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"Hi, are you doomscrolling? Our bodies were not designed to be anxious and stressed for this long."

Back in the very anxious year of 2021, a friendly little bot on Twitter — the Doomscrolling Reminder Bot — came along to offer mindfulness reminders like this. Created just after doomscrolling became the 2020 word of the year, the Doomscrolling Reminder Bot soon became a kind of anxiety index. It gained its largest bump in followers during Elon Musk's chaotic takeover of Twitter.

The Bot quit posting new content in 2023, as a lot of the service's less chaotic creators were heading for the exits; even so, its follower count has never dipped below 100,000 Twitter users.

These days, however, you don't need a bot to tell you you're doomscrolling. If you're on social media at all, you're doomscrolling. With nightmare fuel coming thick and fast, with trolls in charge of the news cycle, even an aggregator like Google News or Apple News offers potential for doomscrolling. Heck, any feed featuring multiple photos of the world's richest man doing a, uh, "Roman salute" practically screams doomscroll!

And in 2025, even a cursory check in on Facebook — where Mark Zuckerberg has long been trying to lower the algorithmic importance of news stories — can turn into an hour of sad rubbernecking as your family appears to tear itself apart.

You might think you have more productive ways to spend your time — at least, if you have any hope of being part of the solution. You'd be right. The main reason we doomscroll, as psychotherapist Tess Brigham puts it, is that it's a "way of feeling in control in a world that feels out of control all the time."

SEE ALSO: You've been getting self-care all wrong. It's a political act and always has been.

But after a certain point, you're not informing yourself; you're filling your head with images and worries that may disturb your sleep and thus make you feel more ragged the next day. A world on fire needs you at your best; the world does not need you to obsess over bad things or their potential to get worse.

Deny the doomscroll

So if the mere nudges of a mindfulness bot can't prevent us from filling our tanks on nightmare fuel, how to stop?

Like trying to break any compulsive smartphone-based behavior that delivers dopamine to your brain — also known as a habit — ending the doomscroll is not as easy as it sounds. I quit Twitter on election night (and decided on a conscious effort to avoid as much news as possible through the end of 2024), but for days after that it was touch-and-go: I would often catch my finger hovering over that awful X icon in my iPhone's "Communication" folder, one I open all the time.

If I'd followed one popular thread of online advice, I would have used a service like Freedom, or Apple's Screen Time, to lock that X down. Freedom, which has recently started posting its own articles on the dangers of doomscrolling and news addiction, boasts more than 3 million customers who pay up to $8 a month to limit their access to certain apps or sites across multiple devices.

More power to you if you're one of those millions. For me, being told I can't have something — even by myself — can be a way to ensure I want it more. I've used Screen Time for years to limit my access to Threes, an iPhone game I often turn to in times of stress, to 15 minutes a day.

Roughly half the time I get that 15-minute warning, I accept it as a mindfulness reminder and get on with whatever task I was avoiding. Trouble is, the other half of the time, a surly teenager appears in my head.

"Screw you, me, you're not the boss of me," he says, and hits the snooze button that offers another 15 minutes of respite from the real world.

SEE ALSO: 5 practical ways to cut back on doomscrolling

There are other tips and tricks for reducing the attractiveness of your smartphone, such as turning your screen monochrome. But I didn't need to go that far. Nor did I need to delete Twitter from my phone altogether, a drastic step that felt like it would have induced a panicky, pendulum-swing-like re-download the following day.

Ultimately, the reason I didn't touch that X again was that I followed the first recommendation way back in our 2020 anti-doomscrolling article: reorganize your apps. Putting X and the equally addictive Threads at the back of my Communication folder, three pages in, was better than deleting them altogether. Over time I simply forgot they were there.

"Out of sight, out of mind" may be an underrated dictum in the digital age. Nutrition behavior experts recommend putting healthy snacks like nuts and fruit on the kitchen counter, while chips and cookies languish at the back of the cupboard — not denied, just forgotten. Why not do the smartphone equivalent with your home screen?

