Mashable

iPhone users in China no longer have access to some of the most popular messaging and social media apps.

Apple was ordered by the Chinese government on Friday to remove Meta's messaging app WhatsApp and its social media platform Threads from the official App Store in China. Along with Meta's apps, Apple was also forced to remove the Signal and Telegram messaging apps from the App Store, too.

"We are obligated to follow the laws in the countries where we operate, even when we disagree,” an Apple spokesperson said in a statement provided to the Wall Street Journal.

SEE ALSO: TikTok ban passes the House, now heads to the Senate China's internet censorship continues

Generally, moves made by the Chinese government to control what can be accessed online in the country aren't too surprising. However, the timing of this recent ban targeting Meta's apps is interesting. The U.S. government is currently taking steps to ban the popular social video app TikTok, which has ties to China through its Chinese-based parent company Bytedance.

The Chinese government has typically moved to curtail the distribution of messaging platforms, like these four apps, specifically. Apps like Telegram, Signal, WhatsApp, and Threads have been used to organize protests and social movements against the government in the past. Unlike on China-based social media platforms, the government also can't control the spread of stories critical of the Chinese government and its officials on platforms like Threads or Telegram.

China is the second largest market for Apple and the iPhone, so the effects of these bans is rather large. However, many Chinese citizens are accustomed to these types of actions from the government and are well-versed in getting around them through the use of VPNs and other workarounds.

Don't stalk your ex on Find My Friends — even if Taylor Swift does it.

I don't know if you've heard, but Swift released a new album or two today that, in part, chronicles her breakup with her boyfriend of six years Joe Alwyn, and, in an even bigger part, her months-long situationship with the controversial 1975 frontman Matt Healy. Don't worry too much for the billionaire; she's now happily coupled-up with football star Travis Kelce. But the album isn't about @killatrav. This album is about Alwyn and Healy and, most of all, experiencing the humiliation of a breakup publicly. 

In one song, The Black Dog (no connection to Led Zeppelin), Swift sings about looking at her ex's location on, probably, the Find My app.

I am someone who until recent events/ You shared your secrets with/ And your location, you forgot to turn it off/ And so I watch as you walk/ Into some bar called The Black Dog/ And pierce new holes in my heart/ You forgot to turn it off/ And it hits me

SEE ALSO: Taylor Swift's brand is mightier than her pen

Here's the thing: Swift is willing to sue you for tracking her private jet, but she feels confident singing about following her ex's physical location after they broke up. It reads like she did it without him knowing, too, and the lyrics implied that he meant to turn it off, but "forgot to." (Absolutely wild thing to admit as one of the most famous women in the world, brother.)

To be fair, whomst among us.

Like with much of Swift's work, this is relatable. When you go through a breakup, it's difficult for you and your ex to detangle your digital lives from each other. It's a person you loved, or at least liked. Maybe you wanted their location to see how long it would take them to get home, so you'd know when to start dinner; you wanted their location so you could give them a quick kiss at the bar on your way to the train; or maybe you wanted their location so you could surprise them with flowers. There's nothing inherently wrong with following your partner's location or sharing your location with them. 

But once you break up, you forfeit the location-tracking. Of course, it's uncomfortable to take away location-tracking because, when you do it, it notifies the other person. They know that you don't want to see where they are, or you don't want them to see where you are — and frankly, that doesn't feel very nice. But breakups don't feel very nice. Be a grown-up!

Once you break up, you forfeit the location-tracking.

I'm obviously not in any position to give Swift personal advice, but here's some advice to the rest of us normies: Do not follow your ex's location after you break up. It might feel similar to stalking an ex on social media, but at least they're in control of what they publicly post, and unless they've blocked you, they know you can see their updates. Following someone's location after you've broken up is quite literally stalking. 

SEE ALSO: When do you stop sharing your location with someone?

It's also bad for your mental health. Every time you stalk your ex on social media, you're releasing dopamine and triggering this vile little motivation system in your brain, keeping you hooked — following their physical location is arguably worse. As Dr. Pamela Rutledge, director of the Media Psychology Research Center, told Mashable's Elena Cavender earlier this year, "When it starts to preoccupy your thinking and you become too invested in this person that you're stalking, but you're not getting any new information, you start to expend an unhealthy amount of energy in a virtual space."

More than that, and my deepest condolences to all Swifties who may disagree with me, the song plays with the idea of how painful it is to see her ex's location, but it doesn't do it in a way that implies she's in on the joke; that only deepens the irresponsibility and madness of following an ex's location. It's a truly out-of-this-world thing to admit to doing, though Swift is nothing if not brutally diaristic.

Which leads me to question: Where are Swift's friends? If a friend of mine followed their ex's location, saw that they went to a bar, began spiraling about how it "pierce[d] new holes in [their] heart," and told me or any of our other friends, we would immediately point out how deranged they had become. We would tell them it was weird and unfair to their ex, and that they needed to delete their ex's location from their phone. It would be an immediate, devastating, and unpleasant interaction. But it would save them heartbreak and, at the very least, would stop them from singing about it publicly, like Swift did.

Please, stop following your ex's location. Don't let your ex follow your location. It's better for your brain, it's better for your heart, and it's better for your relationship — or lack thereof — with your ex. Stalking is not the cornerstone to anything worth building upon, including a road to reconnection or recovery. And while you're at it, maybe don't look into people's windows either.

Just a week after her music returned to TikTok, Taylor Swift partnered with the social media platform to bring "exclusive in-app experiences to users" in promotion of her new album The Tortured Poets Department.

SEE ALSO: Taylor Swift's brand is mightier than her pen

The in-app experiences are par for the course for the billionaire songwriter. When you search "Taylor Swift" on TikTok a Tortured Poets Department animation appears. If you follow Swift, her official fanbase Taylor Nation, add "Fortnight (feat. Post Malone)," and post a video tagged "TheTorturedPoetsDepartment" you can unlock a banner for your profile picture. Additionally, fans may be included in a "Fan Spotlight" carousel if they use the hashtag. The partnership is reminiscent of the singer's YouTube Shorts challenge for Midnights a.k.a. the #TSAntiHeroChallenge.

Swift's collaboration with TikTok comes after her music was removed from the platform in February after negotiations between Universal Music Group (UMG) and TikTok dissolved over artist royalties. However, last week the pop star's music returned to TikTok ahead of the release of TTPD. (So far, she's the only UMG artist whose music is back on the platform.) UMG also represents big artists like The Weeknd and Ariana Grande.

Her partnership is one of many to promote The Tortured Poets Department; she collaborated with Spotify on a "library installation;" if you search her name on Instagram, a writing emoji appears; and she curated five playlists for Apple Music, recontextualizing some of her biggest hits into the five stages of grief.

For Midnights, she partnered with YouTube, TikTok, Spotify, Tumblr, and Amazon Prime's Thursday Night Football. Not to mention, the promo queen continues to use the album variant method to maximize sales and profits.

AMC's astonishing Interview with the Vampire is almost back for its second season, and it looks like we've got some new vampire rules to learn before then.

