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Editor's note: Check out our oft-updated live blog for all new developments about the Microsoft/CrowdStrike outage.

The recent global IT outage, in which a faulty update to cybersecurity company CrowdStrike's software brought down millions of Windows PCs, caused billions of dollars worth of damage across a number of industries, including airline transport, retail, and banking.

Mac devices, however, were not affected, as Apple's macOS operating system does not grant third party app makers kernel-level access, preventing the type of catastrophic error that resulted in the dreaded "blue screen of death" on Windows PCs.

Now, Microsoft is saying it wasn't able to put the same protections in place due to a long-standing agreement with the European Commission.

In a statement given to the Wall Street Journal, a Microsoft spokesperson said the company "cannot legally wall off its operating system in the same way Apple does because of an understanding it reached with the European Commission following a complaint."

This is referring to a 2009 agreement, in which Microsoft pledged to give third-party security apps developers the same level of access to its Windows OS as Microsoft itself gets. In contrast, Apple took away kernel access from third-party developers back in 2019, when it launched macOS Catalina.

SEE ALSO: Microsoft releases easier CrowdStrike fix

The faulty CrowdStrike update was devastating for IT systems around the globe as it caused a system crash on a multitude of Windows PCs. A fix could not easily be deployed as the systems would immediately crash again on reboot, causing a condition called "reboot loop."

In a letter to customers and partners, CrowdStrike CEO George Kurtz said it was taking steps to prevent "anything like this from happening again." The question, however, is what steps should Microsoft take to make sure one small update to a third-party software (CrowdStrike's or others') cannot wreak havoc on global IT infrastructure again.

We've asked Microsoft for comment on this issue, and will update this article when we hear back.

Space images never get old, do they?

To celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Chandra X-ray Observatory being launched into space, NASA has published 25 brand new images snapped by the telescope — everything from supermassive black holes to supernova remnants. The telescope's X-ray technology allows it to light up regions of space that scientists wouldn't otherwise be able to see, including the matter orbiting black holes and exploding star debris.

“For a quarter century, Chandra has made discovery after amazing discovery,” said Pat Slane, director of the Chandra X-ray Center. “Astronomers have used Chandra to investigate mysteries that we didn’t even know about when we were building the telescope — including exoplanets and dark energy.”

You can see the full gallery here, but we've picked out five images below along with their descriptions to give you a taste.

SEE ALSO: Check out NASA's next space station. It won't orbit Earth. NGC 6872 Credit: NASA

"In this composite image, a large spiral galaxy has some of its superheated gas stolen by a smaller, nearby neighbor. Centered in the frame, NGC 6872 is a large spiral galaxy with two elongated arms that stretch toward our upper right and lower left. Near the white dot at the heart of the galaxy, a cloud of neon purple tints the arms, which appear steel blue at the tips. The purple represents hot gas detected by Chandra. Just to the upper left of NGC 6872 is a second spiral galaxy. Its spiraling arms are much smaller, but the bright white dot at its core is quite large, suggesting a supermassive black hole. Some of the steel blue matter and gas from NGC 6872’s lower arm appears to be floating toward the smaller galaxy, likely pulled toward the supermassive black hole."

NGC 1365 Credit: NASA

"This composite image features a close look at the supermassive black hole at the heart of the spiral galaxy known as NGC 1365. The brilliant black hole glows white at the center of the image, its outer edges tinted bright blue. From this core, two thick ropey red arms spiral out. Continuing their spiral curves, the arms extend well beyond the edges of the frame. Dotting the image are a series of white spots with neon blue outer edges. These are stars paired with smaller black holes or neutron stars, observed by Chandra."

MSH 15-52 Credit: NASA

"In this composite image, a pulsar, a pulsar wind nebula, and a low energy X-ray cloud combine to create an uncanny scene of a skeletal hand preparing to grab a glowing ember. The hand reaches up from the bottom of the image, the ghostly blue flesh and white bones representing pulsar wind nebula X-rays observed by Chandra. A bright white spot in the wrist is the pulsar itself. Just beyond the hand’s fingertips, near our upper right, is a mottled yellow and orange shape that appears to glow from within. This is the low energy X-ray cloud observed by Chandra."