Better living with better apps

It wasn't enough to just hide the X app. As with every behavior change, it had to come with a significant vibe shift. And, as the science suggests, it was a lot easier with the creation of new habits to help disrupt the old.

First off, I had to stop telling myself that it was the job of a journalist like me — whose area of interest is pretty much anything that fits on a screen — to be on social media all the time. For this I was indebted to a November article by Laura Hazard Owen, the editor of Nieman Lab, that drew a critical line in the sand: Going forward, she wrote, "I'll read news, not other people's reactions to news."

However, I wanted to take the experiment a step further. Could I stay sufficiently informed without opening news apps or going to aggregators? Indeed I could, because email newsletters are still a thing. You should of course sign up for all of ours, but I also solicited newsletter recommendations from friends and have particularly enjoyed low-key, no-nonsense news recaps from The Conversation.

When I was mainlining news I used to find email newsletters irritating, almost akin to spam. Now I see they're a great way to put news in its proper productive context — important, but rarely more important than the most urgent things in your inbox.

As for habit disruption — well, you don't need me to tell you that there are some apps on your phone that are way more educational than others. For example, if I'd put all the hours I spent scrolling Twitter and Facebook in 2024 into Duolingo instead, I could have learned a new language.

Ultimately, I went in a simpler and more fulfilling direction. Since my doomscrolling habit was essentially a reading habit, every time I had the itch to read news, I just read books on my phone instead (in dark mode, naturally). Kindle, Books, the library apps Libby and Hoopla, and the book streaming service Everand (formerly known as Scribd): All took pride of place on my phone's home screen.

My brain felt a bit weird at first; it had become so used to reading e-books on an actual Kindle device or iPad. But once you give yourself permission to do so, the advantage of reading books on your phone become clear. You can knock out a chapter anywhere, whether waiting for a friend in a restaurant or waiting in line for the DMV.

The less reactive your reading, the more you can slip into what is known as Type 2 thinking: slower, more logical, leading to better decisions.

In a world off the rails that demands our best thinking, a Doomscrolling Bot won't save us. But taking the time for deep reading just might.

There's a new, quite common E-ZPass scam text making the rounds — don't fall for it.

In case you haven't heard of it, the scam text in question claims the receiver has unpaid tolls and that they need to pay their balance in order to avoid consequences such as fines or losing their license. It also leads out to a link, which you should not click. We've got the details on the scam and what to do if you get the text.

What is the scam and how to spot it?

The scam text shouldn't be hard to spot, should you receive it. It has the hallmarks of a classic scam. It typically features a link with a questionable URL, it insists on an urgent action (in order to make you not think it over), and it comes from a random number. In the case of this scam, the texts have usually come from a +63 country code, which is for the Philippines. The messages seem to threaten folks with consequences such as added fines or losing their license, which would be pretty extreme for unpaid tolls.

Folks online have posted examples of the scam.

Tweet may have been deleted Tweet may have been deleted Tweet may have been deleted Tweet may have been deleted

Mashable's own Crystal Bell received a scam text, which, in her case, claimed she had unpaid Fast Trak tolls.

Credit: Mashable / Screenshot: Crystal Bell

The texts have had slight variation but, in general, they follow that similar pattern.

What to do if you get the scam E-ZPass text

First and foremost Do. Not. Click. Any. Links.

"Not only is the scammer trying to steal your money, but if you click the link, they could get your personal info (like your driver’s license number) — and even steal your identity," wrote the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) in a blog about the scam.

The FTC recommended you not click the link, reach out to your local tolling agency to see if it's legit, and report and delete the scam messages. Most phones have a "report junk" option for instances just like this.

So, in short: Stay vigilant and keep the delete button handy.

The Nvidia GeForce RTX 5090 is finally here. Everyone in the tech space has at least heard something about Nvidia's most powerful graphics card yet. The company stole the show earlier this year at CES, the biggest technology conference in the world, when it announced the GeForce RTX 5090 GPU.

