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Some tech workers are filming their layoffs and sharing them on social media. They say it’s part catharsis, part transparency.

Need a gift idea for your beau but can't think of anything? Don't be too hard on yourself. Picking out the perfect gifts for boyfriends takes some trial and error.

And between Valentine's Day, birthdays, anniversaries, and the gift-giving holidays, there are a lot of chances to pick the wrong gift. Ideally, you want to get him something that demonstrates your love (or affection, if you're not quite ready for the "L" word), your appreciation, and the fact that you know exactly what he likes. But striking the perfect balance can be tricky, whether you're a new couple that hasn't discussed gift guidelines yet *or* you're running low on boyfriend gift ideas after dating for a while.

Fortunately, you can still get your boyfriend a present he'll love even if you don't pride yourself on your gifting abilities — we're here to make sure of it. No matter what your boyfriend likes — gadgets, grooming, gaming, or gear — there's probably something on this gift guide he'll love and cherish. After all, your name will be on the card.

After taking 72 flights into the Martian sky, NASA's Mars helicopter won't fly again. The craft's own images show why.

Ingenuity — the first craft to ever make a powered, controlled flight on another planet — recently suffered significant damage to some of its four-foot-long rotors, which are essential for lifting the helicopter into the air. The pictures below, taken by a navigation camera affixed to Ingenuity's toaster-sized fuselage, show several broken tips. The sun cast the broken rotors' shadows onto the desert surface.

SEE ALSO: NASA's car-sized rover spots strong evidence of gushing water on Mars

These rotors can't fly damaged. Compared to Earth, the Martian atmosphere is quite thin. Its density is about one percent of Earth's, making it difficult to generate the lift needed for flight. To take to the air, Ingenuity spun its rotor blades at a blazing 2,400 revolutions every minute. It flew distances as far as 2,315 feet.

But as you can see, controlled flight isn't possible anymore.

Ingenuity's shadow on the ground reveals two broken rotors. Credit: NASA / JPL-Caltech A broken Ingenuity rotor tip's shadow cast onto the Martian ground. Credit: NASA / JPL-Caltech

The NASA craft didn't simply prove that flight on Mars was possible. It showed the future of planetary exploration. The extraterrestrial chopper served as a "scout" for the space agency's Perseverance rover, as the two Martian robots sleuthed for places that might have preserved signs of past primitive life on the dry desert surface. This could mean telltale pieces of genetic material, or parts of a degraded cell.

No evidence of life has been found — but the robots did identify places where primitive life could have once thrived, like in moist sediments along lakeshores and Martian rivers.

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Future Martian exploration might not just involve robotic helicopters. NASA is investigating the potential for a compact Mars plane, a craft that might one day swoop at some 135 mph over the Martian desert. If it does, such a mission would have Ingenuity to thank.

"That remarkable helicopter flew higher and farther than we ever imagined and helped NASA do what we do best — make the impossible, possible," NASA administrator Bill Nelson said last week.

TL;DR: As of January 30, get this refurbished 2017 MacBook Pro 13.3-inch for just $419.97 — that's 35% off.

Valentine’s Day is only two weeks away — do you know what you’re getting for your significant other? If you want to make a bigger statement than chocolates or flowers, you could go the practical route and get them a laptop, and there’s no better charmer than the MacBook Pro.

While you might not be able to swing the price tag on a brand-new model, this refurbished 2017 13.3-inch MacBook Pro is only $419.97 ($649.99) for a limited time. Order on or before February 4 for guaranteed delivery by the special day. 

Refurbished tech: A win-win for you and your wallet

Buying a refurbished MacBook is like making a trade: In exchange for a far lower price, the laptop is a slightly older model year with some minor cosmetic wear. This MacBook Pro in particular was given a grade “B” rating, signifying only light to normal wear on the body — many savvy shoppers just cover it with a case.

You (or your valentine) might not even care that it’s an older model since it updates to macOS Ventura, which is still being maintained by Apple. Also, MacBooks have that timeless aesthetic that truly never goes out of style.

A V-Day treat that lasts longer than chocolates or roses

Here’s what else this MacBook Pro has to offer:

• 256GB of SSD storage for adding apps and saving photos and files.

• 7th Gen Intel Core i5 processor with 8GB of RAM for snappy functionality and multitasking.

• 10-hour battery life on a single charge, excellent for commuters and frequent travelers.

• Force Touch trackpad for smart navigation and controls.

• Intel Iris Graphics 640 for clear visuals when streaming and browsing.

Spoil your valentine (or yourself) with this refurbished 2017 13.3-inch MacBook Pro on sale for $419.97 (reg. $649.99) with on-time delivery when ordered by February 4 at 11:59  p.m. PT. No coupon is needed.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple MacBook Pro 13.3" (2017) Core i5, 2.3GHz 8GB RAM 256GB SSD (Grade B Refurbished) $419.97 at the Mashable Shop Get Deal

TL;DR: As of January 30, get the Mymanu CLIK S Translation Earbuds for just $129.97 — normally $157.

Don't let language barriers slow down your travel experiences. Check out these groundbreaking Mymanu CLIK S Translation Earbuds, featuring the innovative MyJuno translation app developed by Mymanu.

You can now revolutionize the way you connect with natives in foreign countries as you explore over 2 billion individuals across 37 languages. You’ll be able to involve yourself in new cultures, make meaningful connections, and navigate unfamiliar territories with help from these earbuds. Whether you're asking for directions, ordering food, or making new friends, these wireless earbuds have got you covered.

Aside from their translation capabilities, these earbuds also offer crystal-clear HD sound for your favorite music and phone calls and provide easy access to virtual assistants like Siri or Google. Thanks to these, you can keep in touch with loved ones or handle important business calls without missing a beat.

These earbuds are built to provide you with 30 hours of battery life in the charging case and 10 hours on a single charge, making them a terrific travel companion. Aside from delivering high-quality audio, they are water resistant, making them safe from sweat, moisture, and light rain. Travel confidently, knowing your earbuds are designed to endure the elements.

Connect with people, explore new cultures, and navigate diverse landscapes with confidence, knowing that communication is no longer a barrier.