Jupiter Credit: NASA

"In this composite image of Jupiter, the fifth planet from the sun is set against the blackness of space, flanked by neon purple blobs. Here, Jupiter is presented in exceptionally clear focus. More than a dozen bands of swirling gas streak the surface, each a different texture and shade of grey. The gas giant is encircled by a fine, sky-blue ring, the same color as the large storm which swirls on its surface at our lower right. At the top edge of Jupiter, tilted just to our right of center, is a neon purple strip. A similar, smaller line of neon purple can be found at the bottom edge of the planet. Capping the planet’s magnetic poles, these purple strips represent X-ray auroras, created when high-energy particles collide with gas in the planet’s atmosphere. At our right and left, large hazy blobs of neon purple flank Jupiter, some larger than the gas giant itself. Like the auroras, these purple clouds represent X-rays observed by Chandra."

M16 (Eagle Nebula) Credit: NASA

"This composite image features a region of star formation known as the Pillars of Creation. Here, tall columns of grey gas and dust emerge from the bottom edge of the image, stretching toward our upper right. Backed by dark orange and pink mist, the cloudy grey columns are surrounded by dozens of soft, glowing, dots in whites, reds, blues, yellows, and purples. These dots are young stars emitting X-ray and infrared light. Churning with turbulent gas and dust, the columns lean to our right with small offshoots pointing in the same direction. The misty glow, colorful stars, and lifelike grey dust formations combine to create an image of yearning cloud creatures at dusk, reaching for something just out of frame."

General Motors said the self-driving division’s cars will operate in Dallas, Houston and Phoenix after an accident last year. Human drivers will supervise the cars.

Stephen Colbert has shared his thoughts on Biden dropping out of the 2024 presidential race on Monday night's "Late Show."

TL:DR: Save time and money with help from this open-box iRobot Roomba Vacuum, on sale for $149.99.

Most of us don't take pleasure in cleaning. If you're not "most of us", please come clean our houses. If you're tired of constantly vacuuming or sweeping your floors, you may want a robot to do it for you so you don't have to.

The Roomba from iRobot is designed for just that, complete with a Smart Mapping feature that memorizes the layout of your home, as well as where it's already been. For a limited time, you can get an open-box version on sale for only $149.99, down 45% from the original price of $274. 

Designed to take over the task with ease, this smart robot vacuum navigates your home efficiently, tackling dirt, dust, and pet hair on both carpets and hard floors. With its powerful suction and multi-surface brushes, the Roomba i4 EVO gets into those tricky corners and under furniture where traditional vacuums struggle, making your floors spotless without you having to lift a finger.

Smart Mapping knows your home's layout and directs the vacuum to clean in neat rows to remember where it's been, so that every inch is covered. It connects to WiFi so you can control and schedule cleaning sessions right from your phone; set it to clean while you're out and come home to freshly vacuumed floors. The Roomba i4 EVO even works with voice assistants, making it as easy as saying, "Start cleaning."

The open-box status of this product means that it either was excess inventory or was returned by a customer and repackaged — but it's a new item (for way less)!

Clean your home without having to do it yourself with this open-box iRobot Roomba Vacuum with Smart Mapping, on sale for just $149.99 (reg. $274).

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TL;DR: Great for shared use, score this HP Pavilion Desktop on sale for $349.99 (reg. $599).

Even though the "computer room" might be a thing of the '90s and early '00s, there's still a large population of families that share a computer, especially ones with kids who are too young to have one of their own. If you're looking for a computer that's made for everything from games to Zoom meetings — and are not looking to spend an arm and a leg — check out this open-box deal on an HP.

This open-box HP Pavilion Desktop that comes with Windows 11 Home is on sale for $349.99 (reg. $599). "Open-box" simply means the item has been returned and repackaged, or is excess inventory. Buying products that are labeled as such can be a great way to get new tech for a huge discount.