Season 2 sees vampires Louis de Pointe du Lac (Jacob Anderson) and Claudia (Delainey Hayles) journeying to Europe to find Old World vampires. They'll soon meet up with the Théâtre des Vampires in Paris, headed up by the thespian vampire Santiago (Ben Daniels).

A teaser from the upcoming season puts Santiago front and center as he tells Louis the laws of being a vampire. First up, each coven must have a leader. Second, the dark gifts of vampirism must never be given to children. (Sorry, Claudia!) And finally, no vampire may destroy another vampire. Sounds pretty cut-and-dry, but knowing how things tend to go for Louis and Claudia, it surely won't be long before these laws are broken to smithereens. Especially not with a vengeful Lestat de Lioncourt (Sam Reid) still on their tail.

Interview with the Vampire premieres May 12 on AMC and AMC+.

Scheana Shay from "Vanderpump Rules," the Bravo reality TV show that got even more popular after the "#Scandoval" firestorm, received a lot of flack after admitting that she tracks the location of 56 people.

And now, with the launch of Taylor Swift's 11th studio album,The Tortured Poet's Department, location tracking is getting even more attention, thanks to Swift admitting in a lyric to keeping tabs on an ex-boyfriend's location.

In "Black Dog," Swift revealed that her ex forgot to revoke her access for tracking his location, allowing her to see him walking into a bar called Black Dog.

SEE ALSO: The internet is 'Down Bad' for Taylor Swift's 'The Tortured Poets Department'

With all of this hoopla about location tracking, you may be wondering how to do it yourself.

How to use your iPhone to track your friends' location

First off, it's important to note that you cannot track anyone's location without their permission. As such, before you can go about tracking anyone's location, the person will receive a prompt to allow you to access their whereabouts.

Here's a quick how-to on how to keep tabs on your friends — for safety, of course.

1. Tap on the "Messages" app. Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable 2. Tap on the friend or loved one you'd like to track.3. Tap on the "+" button. Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable 4. Hit "Location." Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable 5. You may get an "Allow 'Messages' to use your location" prompt. Hit "Allow While Using App." Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable 6. Tap on the blue arrow to send the location request. Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

If your location request is accepted, you'll get a notification and see a small map that lets you see your loved one's current whereabouts.

Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

You can click on it to grab directions or share it with someone else.

Imagine you're driving down the road in your brand new Tesla Cybertruck, and suddenly, the vehicle won't stop accelerating.

For some Cybertruck customers, this frightening scenario became a reality because of an accelerator pedal cover that would slide up and become lodged in the vehicle's interior trim. The cover would get stuck when the pedal was already pressed down, holding it in that position so that the car would continue to accelerate even if the driver took their foot off the pedal.

Now, Tesla has recalled every Cybertruck that has been delivered to a customer – all 3,878 of them.

SEE ALSO: Tesla Cybertruck production and deliveries were just halted. Here’s the likely reason. Cybertruck recalled

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), Tesla is recalling the Cybertruck due to "Unintended Acceleration from Trapped Pedal." The agency describes the issue as "a trapped accelerator pedal can cause the vehicle to accelerate unintentionally, increasing the risk of a crash."

It's not completely out of the ordinary to see a Tesla vehicle being recalled. However, as Elon Musk fans and Tesla owners are usually quick to point out, those recalls usually require a fix that can be made with a software update. There's normally no need to bring your vehicle to a Tesla service location.

However, that's very much not the case with the Cybertruck. The accelerator pedal fix will require owners to take their vehicle to a Tesla service center.

The NHTSA says that Tesla intends to "replace or repair the accelerator pedal assembly, free of charge."

What is causing the problem? According to Tesla, during testing, it discovered that "an unapproved change introduced lubricant (soap) to aid in the component assembly of the pad onto the accelerator pedal" and that "residual lubricant reduced the retention of the pad to the pedal."

As previously reported, earlier this week, Tesla quietly stopped Cybertruck production and deliveries shortly after social media videos from Cybertruck customers who had experienced the accelerator pedal cover dislodging began to go viral.

According to the recall, Tesla first heard about the incident happening to a customer on March 31. Just days later, on April 3, another customer reported the same issue to the company.

Tesla says it decided to issue a recall on April 12. The company will be sending notification letters to current Cybertruck owners in the coming months. Cybertrucks that are awaiting delivery will receive the fix as well. Finally, Tesla is equipping Cybertruck vehicles in production with a new accelerator pedal component.

Today's best Dyson vacuum deals include the V8 back down to its lowest price ever at Amazon. Check out our picks below.

Today's best Dyson vacuum deals as of April 19: Best vacuum for deep cleaning deal Dyson V11 Origin cordless vacuum $469.99 at Amazon (Save $100) Get Deal Best vacuum for a quick clean deal Dyson V8 Plus cordless vacuum $349.99 at Amazon (Save $120) Get Deal

While robot vacuums have redefined the way we clean our homes, there's still something to be said for tackling messes with the ease and power of a cordless vacuum. When it comes to choosing the best cordless vacuum, Dyson offers some of the most powerful and precise models available.

As of today, April 19, select Dyson vacuums are on sale at Amazon for up to 26% off. While both of our deal picks save you $100 or more, the Dyson V8 Plus cordless vacuum is at its lowest-ever price on record.

Best vacuum for deep cleaning deal Opens in a new window Credit: Dyson Our pick: Dyson V11 Origin cordless vacuum $469.99 at Amazon
$569.99 Save $100.00 Get Deal Why we like it

This powerful handheld vacuum is made for deep cleaning all kinds of surfaces, from carpet or hard floors to cars, upholstery, stairs, and pet beds. With a run time of 60 minutes, the Dyson V11 Origin cordless vacuum is prepared to tackle the whole house. Weighing only 6.6 lbs, it's easy to maneuver the Dyson V11. We appreciate that the Dyson V11 has three different cleaning modes and an easy-to-read LCD screen to help you navigate each one. Plus, it detangles wrapped hair as you clean so you don't have to fuss with it later.

Best vacuum for a quick clean deal Opens in a new window Credit: Dyson Our pick: Dyson V8 Plus cordless vacuum $349.99 at Mashable
$469.99 Save $120.00 Get Deal Why we like it

The Dyson V8 Plus cordless vacuum is back down to its lowest price ever at just $349.99. Made for your everyday quick clean across all floor types, the Dyson V8 Plus has a run-time of 40 minutes with the ability to conserve energy and only use power where you need it. It comes with three different attachments to get your cleaning job done right, and you can choose between two different cleaning modes, powerful and max, making this an energy-saving and versatile pick.

So much attention has gone towards the OLED displays reportedly coming to the new iPad Pro that we haven't spent much time thinking about the iPad Air that's supposed to launch alongside it.

We have reason to now, though. As spotted by MacRumors, Display Supply Chain Consultants CEO Ross Young shared a paywalled post on X outlining a big upgrade coming to the rumored 12.9-inch iPad Air that's reportedly launching in the next few weeks.