Get the Mymanu CLIK S Translation Earbuds at their discounted price of $129.97 (reg. $157) until February 4 at 11:59 p.m. PT.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Opens in a new window Credit: Mymanu Mymanu CLIK S Translation Earbuds $129.97 at the Mashable Shop Get Deal

TL;DR: As of January 30, get this Microsoft Project 2021 lifetime license for only $29.99 — that's an 88% discount.

Think of an album or song that you feel is painfully underrated — that’s exactly how we feel about Microsoft Project. While apps like Word and Excel get all the hype, Project is an all-in-one tool for managing and organizing, well, projects. And you don’t even have to pay subscription fees to use it with this Project 2021 lifetime license at just $29.99 (reg. $249.99).

Microsoft Project: Your key to organization and success

Since Microsoft Project offers so much versatility and customization, it’s not exactly easy to explain what it is and does. So, instead, we’ll walk through how Project could be used to help you start an ice cream truck business:

1. Set milestones and deadlines. Use premade templates to outline key phases like setup, branding, and an opening date.

2. Plan budgets. Manage funds for purchasing the truck, ingredients, and other expenses.

3. Assign tasks to yourself or employees. From large milestones, break down small steps that must come first like acquiring licenses and creating a menu.

4. Automate scheduling. After inputting factors like priorities and limitations, you could generate a timeline for staff training, market research, or taste testing.

5. Run “what-if” scenarios. Estimate end dates or budgets based on dependent factors, such as varying locations or number of employees.

6. Visualize schedules and progress at a glance. View completed and upcoming tasks, generate reports, and so much more.

Of course, you could use Microsoft Project for organizing smaller personal goals or larger team-wide tasks and projects. With so many tools and options at your fingertips, you just might be the boss of any future project.

Check out the highly underrated Microsoft Project application yourself with a 2021 lifetime license at only $29.99 (reg. $249.99).

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Opens in a new window Credit: Retail King Microsoft Project 2021 Professional (PC) $29.99 at the Mashable Shop Get Deal

TL;DR: As of January 30, get this Kodak Slide N Scan film scanner for only $179.99 — a 20% discount.

Remember way back, before we used digital cameras or our smartphones as cameras, and had to get our photos developed? How the times have changed… If you still have your negatives or film slides lying around or safely kept in storage somewhere, you can scan them to your computer as well as edit them to your liking. The scanner offers features such as color adjustment, image rotation, and more.

No more struggling with the old negatives and slides as the convenient film adapters allow you to effortlessly view, edit, and convert them into a digital format. The large 5" liquid-crystal display ensures a crisp, clear view of your images, while the easy-load film inserts make loading slides and films super convenient. The quick-feeding tray technology offers hassle-free loading.

Connect our scanner directly to your TV or PC/Mac for an impressive slideshow experience and relive your cherished moments on the big screen or share them with loved ones through seamless connectivity. Say goodbye to squinting at tiny screens. Power the scanner up easily with multiple options, one of them being the USB port on your computer or a power bank for portable scanning (the 5V/1A power adapter not included).

In this deal, you'll receive a 50x50mm Slide Holder, 135 Film Adapter, 110 Film Adapter, 126 Film Adapter, Cleaning Brush, USB Cable, HDMI Cable, and user guide.

Start digitizing your memories so you can relive them and post them online whenever you please.

Get the Kodak Slide N Scan Film & Slide Scanner in time for Valentine's Day at its sale price of $179.99 (reg. $224.99) with no coupon required if you order by February 4 at 11:59 p.m. PT.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Opens in a new window Credit: Kodak Kodak Slide N Scan Film & Slide Scanner $179.99 at the Mashable Shop Get Deal

While the Oscar nominations have sparked a new round of debate over the best films of 2023, the Sundance Film Festival is the start of 2024's cinema conversation. This year, the prestigious event offered dazzling documentaries, tender dramas, riveting horror, and an action-comedy that asks, "What if Tom Cruise inspired a 93-year-old woman to get revenge with her own hands?"

Last year our best of the fest list included such gems as Rye Lane, Birth/Rebirth, and Talk to Me. This year, we've got a mix of docs, narrative features, and even a TV pilot that hit so good. Whether you're craving Kristen Stewart in an unconventional romance, a true story of a life lived well and full online, an unnerving exploration of AI's possibilities, or comedies as touching as they are creative, we've got you covered.

Here are the best things we saw at Sundance 2024, and where you can watch them.

SEE ALSO: The movies we can't wait to see in 2024 Love Me Kristen Stewart and Steven Yeun play lovers in "Love Me." Credit: Sundance

Kristen Stewart and Steven Yeun star as will-they-won't-they lovers in a post-apocalyptic Earth in Love Me. But not in any way you might imagine based on this official still. Written and directed by Sam Zuchero and Andy Zuchero, Love Me is a romance not between two impossibly beautiful humans, but between two AI robots who cross paths long after humanity's left the chat. One is a buoy programmed to learn. The other is a satellite equipped with a deep vault of information about mankind — including the cached videos of a couple of influencers who relish silly onesies, date night, Friends, and Blue Apron. Naturally, these long-dead lovers become the model upon which robots try to understand relationships. It may sound bonkers or even cynical. But, incredibly, Love Me is warm, funny, and occasionally shocking, finding not only the humanity in its AI bots, but also what's real in the virtual.

 How to watch: Love Me release plans are currently TBD.

I Saw the TV Glow Justice Smith and Brigette Lundy-Paine in "I Saw the TV Glow." Credit: A24

One of the most buzzed-about titles out of Sundance 2024 was Jane Schoenbrun's much anticipated follow-up to their 2021 Sundance stunner, We're All Going to the World's Fair. "I Saw the TV Glow picks up that baton and charges headfirst through the screen," Siddhant Adlakha writes in his review. Starring Justice Smith and Brigette Lundy-Paine, the avant-garde horror film follows two teens who share a passion for a supernatural TV show — and are shaken when it is inexplicably canceled. Through this plotline, Schoenrun offers vignettes and clips of the fictional show to offer a coming-of-age story for trans youth. The surreal imagery and offbeat approach might alienate some viewers. But for those on its wavelength, it is being heralded as "a new queer and transgender classic."

 How to watch: I Saw The TV Glow will be released by A24.