The HP Pavilion Desktop is designed to meet the diverse needs of every family member. With an Intel i5-12400 processor and 12GB of RAM, this desktop handles everything from demanding work tasks to casual web browsing and multimedia entertainment.

Whether the kids are doing homework, parents are working from home, or the entire family is streaming movies together, the Pavilion Desktop is built to deliver smooth and efficient performance. The 512GB SSD provides plenty of storage space and quick access to your files and applications, cutting down on wait times and boosting productivity.

Its sleek design fits nicely into any home office or living space. Its multiple connectivity options, like USB ports and HDMI, provide compatibility with various devices like printers, external drives, and even gaming consoles.

This computer comes with the Windows 11 Home operating system, which makes for a user-friendly experience, complete with a modern design and AI capabilities — the kids will love the lifelike DirectX 12 Ultimate graphics for gaming!

Take advantage of this open-box deal on an HP Pavilion Desktop computer featuring Windows 11 Home, on sale for $349.99 for a limited time.

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TL;DR: Get the Abotec 80090 Telescope for $119.99. Perfect for all skill levels, it offers clear views of the night sky and daytime landscapes.

Ever dreamed of exploring the stars from your own backyard? With this telescope, you can turn those dreams into reality, featuring a 90mm aperture and 800mm focal length, providing crisp views of the night sky. 

With a magnification range from 32x to 400x, you'll be able to observe the moon’s craters, Saturn, and Jupiter with help from this open-box Abotec 80090 Telescope on sale for $119.99 (reg. $199). This product is labeled "open-box" because it was either excess inventory or was returned by a customer and repackaged. But rest assured, it's brand-new.

But the fun doesn't stop when the sun comes up. The Abotec is also great for daytime viewing, allowing you to observe distant landscapes and wildlife with ease. Its durable tripod and high-quality lenses ensure steady and precise views, whether you're looking at mountains or birds. Plus, its sleek, white design makes it a stylish addition to any home.

What makes this telescope truly special is the sense of wonder it brings. Imagine hosting a star party with friends and family, sharing the awe of the sky! It also comes with a phone adapter so you can save stunning photos.

Don't miss out on this incredible opportunity to explore the cosmos! 

Get a fascinating glimpse into the universe with this open-box Abotec 80090 Telescope in white for only $119.99.

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TL;DR: Pay only $27.99 on a 10-pack of Dove spray deodorants for men for a limited time and stay fresh for months.

Many of us have been hit with some super high temperatures lately, and along with that heat unfortunately comes sweat. If you're in need of some quality deodorant but don't feel like breaking the bank buying a new can every five minutes, check out this deal.

You can get 10 Dove Antiperspirant and Deodorant Sprays for Men for only $27.99, which works out to less than $3 per can.

Each can packs 150 ml of Dove's powerful yet gentle formula to keep you dry and smelling great all day. Designed specifically for men, this antiperspirant spray tackles sweat and odor, so you can stay confident no matter how hot it gets. Whether you're hitting the gym, running errands, or just lounging around, Dove has got your back (and underarms).

These Dove antiperspirant sprays offer 48-hour protection, meaning you can focus on enjoying your day without constantly reapplying. Plus, with a 10-pack, you're stocked up for months, making it a convenient and extremely cost-effective option. The spray is easy to apply, dries quickly, and leaves no residue — no more white flakes.

Keep cool and stay dry this summer by purchasing this 10-pack of Dove Antiperspirant and Deodorant Spray for Men, on sale for $27.99 (reg. $32).

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The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) has thrown out Meta's non-disparagement and confidentiality agreements with over 7,000 former employees. It turns out that barring workers from criticising a company can have an unlawfully negative effect on their ability to unionise.

In a 19-page ruling on Friday, NLRB judge Andrew S. Gollin found that the non-disparagement and confidentiality sections in Meta's separation agreements unlawfully restricted workers' legally protected right to organise. This case particularly concerned over 7,000 former Meta employees who were laid off during its 2022 mass layoffs, the vast majority of whom had signed the 11-page separation agreement offered by the company.