According to Young, Apple will outfit the new 12.9-inch iPad Air with a mini-LED display, similar to the current-gen iPad Pro of the same size. This is a step up from current-gen LCD model.

SEE ALSO: How to reset iPad How is mini-LED better than LCD?

Compared to LCD, mini-LED is better at showing deeper black levels, limiting power consumption, and increasing brightness in HDR content.

The only hangup here is that the smaller 10.9-inch iPad Air that's supposed to launch alongside the 12.9-inch model may not get this upgrade, per MacRumors. That's because Apple doesn't have another device of equivalent size to draw leftover displays from.

It's not as good as the OLED displays iPad Pro customers will get, but hey, it's something.

$130 OFF: As of April 19, the Bose noise-canceling headphones 700 are available for just $269 at B&H Photo Video, down from $399. That's $130 off the list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Bose Bose noise-canceling headphones 700 $269.00 at B&H Photo Video
$399.00 Save $130.00 Get Deal

If you're a Bose stan and are on the hunt for a new pair of headphones that'll give you the power to block out the world (when you want to), you're going to love this deal.

As of April 19, you can score a pair of Bose noise-canceling headphones 700 for just $269 at B&H Photo and Video. Here's why that's actually a really good price: At B&H, $269 gets you a $130 discount off the retail price of $399. (It's also $10 away from their lowest price ever recorded on the market.)

SEE ALSO: Our 8 favorite noise-cancelling headphones that actually work

These same headphones are priced higher at other retailers: $360 at Best Buy and $379 at Amazon. Even the Bose website can't match this deal.

The Bose noise-canceling headphones 700 feature 11 customizable levels of noise cancellation, so you can choose just how much background noise you want to block out. They're also Bluetooth enabled, so you can connect to your phone or other devices without dealing with a bunch of wires. They have a 20-hour battery life, which means you can enjoy uninterrupted music or podcast listening for hours on end.

"God, if I could finally get a big Le Creuset, things might really turn around for me."

It's a lofty, quick fix pitched by Nicola Coughlan's Big Mood character Maggie, in a depressive episode sitting on the couch on her 30th birthday. And reader, there is no way I haven't had that thought myself.

Written and created by playwright Camilla Whitehill, Big Mood navigates friendship and mental health, in particular the nuances of bipolar disorder and unprocessed grief. But it's also really fucking funny. As the show's core best friends, Bridgerton/Derry Girls star Coughlan and It's a Sin star Lydia West are utterly brilliant, embodying Whitehill's poignant, pop culture-seasoned script and delivering vulnerable, hilarious, and often justifiably infuriated performances.

SEE ALSO: 'This Way Up' captures loneliness like nothing ever before

With director Rebecca Asher at the helm, who's worked on everything from Dead to Me to Grace and Frankie, Big Mood is the type of show that allows women in their 30s to be gloriously flawed, to mess up and apologise, to be silly and joyous, to suddenly have to take your health seriously and work through life's unexpected garbage while screaming Avril Lavigne's "Nobody's Home" in the car with your best friend.

What is Big Mood about? 🎶She wants to go hooooome but nobody's home🎶 Credit: Channel 4

Set in London, the series hinges on best friends Maggie (Coughlan) and Eddie (West), taking on a new decade of their lives and all the social expectation that comes with it. They're the type of BFFs who dream up Love Actually themed parties down to the detail. They eat gummies and day-drink tequila at a pagan Ostara festival in the woods. They've seen each other wearing adult diapers during headliner sets at Bestival. But they're not impervious to the challenges of friendship, as the events of Big Mood attest.

Maggie is an ambitious playwright turning 30, who's trying to keep her agent happy while experiencing both manic and depressive episodes associated with her bipolar disorder. Eddie, a no-filter bar manager, is struggling to keep her late father's rat-inhabited Hackney pub afloat — the viscerally named Wet Mouth. She's running it with her brother Jay (The Midwich Cuckoos' Ukweli Roach) and one pretty lousy staff member: The Witcher's Eamon Farren as the privileged son of an earl somehow named Klent, stealing most of his scenes with a "there are no small parts" mentality.

Together, Eddie and Maggie face some genuinely tough moments, especially when Eddie's manipulative ex Jonah (Slow Horses' Max Bennett) rampages back into her life after his "discovery journey". Through these challenges, Big Mood focuses on how friends respond to each other's needs, for better or worse.

Big Mood compassionately unpacks mental health and friendship That's friendship. Credit: Channel 4

Like its lauded British contemporaries Aisling Bea's This Way Up, Michaela Coel's I May Destroy You, Phoebe Waller Bridge's Fleabag, Daisy May Cooper's Am I Being Unreasonable?, and Lucy Prebble and Billie Piper's I Hate Suzie, Whitehill's Big Mood allows its leading women to be complex, flawed, and dynamic, doing their best to figure it all out under the weight of societal expectation and unprocessed trauma. Finding light in the darkness takes a bloody miracle, and these shows nail it.

Particularly akin to Bea's This Way Up and its compassionate portrayal of mental health, Big Mood shows Maggie's experience with bipolar disorder seeing her mood moving between euphoric highs and emotional lows. Here, Whitehall's script bestows Maggie with frank relatability and frustration, as she tells her psychiatrist, "I wish I could think my way out of my bipolar disorder, I wish I could use a meditation app or go for a walk or use an expensive vitamin regime and be grand. But I can't." Maggie often goes to creative lengths to to avoid addressing her health. Throughout the series, she gets through episodes of mania and depression, then begins to experience hallucinations and dissociative moments. She furiously googles schizophrenia and spends a lot of time intensely focused on Ron Howard's film A Beautiful Mind. A series highlight, episode 6 is a brilliantly edited and performed analysis of Maggie's growing disconnection with time and memory, and Coughlan is straight-up spectacular in this final chapter.

Not relegated to a support role by any means, Eddie has her own mental health to navigate, burying her unprocessed grief and finding herself back in an emotionally and financially manipulative relationship with her toxic ex. Knowing the lengths women will go to to be "polite", it's deeply refreshing to see West let loose as Eddie, telling people to "eat shit" right to their faces. Throughout the series, Eddie is notably lambasted by the men in her life for supporting Maggie, who they tend to demonise. Here, the show does make a point to show Eddie's steadfast care for her best friend through her complex mental health journey, however, West's character isn't required to be an all-time hero here. Eddie gets frustrated and doesn't understand Maggie's perspective every time, and the pair both struggle to genuinely ask for help when they most need it (or are in the right headspace to give it).

Big Mood's script is hilariously pop culture smart "Why does everything cost money and why don't we have cheat codes like in 'The Sims'?" Credit: Channel 4

Heaving with pop culture and Young Millennial references, Whitehill's script feels authentic, hilarious, and modern — it's not quite the reference-a-minute we know and love from Gilmore Girls but it's fast paced and lands every time. Maggie's aforementioned lament over her lack of Le Creuset is delivered by Coughlan without an ounce of irony. You'll want to scramble to write down some of Whitehall's more audacious lines:

"The fuckboy pound has become surprisingly strong since they all became social media managers."