Ibelin Mats Steen playing video games in "Ibelin." Credit: Sundance

In 2020, documentarian Benjamin Ree awed critics with his complicated and compelling portrait of an unusual friendship in The Painter and the Thief. Now, he's turned his attention to the online communities that can thrive in games like World of Warcraft. Specifically, he explores the life of Mats Steen, a Norwegian gamer whose degenerative muscular disease made socializing in-person difficult and intimidating. But online, he found friends, love, and much more under his WOW avatar, Ibelin. It was a world his family knew little about until after he died at 25. With the family and his WOW guild's participation, the documentary guides audiences through Mats' inner life, relying on chat archives and animation. The result is a real tear-jerker of a doc that is ultimately feel-good, validating that the connections we make online may matter more than we could ever imagine.

How to watch: Ibelin was acquired by Netflix out of Sundance. Release plans are TBD.

Kneecap Kneecap the band in "Kneecap" the movie. Credit: Sundance

Winner of the audience award in the NEXT slate, Kneecap is a raucous comedy that unfurls the stranger-than-fiction origins of the Irish hip-hop band for which it's named. Big picture, the Belfast band Kneecap was coming up as the debate around their mother tongue was becoming a hot topic. Their rap lyrics, which integrated English and Irish with a flurry of curse words and references to sex and hard drugs, became an unexpected point of pride for the "ceasefire babies." But don't let the political element of this movie fool you. In his directorial debut, writer/helmer Richard Peppiatt brings early Guy Ritchie energy (think Lock, Stock, and Two Smokin' Barrels) to his high-energy romp. Even more compelling, band members Mo Chara, Móglaí Bap, and DJ Próvaí play themselves in the film, and do a bang-up job — even when appearing opposite a sneering Michael Fassbender as a tough-as-nails dad.

How to watch: Kneecap was acquired by Sony Pictures Classic out of Sundance. Release plans are TBD.

The Greatest Night in Pop Musicians of every kind got together for "We Are the World." Credit: Netflix

Not the strongest doc out of Sundance 2024 but definitely the most fun, The Greatest Night in Pop takes audiences back to 1985, when some of the biggest names in music — Stevie Wonder, Bruce Springsteen, Michael Jackson, Cyndi Lauper, Willie Nelson, Bette Midler, Bob Dylan, Ray Charles — came together for a charity single in hopes of making a better world. Centering on interviews of the artists and technicians who made "We Are the World" together, this delightful doc is full of flashy anecdotes, zinging one-liners, and even some heartache. (You deserved better, Sheila E!) While plenty of interviewees offer fun and insights, Lionel Richie, who also produced the doc, proves the MVP, providing not only plenty of context, but also some stellar impressions of Michael Jackson and his exotic pets.

How to watch: The Greatest Night in Pop is now streaming on Netflix.

Seeking Mavis Beacon  Who is the real Mavis Beacon? Credit: NEON

For generations of school kids, Mavis Beacon was our mentor in learning how to type through a series of educational video games. But who is the woman behind the memorable mascot? Self-proclaimed e-girl detectives Jazmin Jones and Olivia McKayla Ross set out to seek out the model who became a tech icon. But along the way, they discovered their documentary may be less about the mysterious Mavis and more about misogynoir in tech. A challenging film that grapples with Gen Z's relationship with internet culture, anti-Black racism, hidden histories, and parasocial relationships, Seeking Mavis Beacon is a wild ride. 

How to watch: Seeking Mavis Beacon's release plans are currently TBD.

Thelma  June Squibb and Richard Roundtree kick butt and take names in "Thelma." Credit: David Bolen

Inspired by his own beloved and spunky grandmother, writer/director Josh Margolin created an action-comedy centered around a 93-year-old widow (Academy Award nominee June Squibb) dead-set on besting the crooks who scammed her out of thousands. With the help of an old friend (Shaft's Richard Roundtree in his final film performance)and her doting grandson (Fear Street's Fred Hechinger), Thelma will take on Los Angeles, racing in a mobility scooter, throwing her concerned daughter (Parker Posey) off her trail, and confronting a scowling foe (Malcolm McDowell). As hilarious as it is heartwarming, this is a low-stakes comedy that is sure to thrill.

How to watch: Thelma's release plans are currently TBD. 

SEE ALSO: 'Thelma' review: June Squibb lives her 'Mission: Impossible' fantasy Eternal You A virtual baby looks upset in "Eternal You." Credit: Sundance

Séances meet artificial intelligence in Eternal You. Directors Hans Block and Moritz Riesewieck explore the places where technology and grief collide in this documentary that is equal parts informative and infuriating. Invited into the offices, homes, and studio space of innovating tech developers for Project December, YOV, and the South Korean TV show Meeting You, the documentarians explore how AI might be used to bring the dead back in some form — be that by texts, AI-generated audio messages, or even CGI avatars of the dead. While these tech guys talk of magic and motivations, interviews with journalists, a psychologist, and users of these groundbreaking apps give a full and at times heartbreaking picture of death capitalism in the modern age. You may well relate to the user's desire to hear from their dearly departed. But when Project December co-founder Jason Rohrer cackles over his AI cursing at a grieving subscriber, your blood may well run cold. A thoughtful look into not just the tech, but the people who made it and the people who are turning to it, makes Eternal You essential viewing.

How to watch: Eternal You's release plans are currently TBD. 

Penelope  Megan Stott wanders off in "Penelope." Credit: Sundance

Have you ever dreamed of ditching your tech and ties and wandering into the woods? That's the impulse followed by the eponymous heroine of Penelope. This YA TV-drama created by Biosphere's Mel Eslyn and Mark Duplass centers on a 16-year-old girl who ditches a family camping trip to strike out on her own. Far from the trauma bomb this setup might have you expecting, the pilot of Penelope offers a winsome story of self-discovery, where a stranger's just a friend you haven't met yet. Tender and captivating, the world premiere of this poetic TV show has us eager to see what comes next. 

How to watch: Penelope's release plans are currently TBD. 