Now, the reviews are coming out from outlets that have had a chance to give the Nvidia GeForce RTX 5090 a spin. While Mashable hasn't tested the GPU out ourselves, our sibling publication PC Mag did! And we poured through reviews from multiple other outlets as well.

Mashable found that each outlet had plenty to say about the Nvidia GeForce RTX 5090. To make things easier, here are some findings we've found constant in all the reviews.

RTX 5090 is a 'beast'

Gamers who are looking for the best of the best, look no further than the Nvidia GeForce RTX 5090.

The most powerful of Nvidia's newest Blackwell graphics cards is a "beast." Review after review has brought up benchmarks showcasing that when it comes to gaming, the RTX 5090 blows its predecessors and other graphics cards away.

However, it appears that for many consumers, the RTX 5090 is overkill.

Most consumers will just not notice a difference unless they have a really high-end 4K gaming monitor with a 240Hz refresh rate. And even then, the current generation of AAA games on the market aren't utilizing the RTX 5090 to its full potential.

"The games just aren’t there yet," IGN said about users looking to upgrade their gaming PCs. 

If you're looking to future proof your gaming PC though, the slate of next generation games will likely take advantage of at least some of what the Nvidia GeForce RTX 5090 has to offer.

DLSS 4 with multi-frame generation makes a big difference

The RTX 5090's AI-generated multi-frame feature has all the reviewers talking about it.

Basically, Nvidia has a suite of tools called deep learning super sampling or DLSS which basically uses AI to improve image quality and boost frame rate. This isn't entirely new from Nvidia. However, the latest version in the RTX 5090, DLSS 4 with multi-frame generation, apparently takes it to a whole new level.

SEE ALSO: Everything Nvidia announced at CES 2025

Basically, Nvidia is now able to insert 3 AI-generated frames for every one "real" frame in order to increase the FPS on a game and in turn making it much smoother and more realistic looking.

According to the reviews, it works extremely well. The one drawback here is, again, a user would need a high-end 4K monitor to really see the difference.

Expect GeForce RTX 5090 to be hard to find

Of course, these are two relevant pieces of every Nvidia GeForce RTX 5090 review.

The Nvidia GeForce RTX 5090 is expensive at $1,999 for the Founders Edition. That's hundreds of dollars more than its predecessor. In fact, consumers can easily buy an entire gaming computer right now for around half the price of the graphics card alone. Plus, that also doesn't include any markups from third-party retailers and sellers. 

And that last bit is very relevant because regardless of that nearly $2,000 pricepoint, this thing is going to be hard to find. Between gamers and its AI processing use cases, the Nvidia GeForce RTX 5090 is going to be in high demand. So, if you really want one, get ready to shell out a premium for it.

The federal law banning TikTok has revealed a major schism among American tech companies: Some are willing to flout the law — and some, including Apple and Google, are not.

LinkedIn is facing a class-action lawsuit over allegations of using private messages to train its AI model.

The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court in the Northern District of California, has accused the Microsoft-owned professional networking site of "unlawfully disclosing its Premium customers’ private messages to third parties" and "concealing" its practices by "stealthily altering its privacy policies and statements." A key part of the lawsuit accused LinkedIn of disclosing private InMail messages to third parties to train its model.

A spokesperson for LinkedIn said, "we are not using member messages to train models as alleged in the complaint."

The issue of attaining training data for AI models is a contentious one, and LinkedIn is not the first company to be accused of misconduct. Google, Microsoft, and OpenAI have all faced lawsuits on behalf of users for using their personal data without prior knowledge or consent.

The lawsuit against LinkedIn is on behalf of paying LinkedIn Premium users who ostensibly pay for enhanced privacy features. The allegations center on a privacy setting introduced in August 2024 that enabled LinkedIn users to opt out of sharing their personal data to train its AI models, but the opt-in setting was toggled on by default.