"You look weird. Have you been at a new money wedding?"

"Why does everything cost money and why don't we have cheat codes like in The Sims?"

Like our favourite Stars Hollow residents, Maggie and Eddie use their obsession with pop culture as weapons; in episode 1, Eddie introduces herself as "Adele Dazeem, Maggie's publicist" with nobody blinking an eyelid. But Whitehill doesn't just bolster Maggie and Eddie's bond through these relatable quips, also wielding humour and lightness to guide the characters and the audience through some major conversations around mental health with relatable realism.

As a compact but impactful series, Big Mood approaches the experiences of friendship and mental health with empathy and crisp comedy, with West and Coughlan on top of their game. At just six episodes, we want much, much more of Big Mood.

How to watch: Big Mood is now streaming on All4 in the UK and Tubi in the U.S.

If you're experiencing a mental health crisis, please talk to somebody. You can reach the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988; the Trans Lifeline at 877-565-8860; or the Trevor Project at 866-488-7386. In the UK, contact the Samaritans free on 116 123. In the U.S., text "START" to Crisis Text Line at 741-741. Contact the NAMI HelpLine at 1-800-950-NAMI, Monday through Friday from 10:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m. ET, or email info@nami.org. If you don't like the phone, consider using the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline Chat at crisischat.org. Here is a list of international resources.

Looking to save big on electronics and more? Don't miss these deals live now during the three-day Best Buy Member Exclusive Sale.

The best deals from the Best Buy Member Exclusive Sale Best Apple deal 14-inch Apple MacBook Pro (M3 Pro, 18GB RAM, 512GB SSD) $1,849 at Best Buy (Save $150 with $100 promotional certificate after purchase) Get Deal Best laptop deal 14-inch HP Envy 2-in-1 Touch-Screen Laptop (Intel Core Ultra 7, 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD) $799.99 at Best Buy with $100 promotional certificate after purchase (Save $300) Get Deal Best iPad deal Apple iPad Pro (WiFi, 256GB) $849 at Best Buy (Save $50 with an extra $20 off for My Best Buy Plus members) Get Deal

Money burning a hole in your pocket? Why not buy some new tech? As if Taylor Swift dropping a double album today wasn't a big enough surprise, Best Buy is here to steal the show with another weekend sale. This savings event is exclusively for paid My Best Buy members, including My Best Buy Plus and My Best Buy Total subscribers. If you're a vanilla My Best Buy member, you'll have to sit this one out.

But it might very well be worth becoming a paid member when you see the deals on offer. Right now, you can score up to $200 off select M3 MacBook Pro models with a $100 bonus promo certificate. You can also save on Intel Core Ultra-powered laptops and grab a great new iPad for less. These deals, among others, are available through Sunday for members.

You can still become a member if these deals seem enticing. Joining My Best Buy gives you two options: My Best Buy Plus, which runs you $49.99 a year, or My Best Buy Total for $179.99 yearly. My Best Buy Plus members can shop members-only events, get exclusive prices on certain items, and free two-day shipping, while Total members get all those perks and more. Added options like tech repair discounts, product protection, and 24/7 GeekSquad support make it an attractive option.

If you're already a member, check out some of our favorite deals from Best Buy's Member Exclusive Sale that you can shop right now.

Best Apple deal Opens in a new window Credit: Best Buy 14-inch Apple MacBook Pro (M3 Pro, 18GB RAM, 512GB SSD) $1,799.00 at Best Buy
$1,999.00 Save $200.00 Save $150 with additional $100 promotional certificate after purchase Get Deal Why we like it

During this Best Buy sale event, you can pick up this powerful M3 Pro-equipped MacBook Pro for $200 off, plus get an additional $100 in the form of a bonus promotional certificate in your My Best Buy account by May 15, 2024. This powerful laptop includes Apple's M3 Pro chip, which can handle just about any task you throw at it. This particular model comes with 18GB of RAM, a 14-core GPU, and a 512GB SSD in a Space Black chassis. Whether you need to handle complex graphic tasks, edit video, or just tackle multiple tasks at once, this MacBook is a great option to do all of that and more with, especially with an additional $100 in rewards cash.

Best laptop deal Opens in a new window Credit: Best Buy 14-inch HP Envy 2-in-1 Touch-Screen Laptop (Intel Core Ultra 7, 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD) $799.99 at Best Buy
$1,099.99 Save $300.00 Save $300 with additional $100 promotional certificate after purchase Get Deal Why we like it

This versatile touch-screen laptop is already on sale for a great price at $799.99, but you'll get an additional $100 in the form of a reward certificate, like the MacBook Pro that's also currently on sale. This Windows laptop boasts a 14-inch screen, a powerful Intel Core Ultra 7 processor, 16GB of memory, and a 1TB SSD. Use it as a traditional laptop, then fold it to turn it into a makeshift tablet for productivity and play on the go. This model is available in Meteor Silver, but there are additional configurations to choose from that all include the $100 promotional certificate.

Best iPad deal Opens in a new window Credit: Best Buy Apple iPad Pro (WiFi, 256GB) $849.00 at Best Buy
$899.00 Save $50.00 Get Deal Why we like it

Save on this powerful iPad Pro, which is a whopping 11 inches and features a crisp, gorgeous screen with a 2388 x 1668 resolution. This is one of the best iPads you could feasibly use as a laptop alternative by attaching a keyboard and mouse, or you can use an Apple Pencil to get things done on the go, even if that means watching your favorite shows and movies on your morning commute. This Wi-Fi model has 256GB of storage and comes in the Space Gray colorway.

SAVE $100: The 13.6-inch MacBook Air (M3, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD) is on sale for a new low price at $999 as of April 19. Down from its full price of $1,099, this 9% discount is on at Amazon and B&H.

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple 13.6-inch MacBook Air (M3, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD) $999.00 at Amazon and B&H
$1,099.00 Save $100.00 Get Deal

The M3 MacBook Air line has been on the market for just under a month and a half and we're already seeing some pretty impressive deals.

Last week, that was in the form of the 15-inch variant dropping to its lowest price ever (it's since come back up some). And now, as of April 19, the 13.6-inch M3 MacBook Air is on sale for a record-low price of $999, with both Amazon and B&H shaving $100 off the laptop's $1,099 list price. At both retailers, you'll only find this deal on the midnight colorway with the entry-level specs of 8GB of RAM and 256GB of SSD.

Compared to the M2 Air, the M3 doesn't look all that different from the outside. But as the adage goes, it's what's on the inside that counts. The M3 chip gives you a zippier and more future-proof experience when running multiple tabs and apps. Though the port situation remains the same (and as sparse) as it was on the M2 — two Thunderbolt/USB, one MagSafe charging port, and one 3.5mm audio jack — the M3 Air has dual-display support, meaning that when the laptop is closed you can use up to two external displays (with a keyboard and mouse setup). When our friends at PCMag (also owned by Ziff Davis) tested out the 13.6-inch variant, they were also impressed by the all-day battery life and overall sturdy feel of this ultraportable laptop. (It is worth noting, however, that they tested a model with more memory and built-in storage).