Between the Temples

Jason Schwartzman and Carol Kane co-star in a cringe comedy that's good for the soul. Written by C. Mason Wells and Nathan Silver — the latter of whom also directs — Between the Temples centers on the relationship that blooms between Ben (Schwartzman), a middle-aged cantor who is reeling from being recently widowed, and Carla (Kane), the lively retired music teacher who gives him a new lease on life. He's lost the spirit to sing. She's full of it, and interesting in having her long-denied bat mitzvah. In studying Judaism together, they slowly discover their kindred spirits. But along the way, Silver suspends his audience in claustrophobic close-ups, meandering pacing, and skin-crawlingly awkward moments so we can really experience the harried protagonist's discomfort. Thankfully, once Ben and Carla begin to click, it's like a deep, calming breath, that gives peace and hope. While a willfully rocky ride, Between the Temples offers a journey that is aching, funny, and ultimately feel-good.

How to watch: Between the Temple's release plans are currently TBD. 

SEE ALSO: 'Penelope' review: Teen girl logs off to touch grass, literally

Apple Vision Pro, the company's first foray into the virtual/augmented reality space, is selling like hotcakes. Very expensive hotcakes.

According to MacRumors, which cites a source familiar with Apple's sales numbers, the company has sold 200,000 Vision Pro units since the device became available for pre-order on January 19.

This is roughly in line with analyst Ming-Chi Kuo's estimate that Apple sold 160,000 to 180,000 units in the first couple of days. Kuo originally predicted that Apple will have between 60,000 to 80,000 units in stock for launch day. The 200,000 figure, if accurate, does indicate that pre-order sales have slowed down since the opening weekend.

With shipping times moving into March shortly after pre-orders opened, and all inventory in Apple store unavailable, the Vision Pro is essentially sold out. It officially becomes available for purchase on Feb 2, but it may be next to impossible to get one on that date.

SEE ALSO: iOS 17.4 beta: 5 new features coming to iPhone, including Apple Podcasts transcripts

The Vision Pro starts at $3,499, with the price going over $4,000 with extras, and is currently only available in the U.S., though Kuo did recently predict Apple would make the headset available internationally ahead of its Worldwide Developers Conference in June this year. There are also reports that Apple is already working on next generation variants of the Vision Pro which should be far less pricy.

Meanwhile, if you want to see what all the fuss is about without paying anything, you can sign up for a 25-minute demo — though it might be a long wait until you get it.

Elon Musk's medical technology company Neuralink has reportedly implanted a brain chip into its first human subject. After years of assurances that human trials were imminent, it seems as though they're finally actually happening.

Musk announced the development on his Twitter/X account on Monday. Though he was light on details, Neuralink's CEO appeared optimistic about the results, and stated that the patient seemed to be doing fine after the surgery.

"The first human received an implant from @Neuralink yesterday and is recovering well," Musk wrote. "Initial results show promising neuron spike detection."

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The identity of Neuralink's first human trial subject hasn't been made public. However, the company's call for volunteers stipulates that trial participants must be within the U.S., over 18, and have a disability. Specifically, Neuralink is interested in implanting brain chips in people with "quadriplegia, paraplegia, vision loss, hearing loss, the inability to speak, and/or major limb amputation (affecting above or below the elbow and/or above or below the knee)."

For its first human trial, Neuralink sought volunteers who have quadriplegia caused by a cervical spinal cord injury, or who have amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).

SEE ALSO: Elon Musk's brain implant company Neuralink says the FDA has approved human trials

Musk has also revealed that Neuralink's first product is called Telepathy, and is designed to allow disabled people to operate electronic devices with their brain. 

"[Telepathy] Enables control of your phone or computer, and through them almost any device, just by thinking," Musk claimed. "Initial users will be those who have lost the use of their limbs. Imagine if Stephen Hawking could communicate faster than a speed typist or auctioneer. That is the goal."

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Revealed last September, Neuralink's Precise Robotically Implanted Brain-Computer Interface (PRIME) Study aims to assess the safety of its N1 brain implant as well as that of the R1 surgical robot designed to implant it. 

"During the study, the R1 Robot will be used to surgically place the N1 Implant’s ultra-fine and flexible threads in a region of the brain that controls movement intention," Neuralink wrote in a blog post about its first human trial. "Once in place, the N1 Implant is cosmetically invisible and is intended to record and transmit brain signals wirelessly to an app that decodes movement intention. The initial goal of our BCI is to grant people the ability to control a computer cursor or keyboard using their thoughts alone."

Such technology could be a gamechanger for many people with disabilities once perfected. Unfortunately, its development thus far has not been without gruesome controversy.

A September report by Wired found that the monkeys Neuralink experimented on suffered torturous conditions before they were eventually killed, despite Musk's claims that none had died as a result of the company's implants. Neuralink has also come under investigation by the U.S. government for potentially violating animal welfare laws, facing allegations that Musk's rushed timelines have led to botched experiments and unnecessary pain, suffering, and death on a significant scale.

As such, reasonable apprehension remains about allowing Musk's company to implant chips into people's delicate grey matter, despite Neuralink receiving the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)'s approval to proceed with human trials last May.

It's likely that Neuralink will take more care to avoid mistakes now it's implanting devices into human brains. Even so, its recent history with live subjects should prompt potential candidates to have a good long think before signing up to be Neuralink's next brain chip recipient.

TL;DR: A lifetime subscription to vidBoard Creative AI Presenter is on sale for £39.28, saving you 88% on list price.

Whether you create presentations for potential clients or help introduce new processes or products to your team, they are a valuable tool in the workplace. With that being said, they can be time-consuming and costly to create if they are being done correctly. One way to cut production costs is to utilise tools like this vidBoard Creative AI Presenter. Fortunately, a lifetime subscription is on sale for £39.28.

You'll have a choice of 70 digital AI avatars to use as your presenter. And you get your choice of 20 templates before you customise your presentation with text, graphics, music, and uploaded videos and images. And because vidBoard supports more than 125 languages, your videos will have a multilingual reach.

This handy app makes it easy to create a professional-style video with these simple steps: 

1. Pick a template and an avatar to be your presenter

2. Enter your script

3. Add any multimedia enhancements like videos, images, graphics, or music

You'll be able to customise your brand with built-in tools, including future upgrades, and lean into the power of artificial intelligence, with AI transcripts and voiceovers to enhance your message.

Save yourself some time and streamline your marketing, teaching, or sales efforts with a lifetime subscription for £39.28.

Opens in a new window Credit: vidBoard vidBoard Creative AI Presenter (Lifetime Subscription) £39.28 at the Mashable Shop Get Deal

The billionaire said his company’s first product, called Telepathy, would let a person control a phone or computer “just by thinking.”

