asks if I'm asleep. I say of course not. But my wife says she doesn't like this, that I'm so removed from everything. My son calls it a phone for my face," wrote Stein. And Patel points out that there's no way to share your experience with other people. "Two people in Vision Pro headsets sitting in the same room can’t see the same things floating in space at the same time," he wrote, though he did note that some developers are working on experiences with shared views.

Bottom line: You put the Vision Pro on, and you're mostly AFR — away from reality. We just made that acronym up, and we really hope it doesn't become a thing.

8. The device is mostly a glimpse of what is possible, but it might take years and several iterations to get there

Literally none of the reviewers say that this is a device most people, or even most Apple users, or even most enthusiasts, should buy. Instead, everyone agrees that, while impressive, the Vision Pro is something you should consider only if you don't mind the $3,499 starting cost at all, because the Vision Pro won't be replacing your phone, tablet, MacBook Pro, or even your gaming VR headset. It's incredibly powerful and very interesting, but there's no killer feature in there just yet. As Stein put it, "it's clearly not a device you need to get on board with now."

In case you've missed it, there's been a growing theory online that Taylor Swift could actually be the mysterious author behind the source material for upcoming spy film Argylle.

There's all sorts of evidence for this, from certain moments in Swift's "All Too Well" that connect with the movie to the fact Argylle's author – Elly Conway – doesn't appear to have a real online identity. Appearing on The Tonight Show on Tuesday, however, Argylle star Bryce Dallas Howard took a moment to debunk the rumours.

"[Director Matthew Vaughn] must have been subconsciously influenced in some way, shape or form, but he had no idea of this rumour until his daughter ran into his room and was like, 'Why didn't you tell me that Taylor Swift wrote Argylle?' says Howard. "The Swifties are such an incredibly supportive community – amazing, amazing, amazing – and it got to the point where I was reading these things and I was like, 'Matthew, you haven't told me the whole truth, man.'"

SEE ALSO: Taylor Swift fans celebrate that Travis Kelce and the Chiefs are headed to the Super Bowl

So, is Matthew Vaughn very good at keeping secrets, or is it all really just a rumour? At this point we may need the real Elly Conway to step forward to clear things up.

Lawmakers released internal emails detailing the company’s failed efforts to add staff to focus on the online safety of minors, hours before a hearing on the topic.

The partnership between Universal Music Group (UMG) and TikTok has apparently soured, as the music company is set to pull its music catalogue from the social media app.

The agreement between the two companies is set to expire today (Jan. 31), and negotiations appear to have come to a standstill. UMG published an impassioned open letter addressed to the artist and songwriter community, saying they must "call time on TikTok." The letter explained that UMG has been pressing TikTok on three key issues: appropriate compensation for artists and songwriters, protecting human artists from the dangers of AI, and online safety for TikTok users.

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UMG said that TikTok wanted to pay their artists at a rate that is just a "fraction" of what other platforms offer. "Ultimately TikTok is trying to build a music-based business," said Universal, "without paying fair value for the music." The statement read:

TikTok’s tactics are obvious: use its platform power to hurt vulnerable artists and try to intimidate us into conceding to a bad deal that undervalues music and shortchanges artists and songwriters as well as their fans.

In response, TikTok released their own statement, declaring it "sad and disappointing that Universal Music Group has put their own greed above the interests of their artists and songwriters." The letter from the tech company also labelled Universal's narrative as "false" and pointed out that they have been able to negotiate 'artist-first' agreements with every other label and publisher."

SEE ALSO: Deepfakes of Taylor Swift have gone viral. How does this keep happening?

Universal, which is behind a third of the world's music, has said that only 1 percent of their revenue comes from TikTok, a platform with over a billion users. The music company's roster of artists includes Taylor Swift, Ariana Grande, Justin Bieber, Coldplay, The Weeknd and Drake.

If negotiations fail to go through today, Universal's entire music catalogue will be removed from TikTok immediately, a spokesperson confirmed to Reuters.

TikTok's seeming takeover of the music industry has been swift, with milestones like its own streaming service, a music festival, and a chart in collaboration with Billboard, all in the past year. Also last year, Warner Music Group inked an expanded deal with TikTok.