A month later, LinkedIn updated its privacy policy to say the company can use user data to train its models and that data might be shared with third parties. The lawsuit accuses LinkedIn of violating data privacy laws and breach of contract by training on user data, including InMail messages without knowledge or consent and "cover[ing] its tracks" by retroactively changing its privacy policy.

On behalf of LinkedIn Premium users, the lawsuit is seeking damages of $1,000 per plaintiff.

SAVE $34: As of Jan. 24, new and returning subscribers can get a year of Starz for just $3 per month. That adds up to only $36 for the entire year (reg. $69.99) — about 49% in savings.

Opens in a new window Credit: Starz Starz annual subscription $36.00
$70.00 Save $34.00 $3 per month Get Deal

Sick of Netflix and Hulu? 2025 is the year you should diversify your streaming lineup. It doesn't need to cost a fortune, either. With the latest Starz streaming deal, you can add tons of movies and TV shows to your entertainment collection without breaking the bank.

As of Jan. 24, new and returning subscribers can sign up for an entire year of Starz for just $3 per month. That adds up to just $35.99 for 12 months instead of the usual $69.99, saving you 49%. Once the year is up, it'll revert back to full price unless you cancel.

Starz is home to plenty of great original content, like historical drama Outlander (new episodes every Friday), the TV adaptation of Lisa Taddeo's book Three Women, and the female serial killer-centric Sweetpea. Not to mention, the streamer has an immediate output deal with Lionsgate, so new theatrical releases from the studio will find their way to Starz. Some recent additions to the library include Borderlands, The Strangers: Chapter 1, Hunger Games: Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, and 1992.

The Starz streaming deal is only around for an unspecified limited time, so we suggest jumping on it sooner rather than later to secure the savings.

Check out the best Amazon deals of the day as of Jan. 24: OUR TOP PICK Samsung Galaxy Tab S10+ $839.19 (save $280.80) Get Deal BEST TV DEAL Amazon 55-inch 4-Series Fire TV $359.99 (save $100) Get Deal BEST KITCHEN DEAL Instant Pot Duo Plus $69.99 (save $60) Get Deal BEST HOME DEAL Roborock Qrevo Plus $579.99 (save $320) Get Deal BEST PHONE DEAL Google Pixel 8 Pro (Unlocked, 128GB) $599 (save $400) Get Deal

It doesn't need to be a major shopping holiday like Prime Day or Black Friday for prices to drop to new record lows, as we've seen the past few weeks. Today is no different — we're seeing tech gadgets from top brands like Samsung and Google drop to their best prices ever at Amazon on this random Friday. And we're definitely not mad about it.

Here are our top picks for the best Amazon deals of the day on Jan. 24. If none of these catch your eye, be sure to check out our picks from yesterday, Jan. 23. Many of those are still live, including the lowest price ever on the Sonos Arc soundbar.

Our top pick: Samsung Galaxy Tab S10+ Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Samsung Galaxy Tab S10+ (512GB, WiFi) $839.19 at Amazon
$1,119.99 Save $280.80 Get Deal

Just announced in September, Samsung's Galaxy Tab S10+ (512GB, WiFi) is down to its best price ever of $839.19 — a savings of 25%. New features include an improved speaker setup with enhanced AI-powered "Dialogue Boost," heavy Galaxy AI, a lighter build, and a change in processor from Qualcomm Snapdragon to MediaTek Dimensity 9300+. Oddly, MediaTek is known for being packed inside budget devices. Thankfully, though, our friends at PCMag (also owned by Ziff Davis) tested it and found the processor to handle everything from video calls and drawing to gaming and productivity seamlessly. It even earned a spot on their Best of the Year list for 2024.