Oh hey there! If you're here, it must be time for Wordle. As always, we're serving up our daily hints and tips to help you figure out today's answer.

If you just want to be told today's word, you can jump to the bottom of this article for Jan. 30's Wordle solution revealed. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.

Where did Wordle come from?

Originally created by engineer Josh Wardle as a gift for his partner, Wordle rapidly spread to become an international phenomenon, with thousands of people around the globe playing every day. Alternate Wordle versions created by fans also sprang up, including battle royale Squabble, music identification game Heardle, and variations like Dordle and Quordle that make you guess multiple words at once. 

Wordle eventually became so popular that it was purchased by the New York Times, and TikTok creators even livestream themselves playing.

Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to yesterday's Wordle.

What's the best Wordle starting word?

The best Wordle starting word is the one that speaks to you. But if you prefer to be strategic in your approach, we have a few ideas to help you pick a word that might help you find the solution faster. One tip is to select a word that includes at least two different vowels, plus some common consonants like S, T, R, or N.

What happened to the Wordle archive?

The entire archive of past Wordle puzzles used to be available for anyone to enjoy whenever they felt like it. Unfortunately, it has since been taken down, with the website's creator stating it was done at the request of the New York Times.

Is Wordle getting harder?

It might feel like Wordle is getting harder, but it actually isn't any more difficult than when it first began. You can turn on Wordle's Hard Mode if you're after more of a challenge, though.

Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

Remove.

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

No letters appear twice.

Today's Wordle is a 5-letter word that starts with...

Today's Wordle starts with the letter E.

SEE ALSO: Wordle-obsessed? These are the best word games to play IRL. What's the answer to Wordle today?

Get your last guesses in now, because it's your final chance to solve today's Wordle before we reveal the solution.

Drumroll please!

The solution to Wordle #955 is...

EXPEL.

Don't feel down if you didn't manage to guess it this time. There will be a new Wordle for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we'll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints.

Reporting by Caitlin Welsh, Sam Haysom, Amanda Yeo, Shannon Connellan, Cecily Mauran, Mike Pearl, and Adam Rosenberg contributed to this article.

Connections is the latest New York Times word game that's captured the public's attention. The game is all about finding the "common threads between words." And just like Wordle, Connections resets after midnight and each new set of words gets trickier and trickier—so we've served up some hints and tips to get you over the hurdle.

If you just want to be told today's puzzle, you can jump to the end of this article for January 30's Connections solution. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.

What is Connections?

The NYT's latest daily word game has become a social media hit. The Times credits associate puzzle editor Wyna Liu with helping to create the new word game and bringing it to the publications' Games section. Connections can be played on both web browsers and mobile devices and require players to group four words that share something in common.

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Each puzzle features 16 words and each grouping of words is split into four categories. These sets could comprise of anything from book titles, software, country names, etc. Even though multiple words will seem like they fit together, there's only one correct answer. If a player gets all four words in a set correct, those words are removed from the board. Guess wrong and it counts as a mistake—players get up to four mistakes until the game ends.

Tweet may have been deleted

Players can also rearrange and shuffle the board to make spotting connections easier. Additionally, each group is color-coded with yellow being the easiest, followed by green, blue, and purple. Like Wordle, you can share the results with your friends on social media.

Here's a hint for today's Connections categories

Want a hit about the categories without being told the categories? Then give these a try:

• Yellow: Big hit

• Green: Derivative newspaper names

• Blue: Half-circle shaped objects

• Purple: 1-UP

Featured Video For You Connections: How to play and how to win Here are today's Connections categories

Need a little extra help? Today's connections fall into the following categories:

• Yellow: Hit Hard

• Green: Newspaper Names

• Blue: Crescent-Shaped Things

• Purple: Powers-ups In Super Mario World

Looking for Wordle today? Here's the answer to today's Wordle.

Ready for the answers? This is your last chance to turn back and solve today's puzzle before we reveal the solutions.

Drumroll, please!

The solution to Connections #233 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• Hit Hard: BANG, HAMMER, POUND, SLAM

• Newspaper Names: CHRONICLE, HERALD, REGISTER, SUN

• Crescent-Shaped Things: BANANA, CROISSANT, MOON, SICKLE

• Power-ups In Super Mario World: FEATHER, FLOWER, MUSHROOM, STAR

Don't feel down if you didn't manage to guess it this time. There will be new Connections for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we'll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints.

Is this not the Connections game you were looking for? Here are the hints and answers to yesterday's Connections.

SAVE $10.12: As of Jan. 27, JLab Go Air Sport wireless workout earbuds are down to $19.88 at Amazon. That's a discount of 35%.

Opens in a new window Credit: JLab JLab Go Air Sport wireless workout earbuds $19.88 at Amazon (save $10.12) Get Deal

Sometimes when you're on the go, you just want a simple pair of headphones that get the job done. And you don't want to worry about them falling out when you're in the middle of a long run or tough workout. The good news is you can grab a pair of wireless headphones that wrap around your ears for less than the cost of lunch today at Amazon.

As of Jan. 29, the JLab Go Air Sport wireless workout earbuds are just $19.88 in several colorways, down from their regular price of $30. That's a discount of $10.12, or 35% — and makes an affordable pair of earbuds a downright steal.

SEE ALSO: Get $40 off Beats Studio Buds+ noise-canceling earbuds at Amazon

These earbuds are no frills (you'll have to pay more to get noise cancellation), but there's no risk in picking up a pair of headphones for twenty bucks. They loop around the ears and have three interchangeable gel tip sizes for a comfortable and secure fit, and they're IP55 certified, meaning they're dust- and water-resistant — so sweat away. They last for eight hours on a single charge and get 32 hours in total from the included charging case.

You can use these earbuds together or one bud at a time when you need to grab a call while you're out doing errands. You can control the volume, play and pause music, and answer calls with simple touch commands, and access three sound modes: JLab Signature, Balanced, and Bass Boost modes.

For twenty bucks, what are you waiting for? Score these grab-and-go earbuds for under $20.

Is Roomba in trouble?

On Monday, Amazon announced it would be scrapping its plans to acquire iRobot, the consumer home electronics company best known for its line of robotic vacuum cleaners.