SEE ALSO: SpaceX responds to unfair dismissal charges, calls watchdog unconstitutional

Under this separation agreement, employees who were laid off would receive "enhanced severance pay" and other benefits. In exchange, they were prohibited from disparaging, criticising, or making "otherwise detrimental comments" about any of Meta's products, its "business affairs, operation, management and financial condition"; or the circumstances in which they left the company formerly known as Facebook. The separation agreement further stipulated that former employees were not permitted to disclose the agreement's terms.

These non-disparagement and confidentiality sections were accused of interfering with workers' rights to unionise, as Meta had put in place "rules that prohibit employees from discussing wages, hours, or other terms or conditions of employment."

The NLRB has now agreed with this assessment, finding that Meta used "overly broad" language in these sections of the separation agreement. Gollin considered that Meta's non-disparagement and confidentiality restrictions prohibited former employees from raising workplace concerns with co-workers, labour organisations, or the public, preventing them from finding support when dealing with labour disputes. These restrictions would also apply even if former employees' statements were truthful.

"This prohibition… reasonably would tend to discourage protected conduct, including making comments to seek the assistance and support of other employees or third parties regarding labor disputes or issues related to terms and conditions of employment with [Meta]," wrote Gollin.  

"[P]ublic statements by employees about the workplace, their employment, or their separation are central to the exercise of [workers' rights to unionise]. The sections at issue prohibiting disclosure or commentary… are unlawful because they discourage statutorily protected communications with others, including the public."

The NLRB ordered Meta to stop entering into separation agreements with "unlawfully overbroad'' non-disparagement or confidentiality sections, as well as notify everyone who agreed to such clauses that these sections have been rescinded. Meta must also distribute a notice to employees informing them of their right to unionise under the National Labor Relations Act, and stating that the company will not interfere with such organisation.

Meta may appeal the NLRB's judgement, but as it currently stands, it looks as though the company has a lot of emails to send.

Mashable has reached out to Meta for comment.

Meta is just the latest tech giant to fall afoul of the NLRB this year. In January the NLRB filed a complaint against SpaceX, alleging unfair labour practises and unlawful dismissal. In response, SpaceX accused the watchdog of being unconstitutional because the U.S. president can't fire NLRB judges without cause.

The Mini is a bite-sized version of The New York Times' revered daily crossword. While the crossword is a lengthier experience that requires both knowledge and patience to complete, The Mini is an entirely different vibe.

With only a handful of clues to answer, the daily puzzle doubles as a speed-running test for many who play it.

So, when a tricky clue disrupts a player's flow, it can be frustrating! If you find yourself stumped playing The Mini — much like with Wordle and Connections — we have you covered.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections today: See hints and answers for July 23 SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Here's the answer hints for July 23

Here are the clues and answers to NYT's The Mini for Sunday, July 23, 2024:

AcrossFood that fills both blanks of "___ce of ___"

• The answer is pie.

Wide display

• The answer is array.

Quintessentially boring color

• The answer is beige.

Founder of Amazon

• The answer is Bezos.

Type of beer

• The answer is ale.

DownGame show contestant's hope

• The answer is prize.

"In memoriam" pieces

• The answer is Iago.

They're never open 24/7

• The answer is eyes.

"Mamma Mia!" group

• The answer is Abba.

Film spool

• The answer is reel.

Featured Video For You The Wordle Strategy used by the New York Times' Head of Games

Are you also playing NYT Strands? See hints and answers for today's Strands.

Apple Music Classical now has its own top 100 chart.

The Apple Classical Top 100, launched on Monday, is a "definitive list of today's most popular classical albums globally," Apple said. It combines five data sources from 165 countries to give you an overview of what's hot in classical music. The data sources are all coming from Apple, though: Apple Music Classical streams, Apple Music streams, iTunes downloads, iTunes song sales, and Shazam tags.