SEE ALSO: 15-inch M3 MacBook Air review: Read this before you even think about buying

Basically, for anyone who isn't quite ready to jump up to the power (and price tag) of the MacBook Pro, the Air is a wonderfully slim alternative. Newer MacBooks can often stay in the $50 off range for at least their first couple months on the market, so we're pleasantly surprised to see retailers deviate with the M3 Air, making it an even more worthwhile laptop to grab from the get-go.

If you're on the hunt for even more MacBook deals, at the time of writing, 13- and 15-inch M2 MacBook Airs are on sale for up to $400 off.

20% OFF: As of April 19, an Amazon Smart Thermostat is available for $63.99 at Amazon, down from $79.99. That's a 20% discount or $16 off.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Smart Thermostat $63.99 at Amazon
$79.99 Save $16.00 Get Deal

If there's one thing that can rip a family apart, it's the temperature on the thermostat. But with a smart thermostat, like the Amazon Smart Thermostat, you can finally find a balance that saves money and energy while keeping everyone comfortable.

As of April 19, you can get an Amazon Smart Thermostat for just $63.99 at Amazon, down from $79.99. That's a 20% discount or $16 off the original price.

SEE ALSO: CES 2024: LG announces walking, talking, 'Jetsons-esque' smart home robot

This smart thermostat, which requires a C-wire, lets you remotely control the temperature of your home using your mobile device or voice commands via an Alexa-enabled device (like an Echo) or the Alexa app.

You can set a schedule so that the thermostat automatically adjusts the temperature throughout the day, saving energy when no one's home and keeping it comfortable when you are. According to EPA estimates, this little gadget has the potential to reduce energy consumption and lower electricity costs by up to 50%.

Plus, it's made with Honeywell Home thermostat technology, so you know you're getting a reliable and trusted product. Just be sure to check the compatibility of the Amazon Smart Thermostat with your HVAC system before purchasing.

When Apple released its line of M1 iMacs back in 2021, Mashable reviewer Brenda Stolyar observed in her review that Apple had finally created a model that brought back the idea of the family computer. Visually appealing with fun pops of color, lightweight and sleek in design, and equipped with a 1080p camera and 4.5K retina display, these all-in-one computers had all the ingredients to become "the ideal at-home iMac." Today, the verdict still holds up.

Today's best M1 iMac deals at Best Buy as of April 19: Best iMac with Apple M1 7-core deal: Apple iMac, 24-inch( Apple M1, 7-core, 8GB Memory, 256GB SSD) $799 at Best Buy (save $450) Get Deal Best iMac with Apple M1 8-core deal: Apple iMac, 24-inch (Apple M1, 8-core, 8GB Memory, 256GB SSD) $899.99 at Best Buy (save $550) Get Deal Best iMac with extra storage capacity deal: Apple iMac, 24-inch (Apple M1, 8-core, 8GB Memory, 512GB SSD) $999.99 at Best Buy (save $650 ) Get Deal

As of today, April 19, these iMacs are even more family-friendly thanks to the slash in prices we're seeing over at Best Buy. Savings are reaching as high as $650, bringing almost all of the available configurations to prices under $1,000.

Best iMac with Apple M1 7-core deal Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Our pick: Apple iMac, 24-inch (Apple M1, 7-core, 8GB Memory, 256GB SSD) $799.99 at Best Buy
$1,249.99 Save $450.00 Get Deal Why we like it

One of the things we love most about these iMacs is how portable they are. Thanks to Apple's M1 chips, these desktops have an extremely thin build, which allows their lightweight nature. Even though these are desktop computers, you can easily move them to different locations throughout the house. This particular configuration of the Apple iMac 24-inch (Apple M1, 7-core, 8GB Memory, 256GB SSD) is the most budget-friendly pick from today's sale, with a list price of $799.99 and $450 in savings.

Best iMac with Apple M1 8-core deal Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Our pick: Apple iMac, 24-inch (Apple M1, 8-core, 8GB Memory, 256GB SSD) $899.99 at Best Buy
$1,449.99 Save $550.00 Get Deal Why we like it

A step above the basic configuration, this iMac features an Apple M1 8-core processor in place of the 7-core processor. While both are powerful, the Apple M1 8-core processor delivers an extra edge. Typically, the Apple iMac, 24-inch (Apple M1, 8-core, 8GB Memory, 256GB SSD) lists for nearly $1,500. However, today's sale saves you $550, bringing the price down to $899.99. We also love that this configuration is available in a sunny yellow hue.

Best iMac with extra storage capacity deal Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Our pick: Apple iMac, 24-inch (Apple M1, 8-core, 8GB Memory, 512GB SSD) $999.99 at Best Buy
$1,649.99 Save $650.00 Get Deal Why we like it

While the standard configuration of the M1 iMac has 256GB or ultrafast SSD storage, some folks might want even more than that. In that case, the Apple iMac, 24-inch (Apple M1, 8-core, 8GB Memory, 512GB SSD) is an excellent option - and, as of today, April 19, it's also one of the best deals. When you shop the sale at Best Buy, you can save $650 on this configuration, bringing the $1,649.99 iMac down to just $999.99.

Just as Swifties wrapped up their second listen of Taylor Swift's The Tortured Poets Department in the early hours of April 19, the pop star surprised fans with another album. That's right, TTPD is a double album — The Tortured Poets Department: The Anthology.

SEE ALSO: Taylor Swift's brand is mightier than her pen

With 31 new Swift-penned tracks, the album has given the internet a lot to decipher, and people are rightfully overwhelmed! As one fan shared on X / Twitter, "taylor swift i love u i have no idea what u just said but im sorry that happened or im so happy for you." Another astutely wrote, "Being a Swiftie is like if it was Christmas and The Purge every day."

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Others couldn't believe how late they were staying up to listen to the album with Ringer podcast host — and noted Swiftie — Nathan Hubbard writing, "look I am on song 28 at 2:51 eastern time, this is turning into a hostage situation." Another wisely said, "3am version this 2am version that lets do a 6:30-7pm est version next time."

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Despite the sheer volume of songs and fans suffering from lack of sleep by a surprise double album, there were immediately some stand-out lyrics.

Perhaps her most ridiculous lyric of the album is on the titular track where she sings, "You smoked, then ate seven bars of chocolate / We declared Charlie Puth should be a bigger artist." Many were baffled by her reference to the "Attention" singer. On X user posted the popular reaction video of The Crown star Elizabeth Debicki looking confused at winning a SAG Award with the caption, "charlie puth right now:" Another joked, "a concept album about how stanning charlie puth will drive you to madness."

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Others were drawn to the mess and drama of "I'm havin' his baby / No, I'm not, but you should see your faces" from "But Daddy I Love Him." One fan posted the lyrics with a photo of Swift and a burning house and another uploaded an image of Terri Schuester from Glee who infamously faked her pregnancy.