The e-commerce giant's decision to back out of its previously announced $1.7 billion acquisition is due to pushback from regulators in the European Union. However, the company also faced challenges with the FTC in the U.S. regarding the deal. 

Mashable had previously reported on the concerns surrounding user privacy violations. Amazon's deal with iRobot made it clear that an Alexa voice assistant integration feature would be a major feature in an Amazon-owned Roomba. Regulators were concerned about the potential for Amazon to obtain data on users' homes with this technology. 

SEE ALSO: Amazon vacuums up Roomba maker iRobot, sparking immediate privacy concerns

In addition, there were antitrust issues. Regulators worried that Amazon would be able to push out competition within the smart home market. For example, it would be difficult for Roomba competitors to compete on Amazon if the company was able to promote its own line of smart robot vacuums over others in its marketplace.

Bad news for iRobot

Amazon will be fine after the termination of this deal. However, the same cannot be said for iRobot. When Amazon first announced its intention to acquire the Roomba-maker in August 2022, it was seen as somewhat of a bailout for iRobot. (After Amazon's original $1.7 billion offer, the company lowered its purchase price to $1.4 billion after iRobot took on additional debt.)

iRobot has been struggling post-pandemic. Roomba's saw a sudden and sharp spike in popularity amid the 2020 COVID-19 lockdowns. With so many people staying home, there was a boom within the home appliance industry.

As Bloomberg points out in its report, iRobot has been profitable since its 2005 IPO. However, in iRobot's press release following Amazon's cancellation of the deal, it says the company is expecting a 2023 fourth-quarter operating loss between "$265 and $285 million."

And that's not the only unfortunate news coming out of iRobot following Amazon's decision to walk away from the deal.

SEE ALSO: The best robot vacuums unveiled at CES 2024 go where Roombas still haven't

iRobot announced it would be cutting 350 jobs, or around 31 percent of its workforce, as part of its restructuring plan. In addition, iRobot co-founder and CEO Colin Angle announced he'd be stepping down from his role with the company.

Following the news, iRobot's stock tanked to its lowest price since 2009.

It's unclear what the future holds for iRobot. The company is far and away the global leader in the robot vacuum space. However, its market share has declined over the years as competition heats up in the industry.

The Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra, I thought, would surely win my heart. 

After all, I’ve been a Samsung stan since I owned the Galaxy S21 Ultra and S22 Ultra. I loved hearing my ugh-you-have-green-bubbles iPhone friends say, “Wow, your phone takes amazing photos” as they frowned at their own overprocessed, iDevice-taken selfies.

People watched in awe as I whipped out my S Pen to jot down my drink order for the bartender when the music was too loud.

Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

In an iPhone-loving world, I felt like my S22 Ultra was an underdog that was better than its Apple rival — people just needed to wake up to its incredible capabilities.

Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

However, the numbers don’t lie. While the Galaxy S24 Ultra shines with (some) Galaxy AI features, my testing shows that the Samsung phone has some serious competition with the iPhone 15 Pro Max on the market.

Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra price

The Galaxy S24 Ultra base model has an MSRP of $1,299 — $100 more than the starting price of the Galaxy S23 Ultra when it launched in 2022.

Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

However, Samsung is running a pre-order promo that lets you snag a 256GB or 512GB phone for just $549 with an eligible trade-in. (Since these two models have the same promo price, you’d be selling yourself short if you didn’t grab the 512GB variant.) If you want 1TB of storage, you’ll have to shell out $669.99.

Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra $549.99 with eligible trade-in Get Deal What I love about the Galaxy S24 Ultra

I can’t speak for everyone, but in my circle of tech friends, there's been a growing sense of AI fatigue. 

With countless companies hawking AI-powered gizmos, plus the ongoing discourse of job displacement anxiety, privacy and ethical concerns, and more, my intuition tells me that consumers were damn-near "over it" when Samsung announced Galaxy AI.

However, contrary to the AI fatigued, I found myself being quite intrigued. Here’s my experience with it so far. 

Galaxy AI’s ‘Chat Translation’ is phenomenal

I have family in Puerto Rico who don’t speak a lick of English. And as for me, despite years of taking Spanish classes, my rough grasp of the language would make the Duolingo bird consider early retirement.

Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

I once relied on third-party apps like Google Translate to communicate with my Spanish-speaking kin, but that was — quite frankly — a pain in the ass.

Now, thanks to Galaxy AI, I can text my Puerto Rico-based cousin — sans Google Translate — directly in WhatsApp via the keyboard. It works in Google Messages, too. (I used it to text my French-speaking mom.) I haven’t had issues with it so far; it translates all texts with expert precision and rapidity. 

However, as you’ll see in this review, not all Galaxy AI features are as polished.

Galaxy AI’s “24 hr time lapse” is badass

Take a look at the GIF below. Galaxy AI did that. Initially, this was just a photo (you can see the original photo below the GIF).

via GIPHY

Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

But Galaxy AI worked its magic and transformed a photo into a 12-second time-lapse video — and you’d never know it was nothing but a static picture in its original form.

S Pen continues to shine

The Galaxy S24 Ultra continues to be a top selling point for the Galaxy S series phones. Sure, you can use it to scribble and draw on the display, but it’s also a pen-shaped remote.

Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

For example, I can press and hold the button on the S Pen, which, by default, fires up the camera app. By pressing the button once, the shutter button is triggered, allowing me to take photos without touching the screen.

Air actions, including flinging the pen to the left and zig-zagging the S Pen, can launch video mode and the Notes app, respectively. And that’s just the tip of the iceberg of what the S Pen can do.

Again, none of these features are new, but it’s one of the best aspects of the Galaxy S24 Ultra.

My only wish is that it’d be nice if the S Pen could have some sort of locator sensor inside — this stylus is easy to misplace. (On the plus side, the Galaxy S24 Ultra alerts you when the S Pen is not in its silo.)

Search your scribbled notes in the Notes app

One thing that irks me about my Galaxy S22 Ultra is that I have a large library of scribbled documents in the Notes app. But unfortunately, I'm unable to search through my massive portfolio of notes for particular messages or words.

Credit: Screenshot: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

The Galaxy S24 Ultra changes all of that. It can, indeed, “read” my chicken scratch, allowing me to search through documents inside the Notes app — even if it was written with the S Pen.