According to Apple, the Apple Classical Top 100 will be updated every Monday. It can be found on the Apple Music Classical Home tab.

SEE ALSO: Apple Watch Series 9 vs. SE: I tested both for 13 days

Right now, the chart is topped by Bach: Keyboard Concertos with Chinese pianist Tianqi Du and the Academy of St Martins in the Fields conducted by Jonathan Bloxham.

Apparently some newcomer called Bach is hot stuff right now. Credit: Apple

Apple Music Classical is a free mobile app (there's no desktop version for some reason) for Apple Music subscribers. As the name suggests it focuses on classical music, with a slightly redesigned interface, and support for classical categories like works, composers, and recordings. It also features expert recommendations and playlists, as well as exclusive artworks.

A.I.’s math problem reflects how much the new technology is a break with computing’s past.

Wiz’s chief executive said the company walked away from a “humbling offer” and would pursue an initial public offering instead.

TL;DR: Through July 28, back up, restore, and save your files when you use AOMEI Backupper, a professional backup and recovery tool on sale for only £15.44 (reg. £38.63) for life. 

Whether it's a file you need for work, homework you haven't submitted yet, or treasured photos, file loss is a major inconvenience, and you can't always predict when it's going to happen. However, you can still prevent it with a comprehensive backup system like AOMEI Backupper, the Pro Edition of this Lifetime Backup Software. 

The AOMEI Backupper Pro is backup software for Windows devices that lets you protect, restore, and transfer files. It lets you back up your files and system while also offering you tools like system saves, restores, and partitions. Protect your computer against untimely file loss for life when you get a lifetime subscription to AOMEI Backupper Pro edition for £15.44 (reg. £38.63). 

File sync, system cloning, scheduled backups

A wayward cup of tea could be what annihilates your laptop, but it'd take a lot more to make you lose your files if they're backed up with AOMEI. This backup system uses real-time file synchronisation to monitor file changes and update the backup instantly. If something does happen to your computer, your backup can restore your system, disks, individual files, and even your partitions. 

Disaster isn't the only time this backup service comes in handy. If you're upgrading your operating system or hard drive, you could use the cloning feature to keep from needing to reinstall Windows or applications. 

AOMEI comes with other useful tools like the PXE boot, the ability to merge backups, backup schemes, bootable disc creation, and there's even a command-line interface. 

Keep your files safe for life

For a limited time, save $20 and get a lifetime license to AOMEI Backupper Professional Edition on sale for £15.44 (reg. £38.63). With this purchase, you can get a license that never expires for up to two devices.

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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 July 23'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:

The ends of a fork.

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

There are no letters that appear twice.

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

Today's Wordle starts with the letter P.

SEE ALSO: Wordle-obsessed? These are the best word games to play IRL. The Wordle answer today is...

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 today's Wordle...

PRONG.

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.

Are you also playing NYT Strands? See hints and answers for today's Strands.

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

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If you're reading this, you're looking for a little help playing Strands, the New York Times' elevated word-search game.

By providing an opaque hint and not providing the word list, Strands creates a brain-teasing game that takes a little longer to play than its other games, like Wordle and Connections.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Here's the answer hints for July 23 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections today: See hints and answers for July 23

If you're feeling stuck or just don't have 10 or more minutes to figure out today's puzzle, we've got all the NYT Strands hints for today's puzzle you need to progress at your preferred pace.

NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: You're the best!

These words are as good as it gets.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

The hint describe being the pinnacle of something.

NYT Strands spangram hint: Is it vertical or horizontal?

Today's NYT Strands spangram is horizontal.

NYT Strands spangram answer today:

Today's spangram is Champion.

NYT Strands word list for July 23

• Superlative

• Excellent

• Perfect

• Champion

• Iconic

• Supreme

Looking for other daily online games? Find one you might like – or hints for another game you're already playing – on Mashable's Games page.

President Biden, who has been sidelined with Covid, is set to address the nation this week.

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 July 23'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.