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Then there are the detectives trying to determine which songs are about which exes. Many speculate that most of the tracks on the album reference Swift's brief romance with The 1975 frontman Matty Healy, pointing to the lyric "But you told Lucy you'd kill yourself if I ever leave / And I had said that to Jack about you, so I felt seen" as evidence. (Healy performed with Lucy Dacus at The Eras Tour, and they share Jack Antonoff as a producer.) This came as a shock to those who expected a break-up album about Swift's longtime partner actor Joe Alwyn.

SEE ALSO: The cult of Matty Healy Tweet may have been deleted Tweet may have been deleted Tweet may have been deleted Tweet may have been deleted

The second album, The Anthology, features 12 songs produced by Aaron Dessner, whom Swift collaborated with on Folklore and Evermore — and on heavy hitters like "Would've, Could've, Should've," something worth celebrating.

One fan went so far as to say, "aaron dessner if you ever need a kidney you have my number." Others wrote, "aaron dessner thank you for your services" and "aaron dessner you are the glue holding this nation together."

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Safe to say this is all Swifties will be talking about for the foreseeable future.

GET $90 OFF: As of April 19, the Skullcandy Crusher ANC 2 over-ear noise-canceling headphones are available for just $139.88 at Amazon, down from $229.99. That's a 39% discount or $90.11 off.

Opens in a new window Credit: Skullcandy Skullcandy Crusher ANC 2 over-ear noise-canceling headphones $139.88 at Amazon
$229.99 Save $90.11 Get Deal

There's something forever nostalgia-inducing about the music you listened to in high school — and the headphones you listened to it on. Remember the Skullcandy wired headphones you used to rock out to My Chemical Romance with back in the day? They're still around and better than ever, and there's a great deal on a grownup pair of Skullcandy noise-canceling headphones today. And you don't even have to go to Hot Topic to get them.

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As of April 19, the Skullcandy Crusher ANC 2 noise-canceling headphones are on sale for $139.88 at Amazon, marked down from $229.99. That's a 39% discount (or $90.11 off) and the lowest price we've seen yet.

Unlike the headphones you sported in your teen years, the Skullcandy Crusher ANC 2 boast a major upgrade in audio quality and technology. They feature active noise-canceling technology, 50 hours of battery life, and Bluetooth connectivity. You can even connect to two devices at once to easily switch between connecting to your phone and laptop. Plus, a quick 10-minute charge will get you up to four hours of playback.

Four microphones mean clear phone calls and a custom sound test will tune the audio to your ideal settings. Switch easily between different levels of noise cancellation to block out the world or let in more sound when you're running errands around town.

Grab the Skullcandy Crusher ANC 2 noise-canceling headphones on sale for their lowest price ever and rock on.

Congratulations to you, the proud owner of a buzzy new sex toy!

Acquiring a new adult toy is such fun, but with it comes a much less fun act of adulting: Figuring out where and how to store it. We're here to give you the basics of sex toy safety and how you can take the best possible care of your precious sex toy collection.

How to store sex toys

The most important thing to know about how to store sex toys is this: A sex toy must be clean and dry before it is put away. Storing a toy that is dirty, or even still wet from cleaning, will cause bacteria to develop that can lead to skin irritation, product malfunction, or even an infection when the toy is next used.

SEE ALSO: The best way to keep your vibrator sparkling clean

Good sex toy storage solutions should, first and foremost, be able to keep a clean toy clean while it's not in use. It doesn't matter if it's a bullet vibrator, a dildo, or your anal beads — tossing a sex toy into your bedside table drawer, for example, or stashing it under your pillow will leave it exposed to bacteria and airborne pollutants. You really don't want that!

Storage, whether it's a cloth bag or a storage box, should also be discreet, easy to access and, ideally, offer room for the toy and any other items that might need to be stored with it.

How much storage do you need?

Before you invest in storage for your sex toy or toys, you'll need to take measure of your collection — literally. To be sure the solution will fit your needs, you'll want to make sure you know the length of the toy in question, as many storage boxes and bags can only accommodate toys that are up to 7 or 8 inches long.

You should also consider what accessories you need to store in addition to the toys themselves; things like lube, condoms, toy cleaners, chargers, etc. should all have a place in whatever storage system you decide on. And finally, it's always a good idea to invest in a storage option that allows room for your collection to grow.

Sex toy storage bags

There are as many ways to store sex toys as there are types of sex toys, but for most people's needs a storage bag will be the way to go. Bags offer flexibility for accommodating oddly shaped toys, like rabbit-style vibrators with their protruding ticklers, and are perfect for travel too.

We're not talking about a plain plastic bag here, which won't breathe and could cause unpleasant things to fester. Simple cotton or polyester drawstring bags are a good and economical choice. There are also storage bags, like the Sugar Sak, designed specifically for sex toys that feature a special interior coating that inhibits the growth of bacteria, fungi, yeast, mold, mildew, and viruses.

Sex toy storage boxes

Move over, sock drawer. A dedicated storage box is a better choice for people with a larger collection of toys, and for those who want to store things like lube, condoms, and chargers in one place. While regular plastic storage bins work fine for this purpose, plan to stash each toy in its own baggie to prevent material degradation that can occur when toys commingle.

It's also worth knowing that specialty toy storage boxes exist! Some features to look for are antimicrobial interior coatings, removable or adjustable trays to accommodate toys of different sizes and shapes, and USB ports for charging toys when not in use. If keeping prying eyes out of it is a concern for you, choose one with a lock.

Outside-the-box sex toy storage options

While pouch-style bags and storage boxes are the most common sex toy storage options out there, there some more unusual styles to choose from as well — things that go well beyond a nice little pouch to stash in a bedside drawer. If you know that your collection of toys will be ever-growing, first of all good for you and second of all, do consider storage that can easily grow with your collection, like this set of stackable, lidded storage bins with a front-facing opening for easy access.

If you really want to make an investment in storing your sex toy collection, there is furniture available that doubles as toy storage, such as lidded benches or ottomans, which is a smart choice for people with a toy collection that includes bulky or oversized items like wedge pillows, absorbent blankets, or bondage kits.

Whether you've got a single silicone toy, a special glass toy, or even a whole mess of metal toys, the single best thing you can do to protect your investment, large or small, is to ensure you keep them in a clean and dedicated place.

This article was originally published in 2020 and updated in 2024.

There's a lot of reasons you might want to switch your location on or off on your iPhone. Some geolocation-based apps, like Google Maps or ridesharing services, need location access to function (it's kind of the point). The iPhone camera connects location data with your photos and videos. Some social media apps that allow you to check in to places need to you to turn the location on. But perhaps you don't feel like handing your precise location data over to tech companies, or potentially, other people?

At best, location sharing can give third-party advertisers a pretty good idea of the places you frequent and at what times of day. At worst, location sharing can be manipulated and used in cases of domestic digital abuse.

SEE ALSO: Does your partner really need to know your location all the time?