Design beats the iPhone 15 Pro Max

As I mentioned in my hands-on experience of the Galaxy S24 Ultra, this phone is ergonomic heaven. Unlike the iPhone 15 Pro Max’s stiff edges, which uncomfortably dig into my soft palms, the Galaxy S24 Ultra continues to boast soft, rounded edges that conform to my hand.

Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

The 6.8-inch, 3,120 x 1440-pixel resolution display still has that hole-punch camera that houses a 12MP selfie camera, which delivers visually pleasing, gloriously spacious screen real estate — more than the iPhone 15 Pro Max, which features the Dynamic Island (i.e., a glorified notch).

Unfortunately, Samsung gave Mashable the titanium violet color, which is, in my opinion, quite mid, but that titanium yellow is elite. It looks like it’s wrapped in glitzy gold.

Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

Other colors include titanium black, titanium gray, titanium blue, titanium green, and titanium orange. As the names indicates, the Galaxy S24 Ultra has a titanium frame, similar to the iPhone 15 Pro Max, that supposedly makes the phone more durable than its predecessor.

Durability is damn good

At one point, I got up from my couch, and suddenly, I heard a loud smack. I looked down, and to my horror, the Galaxy S24 Ultra was on my hardwood floor.

Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

I gasped and I quickly grabbed the Samsung phone. In a panic, I looked at the display and searched for scratches and cracks. Fortunately, I breathed a sigh of relief when I realized it looked good as new.

Samsung wasn’t kidding about its durability. How did it pass this unexpected drop test? Thank the display's Corning Gorilla Glass Armor, which boasts cutting-edge scratch-and-shock resistance.

Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra zoom is elite

When I first heard that the Galaxy S24 Ultra is ditching its 10MP, 10x telephoto camera for a 50MP, 5x variant, I was skeptical. Yes, the resolution has increased, but the optical zoom suffered a reduction. Could this hurt the Galaxy S24 Ultra?

As it turns out, the Galaxy S24 Ultra's zoom is one of its best features. In fact, when I blind-tested iPhone owners, most of them picked the Galaxy S24 Ultra's 10x shot — not the iPhone 15 Pro Max's 10x capture.

Left: Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable Right: iPhone 15 Pro Max Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

It's worth noting that the iPhone 15 Pro Max has a 12MP telephoto camera with 5x optical zoom.

SEE ALSO: Galaxy S24 Ultra vs. iPhone 15 Pro Max blind photo test: I asked 10 iPhone users which they prefer What’s ‘eh’ about the Galaxy S24 Ultra

Unfortunately for the Galaxy S24 Ultra, it’s up against some stiff competition. Numbers aren’t everything, but after running some benchmarks on both the Galaxy S24 Ultra and the iPhone 15 Pro Max, the Samsung phone has a tough rival to beat.

Battery life is long — but not as enduring as iPhone 15 Pro Max

As you’ll see in the battery life section, the Galaxy S24 Ultra can last more than 10 hours, which is impressive.

Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

However, the iPhone 15 Pro Max has a better runtime by nearly two hours.

Object eraser is hit or miss

I’ve gushed about the Galaxy AI camera features, particularly the time-lapse utility. However, perks like Object Eraser can be hit or miss.

Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

For example, the Galaxy S24 Ultra seamlessly removed that pesky passerby in the red coat in front of the U.S.S Maine National Monument. Get outta there!

Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

However, when I tried to remove the red bucket in the photo above, Galaxy AI struggled to reproduce the horse's hoof, which is admittedly a more complex task.

Performance doesn’t beat iPhone 15 Pro Max, but this isn’t a big deal

I ran the Geekbench 6 benchmark on both the Galaxy S24 Ultra and the iPhone 15 Max. Unfortunately, as you’ll find out in the performance section, the former couldn’t catch up to the latter.

However, this isn’t a big deal. Both scores far exceed the performance threshold needed to run everyday tasks on a smartphone. I’d argue that the iPhone 15 Pro Max has too much power for its own good — so much so that it beats the likes of the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 in performance.

As such, even though the Galaxy S24 Ultra doesn’t beat the iPhone 15 Pro Max, it’s still packed with plenty of power to handle any of your tasks — and then some.

What I don’t like about Galaxy S24 Ultra

While I love that Samsung kept the Galaxy S24 Ultra’s signature round edges and hole-punch display, there are other tweaks that I don’t love.

The flat display isn’t for me

I may be in the minority, but I adore how my Galaxy S22 Ultra's screen bleeds into the edges. It’s often affectionately called a waterfall display; I always found it to be beautifully futuristic.

However, I understand that it’s not practical. For example, putting a screen protector on a waterfall display is a little more difficult (e.g., getting the air bubbles out is a pain).

Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

Still, I’m going to miss the waterfall display. It was an Android-esque design, and now, alongside the new titanium feature, the Galaxy S24 Ultra getting a little too iPhone-y for my tastes.

Selfie camera has stiff competition in iPhone 15 Pro Max

For a long time, I’ve always praised the Galaxy S series for its stunning selfie photos.

However, it looks like my preference is changing. I took selfies with the Galaxy S24 Ultra and iPhone 15 Pro Max (both have 12MP front-facing cameras) at a Starbucks in Manhattan, and to my surprise, I ended up preferring the iPhone 15 Pro Max.

iPhone 15 Pro Max (left) vs. Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra (right) Credit: Kimberly Gedeon

But when it comes to the wide camera, I still dig the Galaxy S24 Ultra's 200MP lens over the iPhone 15 Pro Max's 48MP shooter.

Left: Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable Right: iPhone 15 Pro Max Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

The ultra-wide shots (both feature 12MP shooters) look better with the Galaxy S24 Ultra, too.

Left: Galaxy S24 Ultra Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable Right: iPhone 15 Pro Max Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable Galaxy AI ‘Call Assist’ needs improvement

What’s Call Assist? It’s an AI interpreter that steps in to translate your calls.

Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

For example, if you’re speaking English, Call Assist can translate your statement into Spanish for the receiver. And when the person on the other end replies, their response is translated back to English.

I tested Call Assist with my French-speaking father and I spotted some issues:

• You have to quickly tap on two options (“Call Assist” and “Live Translate”) before the other person picks up or the feature will not launch.

• Call Assist translates conversations well, but sometimes, it doesn’t allow slow-talking users to finish their sentences.

• On rare occasions, Call Assist stops translating altogether.