Tweet may have been deleted

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: False expert

• Green: Vocal sounds

• Blue: Swagger around

• Purple: Looney Tunes

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: Imposter

• Green: Utterance

• Blue: One Who Likes Showing Off

• Purple: Looney Tunes Characters Minus A Letter

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 today's Connections #408 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• Imposter: CHARLATAN, FRAUD, QUACK, SHAM

• Utterance: NOISE, PEEP, SOUND, WORD

• One Who Likes Showing Off: HAM, HOT DOG, PEACOCK, SHOWBOAT

• Looney Tunes Characters Minus A Letter: BUG, PORK, SPEED, TWEET

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.

Are you also playing NYT Strands? See hints and answers for today's Strands.

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

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• Fitbit Charge 6 Fitness Tracker With 6-Months Membership — $119.95 (List Price $159.95)

• Apple Watch Series 9 (GPS, 41mm, Midnight, S/M, Sports Band) — $329.00 (List Price $399.00)

Are you also playing NYT Strands? See hints and answers for today's Strands.

The House Homeland Security Committee called on the chief executive of the cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike to testify on the disruption.

News alerts are irrelevant. Turn CNN off. The best way to get the breaking news is an overly horny text calling you a slut that's filled to the brim with eggplant emojis.

That text is called a copypasta, and if you're part of the more online sect of Americans, you likely received one when President Joe Biden dropped out of the 2024 race. It's decidedly NSFW, but here's a screenshot of what it might have looked like:

How nice! Credit: Screenshot

When you receive a copypasta, you're supposed to copy and paste it — hence the name — and send it to more of your contacts. It's intended like a piece of chain mail, which we first started seeing around 2006 on 4chan. It was added the dictionary in May 2021.

Many people remember these texts from middle school ("send this to 10 ppl or you'll never get kissed"), and there are, of course, various other ways the fun text format is used (spreading misinformation during the COVID-19 pandemic, for instance). We saw a modern resurgence of these chain messages in 2018, but they seemed more tied to the texts you might get in middle school. Eventually, they floated into holiday territory and got a lot hornier (e.g., Santa’s about to slide 🎅🏾😉 down your hot 🔥 hot 🔥chimney tonight). They became more political and more sexually explicit than ever before. And today, they're synonymous for the breaking news alert.

There's plenty of reasons for this evolution. The people who write them aren't terribly concerned with accuracy, so they can move quickly with breaking news. Our political world is continuously disappointing us in new and more horrifying ways, and copypastas are one way to add some levity to a system that has left us jaded. As several copypasta writers told CT Jones in Rolling Stone in 2018, "the meme format isn’t just a good laugh— it’s a way for people to use humor to address a world that has become increasingly dystopian."

But I fear something for fans of the copypasta: its death may be approaching.

There's a cycle memes often fall victim to, not one unlike anything else embedded in popular culture. It looks like this: origin, niche spread, viral spread, peak popularity, adaptation and mutation, decline, obsolescence, and an optional resurgence. We're solidly in copypasta's second life — in the "adaptation and mutation" phase. The texts have moved from holiday texts and messages suited for middle schoolers to some of the horniest NSFW texts you'll receive. We got horny copypastas on the anniversary of the insurrection anniversary, when former President Trump was convicted, when someone attempted to assassinate former President Trump, and plenty about Biden dropping out.

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Adapting the meme by adding the horniness has kept it relevant for longer, but it can't stave off a decline forever. Eventually, we'll get bored of it, because the copypasta is mainstream. Its shock quality has been replaced with predictability — a sign of doom for anything that has any hope of maintaining comedic value. As Skyler Higley, a comedian and staff writer at After Midnight, posted on X: "it’s all the same now. Joe Biden drops out. You get one of those long texts with the emojis. Someone posts the future meme 'biden dropping out reminds me of how I quit you'. people post fake texts between them and Biden. Et cetera. I feel empty."

We're reaching peak copypasta — and I'm calling it. We only have a few months before we all decide that copypastas have actually been lame all along and we experience a new meme renaissance. Start preparing your obituaries.