"With your permission, Location Services allows apps and websites (including Maps, Camera, Weather and other apps) to use information from mobile data, Wi-Fi, Global Positioning System (GPS) networks and Bluetooth to determine your location," says Apple's website.

You can turn off Location Services and GPS for individual apps or entirely on your iPhone, but perhaps you don't know exactly how to do that. We're here to help.

How to turn off location on your iPhone Total Time

• 5 min

What You Need

• iPhone

Step 1: Go to Settings on your iPhone.

It's the icon that looks like a collection of cogs.

Step 2: Tap "Privacy & Security".

Credit: Shannon Connellan

Step 3: Select "Location Services".

It's right at the top.

Step 4: Toggle "Location Services" on or off.

Credit: Shannon Connellan

Step 5: Alternatively, you can scroll down to individual apps, tap them and allow or disallow location access.

You can pick between "Never", "Ask Next Time Or When I Share", and "While Using the App." Here, you will also have the option to toggle on or off "Precise Location" — if you turn this off but allow location access, the app will approximate your location.

What do the arrows mean in Location Services?

You might have spotted some arrows in Location Services sitting beside your apps. According to Apple, a grey apple means an app or feature has used your location in the last 24 hours, and a purple arrow means it has recently used your location.

What does the "Share Your Location" feature mean?

You can also "Share Your Location" from Location Services on iPhone with people in your contacts; this also shares your location to any connected HomePods and the Find My app and CheckIn feature. You can also toggle it off if you want to — and you should really think about whether you want to or not.

When most people use their debit or credit cards, they take it for granted, as if these are rights simply afforded to everyone in America. But not everyone gets to use lines of credit, send money on financial apps, or even have money deposited into a bank account. Many sex workers are barred from having bank accounts, or have had their bank accounts canceled out of nowhere. Financial apps like PayPal are no different. Credit card companies like Visa and Mastercard have policies that impede sex workers abilities to make money in the first place. 

People in the sex industry often have a very difficult time getting business loans, home loans, or lines of credit because they are deemed "high risk." Frequently, when financial institutions are confronted about these policies — what they mean, how they categorize someone as "high risk," and how such information is obtained — they keep this information close to the vest. Discrimination in the financial sector means people who have engaged in the sex industry are at constant risk of being "found out" and having massive financial fall out because of this. 

SEE ALSO: Is WhatsApp banning sex worker accounts?

No adult can build wealth without access to a bank account, at the very least. Historically marginalized populations in America, like sex workers who are Black and Indigenous, are even more disproportionately impacted by such policies due to the lack of historical opportunities to build generational wealth. In order to have a safer, more just society, we must fight financial discrimination against sex workers.

Stop discrimination to stop sex trafficking

When people tell me they want to stop sex trafficking, I usually tell them to stop excluding sex workers — and sex trafficking survivors — from mainstream society; i.e. housing, employment, and financial wealth. For anyone who cares about stamping out human trafficking, I would say then you must allow sex workers and sex trafficking survivors a place in "normal" society. Putting us on the margins of society financially puts us on the margins, period. Limiting our options for financial autonomy and independence creates dependence on others. And at the margins is where those with evil intent wait to exploit and abuse. 

When I asked if they think current financial policies put them in jeopardy, sex industry professional Lyrik Allure told me, "It further fuels the fires for more discrimination from the outside world. They [banks and others] deem us 'high risk' and claim 'suspicious activity' as a reason not to release our funds, close accounts and make our lives beyond difficult." 

Sex workers are no different than anyone else. They have rent to pay, children to feed, and bills just like everyone does. And as Allure pointed out to me, sex work is work just like any other job.

Many banks and financial institutions classify people who do sex industry work as "high risk," thereby requiring them to pay higher fees, interest rates, and seizing funds without warning or much of an appeal process. Financial apps like PayPal, Venmo, and Cash App have been notorious in sex working communities for seizing accounts and barring individuals from the platforms, often while taking any money that a person might still have in their accounts without giving them the opportunity to have it returned. Those who try to appeal to get their money back are met with a round robin of frustrating dead-ends and emails and phone numbers that do nothing to help. If someone is lucky enough to get an answer, the response is typically: "You were categorized as high risk." No further explanation or assistance offered. Some people have reported to me they were simply hung up on. 

Sex workers are no different than anyone else. They have rent to pay, children to feed, and bills just like everyone does.

Sex industry professional Gabrielle Monroe told Mashable she had a prepaid credit card from a local bank that was purchased by Capital One in 2013. Capital One allegedly canceled Monroe's prepaid credit card and sent her a check for one dollar. When she was finally able to speak to Capital One, Monroe says they told her on the phone, "You were flagged as high risk." Monroe states she never received the $1,000 that Capital One owed her. 

That same year, Monroe also claims Bank of America canceled her prepaid credit card and closed her account for being "high risk." They did send her the money a few weeks later...by check...which she couldn't cash since they had canceled her account. Neither Capital One nor Bank of America responded to Mashable's request for comment. 

Sixty-three percent of people in the adult industry have had their bank accounts closed or financial apps like PayPal, Venmo, or Cash App closed, according to research done by the Free Speech Coalition (FSC), a lobby group for the adult industry. Venmo and PayPal didn't respond to Mashable's request for comment, while Cash App declined to comment. Fifty percent have had a loan denied as a direct result of their work; 88 percent of those who have applied for business loans, and 85 percent of those who applied for insurance have had a bank account closed or denied due to adult work. FSC reports that most people in the sex industry prefer not to even bother applying for loans or insurance, for fear the background investigations could lead to a bank account shutdown.

Visa declined to comment on this story and PayPal did not respond to our request for comment. Mastercard told Mashable that, before it introduced its adult content policy, it shared its plans with "industry experts who are certified in preventing child exploitation." Mastercard also disclosed that they found these "certified experts" through the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, but would not comment on whether these "experts" had any lived experience in the sex industry, either as sex trafficking survivors or sex workers, beyond simply holding a certification. 

Financially punished for legal work

It's important to note that financial discrimination is happening to sex workers who take part in legal and illegal aspects of the industries alike. When we talk about financial discrimination against sex workers, this includes people who do legal work like exotic dancing, adult film, web camming, OnlyFans, and so forth. The issue with these monies that these financial institutions appear to be having is a moral one, not a legal one. 

One financial institution we requested comment from told us they did not wish to comment publicly, but to provide background they wanted to let me know that they work hard to only process legal transactions. This statement is problematic because it shows ignorance of the fact that there are plenty of people engaged in legal sex work who are experiencing this discriminatory treatment, and they have no legal leg to stand on for discriminating against them. Could it really be as ridiculous as these systems not understanding, or caring to understand, the difference — according to the law — between working on OnlyFans and engaging in full service sex work (otherwise known as "prostitution")? Are these places simply painting all monies from all forms of sex work as liabilities? Are they just labeling everyone in the sex industry as "high risk"?