Call Assist was the Galaxy AI feature I was most excited about, but now I’m feeling a bit disillusioned. However, this doesn’t mean that it can’t be improved. For the next-gen Galaxy AI, Samsung should produce a more patient AI interpreter.

Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra battery life

As we reported, the Galaxy S24 Ultra has a battery runtime of 13 hours and one minute, nearly two hours short of the iPhone 15 Pro Max’s runtime of 14 hours and 53 minutes.

Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra Geekbench score

On Geekbench 6, the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra, packed with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor, produced a Geekbench 6 score of 7,078.

For comparison, the iPhone 15 Pro Max, equipped with an A17 Pro chip, delivered a score of 7,359.

Is the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra worth it?

The Galaxy S24 Ultra still has a chokehold over me with its slithery-smooth S Pen, cutting-edge on-device translation for texting, brilliant time-lapse feature, impressive durability, and iPhone-beating photos.

However, as much as it pains me to say it, the Galaxy S24 Ultra appears to be losing ground in energy efficiency. Battery life, one of the most significant aspects of a smartphone, is still pretty good on the Galaxy S24 Ultra, but the iPhone 15 Pro Max is slightly better.

I'm also not the biggest fan of the selfies the Galaxy S24 Ultra produces.

Still, because I have a multicultural family, the Galaxy S24 Ultra appeals to me. Galaxy AI features like Chat Translation and Call Assist are a must for me. The Galaxy S24 Ultra still takes the throne as the best Android phone. However, for the first time ever, I’m questioning my pro-Samsung stance. Great selfies and long battery life are too alluring to pass up.

Amazon walked away from the $1.7 billion acquisition of iRobot as it faces questions from regulators in the European Union and United States.

Google Assistant is the search engine tech giant's answer to Siri that responds to "Hey Google!"

In case you missed it, "Google Assistant with Bard" is now in the works, which is set to underpin the assistant with Bard (i.e., Google's AI-powered chatbot). And now, thanks to a new leak, we're seeing some semblance of its existence.

'Google Assistant with Bard' demo found in Pixel Tips app

Since October, Google hasn't said much about its plan to enhance its voice assistant with its powerful Bard artificial intelligence. However, we finally have a glimpse of how Assistant with Bard will work from a very unlikely source: the Pixels Tips app (h/t Android Police).

Spotted by an eagle-eyed X user, it looks like Android users will be getting a new native Bard app that will replace the Assistant app. The demo, which showed up in the Pixels Tips app that's available to most Google Pixel phones, gives us the most complete look of what Assistant with Bard can do.

SEE ALSO: New 'Assistant with Bard' combines Google Assistant and Bard into one. Here's what that looks like. Demo shows what 'Assistant with Bard' can do with photos

For example, in the video, users can upload a picture of a plant with the instructions "I just bought this plant. Give me tips and YouTube videos to help me take care of it." Bard will then follow up with videos and detailed tips on plant care.

Tweet may have been deleted

This, by and large changes, the personal assistant experience previously on offer by the current Google Assistant. Google Assistant, as it stands now, primarily functions as a reactive tool, responding to direct queries and commands. However, the integration with Bard marks a shift towards a more proactive and contextual understanding.

It'll also work in much the same way as the current Google Assistant, as Bard can also be accessed by saying "Hey Google" or long-pressing the home button.

Tweet may have been deleted

We might even have a potential release date for the new personal assistant as well. According to a post from Android expert Mishaal Rahman, the source code in the Pixel Tips app shows a March 2024 date that'll supposedly be timed with a planned Pixel feature drop.

Additionally, the video and tips about Assitant with Bard can't be viewed on non-Tensor chip-powered Pixel devices. So if you own a Pixel Tablet or Fold, and are itching to see the video yourself, sorry.

Facebook is a behemoth so large, so absolute, that just 20 years after its creation, it's difficult to imagine a world in which its power doesn't reach the most desolate of civilizations. Because it's a platform that spans the entire globe, but one that is commanded from Silicon Valley, it's easy to assume that it looks the same in every place you can access it. 

However, legislators in the EU are working to ensure that there are at least some protections for the people who use the platform.

The European Union's Digital Markets Act is a significant regulation that addresses antitrust concerns with big tech companies, giving the EU regulatory power that has affected the way some social media platforms function. That means that Facebook, and its parent company Meta, look a bit different in Europe than it does in the U.S., including, primarily, its protections for users. 

Pay to opt out of ads  SEE ALSO: I tried out Facebook's ad-free tier. Here's what it's like.

Facebook makes a ton of money off advertising on its platforms, and for good reason. Three billion people use the platform, and it has a system that tracks users when they're logged on, even if they aren't scrolling on Facebook. Because of that, Facebook can provide incredibly precise advertising to users — which advertisers love because it means they're only giving ads for products people are more likely to buy. Their money travels further. Yet it also means Facebook can get inundated with ads for users who might just want to see fewer of them.

And, of course, users might not want Facebook to sell so much of their data. 

In November 2023, despite Facebook's best attempts to stop it, regulators forced Meta to start offering a monthly subscription fee to use its platforms without any ads for users in the EU, EEA, and Switzerland. It costs users €9.99 per month and is entirely optional — you can continue using the app for free and get the ads, or you can pay and have an ad-free experience.

Unlink Facebook and Instagram accounts SEE ALSO: How to unlink Facebook and Instagram

Facebook and Instagram users in the EU will be able to unlink their accounts in March.

Tim Lamb, Meta's competition and regulatory director, said in a Jan. 22 blog post that users in the EU, the European Economic Area, and Switzerland will be notified "over the next few weeks" of "their ability to choose whether they would like to share information between our services," including new abilities to limit data-sharing across Facebook, Facebook Messenger, Facebook Marketplace, Facebook Gaming, Ads, and Instagram. The most significant change is the ability for users to keep their Instagram and Facebook accounts linked or to manage the accounts separately "so that their information is no longer used across accounts." 

Linking your Instagram and Facebook accounts has some benefits to the user, like allowing them to be able to find people they know more easily. For the company, linking gives Meta more data for ad targeting.

It's unclear if any of these tools will ever become available for users in the U.S., but it sure would be nice if U.S. regulators started caring about citizens' digital privacy as much as EU regulators seem to.