Having access to financial autonomy is a human right, and as the ACLU declares in a statement, financial discrimination of sex workers is a civil liberties issue. We cannot talk about sex trafficking and what makes people vulnerable to sex trafficking without acknowledging that financial autonomy and access to financial resources are one of the key things keeping people in the sex industry safe from being exploited. 

Monroe goes on to tell Mashable about the impact of being shunned from financial institutions and not having access to them, particularly for her in 2013, "At the time, the only access to money I had was through an abusive sugar daddy. If I could have checked into a hotel I could have worked to make money without needing his financial support, or the abuse that came with it."

Having access to financial autonomy is a human right.

As the Free Speech Coalition states in one of their reports on financial discrimination and sex work, "Financial discrimination does not happen in a vacuum, but instead is part of a system of risks faced by those working in the adult industry. Loss of banking or poor credit can impact access to other essentials." If you can't get a bank account, it makes it hard to save or obtain credit, get a loan, buy a house, and get out of poverty. 

Financial discrimination is only one part of a huge interconnecting puzzle of discrimination which also includes housing discrimination and mainstream employment discrimination. Like all forms of discrimination, these are systemic and intersectional. And we cannot end one without ending the others. In fact, over 50 percent of people in the adult industry have reported experiencing housing discrimination, according to FSC's research. Almost 60 percent of people in the adult industry have experienced employment discrimination outside of adult work as well. People are more afraid of what they don't know than anything.

Financial stability cannot be obtained without financial access, and it's just that simple. Most people might say, "So what if a hooker or a porn star can't get credit, why should I care?" And to that I would say, because one of the hottest issues that Americans claim to care about right now is sex trafficking. 

Ending the scourge of sex trafficking is a red herring by which many politicians use as an excuse to roll back all sorts of basic human rights for sex workers as well as the general public. Think about the bills that would instate increased social media restrictions like KOSA and EARN IT, and the potential TikTok ban. 

The precursor to all of this recent internet regulation? The 2018 bill SESTA (Stop Enabling Sex Traffickers Act) which rolled back Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act of 1996 in the name of protecting sex trafficking victims. SESTA and its sister bill FOSTA has still not done what it promised for victims —aside from increasing internet regulation and limiting freedom for everyone. 

Sex workers and sex trafficking survivors are the test cases for revoking your human rights. Being flagged and having accounts shut down randomly, without warning or opportunity for appeal, is apparently now happening to non-sex workers too. So make no mistake when you see it happening to sex workers, you are next. 

SEE ALSO: Sex workers are cloning themselves with AI to make sexy chatbots Fighting financial discrimination together

Here is an opportunity to actually keep people in the sex industry from being exploited and going from sex workers to sex trafficking survivors. Here is an opportunity to prevent sex trafficking.

Sex workers have been fighting these policies and these companies for years, but as is the case with most marginalized communities, the likelihood is far more that these systems will listen to the dominant mainstream culture. So you have more power and influence than you might think. What you can do is sign this petition to Mastercard, whose adult content policies make it hard for people in the industry to make money, thus making exploitation far more likely. Financial agency and autonomy is a human right that should be feasible and accessible for everyone, including people who do all kinds of sex work. 

Everyone from the UN Working Group on Discrimination Against Women and Girls, to the ACLU, to Amnesty International — all human rights based organizations — have come out in direct support of the decriminalization of sex work as a means to end violence, exploitation, and discrimination against people in the sex industry. Taking steps for change, whether they be community lead mass efforts such as demonstrations and grassroots activism or individual efforts like educating your great aunt Mildred about decrim, or even this article — it is all taking a stand against financial discrimination. Whether large or small, none of these acts are meaningless and all make an impact for the better. 

Because when a bank scans escort ads for faces in order to close people's bank accounts and cut them off from their own money, is this the kind of due process we want to live in? In a world where financial institutions get to act like judge, jury, and executioner all by themselves? Where having a bank account is a privilege and not a right, or where economic autonomy is granted by the one percent instead of expected by the ninety-nine? I get that banks and financial institutions are companies first who are watching their bottom-line, because that's what companies do in American capitalism first and foremost. But isn't that exactly the problem? Aauthor and MIT professor Noam Chomsky might call this a fine example of "profit over people." And sex workers deserve better. Frankly, we all deserve better. 

Birds chirping in the forest, waves crashing in the ocean, and the sound of thunderstorms are some of nature's beloved symphonies. These sounds are inseparable from the human experience not only as they have proven to be beneficial for our mental health and wellbeing, but also because they're believed to have played an instrumental role in the evolution of human-made music.

Drawing from this idea, Sounds Right, an initiative led by the Museum for the United Nations, has collaborated with Spotify to recognise Nature as an artist in its own right, letting it earn royalties that will be used for its own conservation. The project launched in the lead up to Earth Day and currently offers three types of playlists.

SEE ALSO: Spotify will let you use AI to create personalized playlists

The first one, "Feat. NATURE", is a playlist featuring renowned artists from across the globe. Listeners can hear beloved tracks from their favorite musicians remixed with captivating nature sounds. In David Bowie’s "Get Real," for example, renowned composer Brian Eno, who co-wrote the song with Bowie over three decades ago, mixes the tracks with animal howls. 

"The animals are invading the song – it's like it has sprung leaks everywhere and these animals are coming in through every window and crack between the doors. They're sort of threatening — suddenly Nature has crept into the art," Eno said in a press statement. To him, this project is a simple act of ensuring that the original source of inspiration remains intact.

"Throughout my life I’ve wondered — how can I return something to the places I’ve taken ideas from? Music started out as the sounds of the natural world, and Sounds Right creates a system to give back to nature, helping to preserve the planet so that it can continue to inspire us for years to come."

The second type of playlists are ambient nature symphonies where listeners can enjoy the soothing sounds of nature, such as "Tropical Rain Sounds" or a playlist called "Seascape Symphony". There’s also something for the podcast lovers; playlists like "Food For Thought," "Money Talks," and "Cut Food Waste" feature podcasts episodes dedicated to climate solutions.

So, where's all that revenue going? 60 percent of royalties from ambient tracks on Nature’s Spotify profile, as well as least 50 percent of revenues from Feat. NATURE tracks to be donated to biodiversity conservation and restoration projects. On top of that, Sounds Right also welcomes individual donations on its GoFundMe page.

The funds will be collected by the U.S. and UK-registered charity EarthPercent, while their distribution will be decided by representatives of Indigenous Peoples, scientists, conservation experts, and environmental activists who are part of the Sounds Right Expert Advisory Panel. The Panel has announced that it will prioritise projects with a strong focus on biodiversity and endemism, while an initial analysis has identified Madagascar and the Indian Ocean Islands, the Atlantic Forest, and the Philippines as some Key Biodiversity Areas it will be looking to support.

There has long been a discourse on whether streaming is harmful for the environment or not. However, by giving Nature credit (and notably, revenue) for its symphonies and sounds, Sounds Right offers a way to turn music streaming into meaningful climate action. The project adds to the growing argument that to successfully restore our relationship with Nature, we should perhaps, give it legal and creative rights.