Amazon 55-inch 4-Series Fire TV Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon 55-inch 4-Series Fire TV $359.99 at Amazon
$459.99 Save $100.00 Get Deal

One of the newest TVs in the Fire lineup, the 2024 4-Series features an ultra-slim bezel that fades into the background, making whatever you're watching more immersive. Otherwise, it's pretty much just a newer rendition of Amazon's most popular smart TV. It supports vivid 4K Ultra HD, HDR10, HLG, and Dolby Digital Plus, includes the Alexa voice Remote Enhanced, and boasts four HDMI inputs so you can connect all your peripherals. We featured it earlier this month when it dropped to $359.99 for Prime members, but as of Jan. 24, everyone can enjoy that low price. Prime member or not, you can save 22% on this 55-inch model ahead of the Big Game.

Instant Pot Duo Plus Multi-cooker Opens in a new window Credit: Instant Pot Instant Pot Duo Plus Multi-cooker $69.99 at Amazon
$129.99 Save $60.00 Get Deal

If you have limited space in your kitchen, we suggest snagging a multi-functional appliance like the Instant Pot. The six-quart Instant Pot Duo Plus is one of our favorites and it is on sale for just $69.99 — that's 46% off its usual cost. It features nine different cooking modes, essentially subbing for nine different appliances, including a pressure cooker, slow cooker, and sous vide. It also packs 15 unique smart programs to help you get cooking quickly and easily and a redesigned control panel that keeps you in the know about your cooking status.

Roborock Qrevo Plus Opens in a new window Credit: Roborock Roborock Qrevo Plus robot vacuum and mop $579.99 at Amazon
$899.99 Save $320.00 Get Deal

Spring cleaning will be here before you know it. If you need a hand, the Roborock Qrevo Plus (a lite version of our favorite hybrid robot vacuum) can make a pretty solid companion. It can tackle your vacuuming and mopping in one go, thanks to its impressive 7000Pa suction, dual spinning mops, reactive tech obstacle avoidance, smart suggestions and no-go zones, self-washing, drying, emptying, and refilling features, and flexible side arm that mops in corners and walll edges. Its 6-in-1 docking station also packs a 2.7L dustbin for up to seven weeks of hands-free cleaning. It's usually $899.99, but as of Jan. 24, you can save 36% and snag it on sale at Amazon for just $579.99.

Google Pixel 8 Pro Opens in a new window Credit: Google Google Pixel 8 Pro (Unlocked, 128GB) $599.00 at Amazon
$999.00 Save $400.00 Get Deal

While this deal has been lingering for about a week or so, we still think it's worth mentioning — and grabbing — on Jan. 24. The unlocked Google Pixel 8 Pro with 128GB is only $599 at Amazon instead of $999 — that's 40% in savings. For comparison purposes, the Pixel 9 Pro is about $250 more on sale. If you're not pressed on having the latest and greatest phone on the market, the Pixel 8 Pro still offers an excellent camera, all-day battery life, a 120Hz refresh rate, a swanky chipset, and advanced AI features. For Android fans on a budget, it won't disappoint.

Check out our full review of the Google Pixel 8 Pro.

None of these deals catching your eye? Check out Amazon's daily deals for even more savings.

SAVE $280.80: As of Jan. 24, get the Samsung Galaxy S10+ for $839.19, down from its usual price of $1,119.99 at Amazon. That's a discount of 25% and the lowest price we've seen.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Samsung Galaxy S10+ $839.19 at Amazon
$1,119.99 Save $280.80 Get Deal

If you're thinking about buying a tablet, you're going to want to head out into retail territory and think about dropping some cash now. There are plenty of great deals on offer that you won't want to miss, including savings on a powerful Android tablet that can fit perfectly into any tech stack. And you can get it for the lowest price we've seen so far.

As of Jan. 24, get the Samsung Galaxy S10+ tablet for just $839.19, which is 25% off its normal price of $1,199.99 at Amazon. That's $280.90 off and the lowest price we've seen.

This tablet boasts 512GB of storage with a 12.4-inch display and a MediaTek Dimensity 9300+ processor. In short, it's a fantastic pick with a bright, crisp screen that can handle just about anything you need it to. We called it one of our favorite picks for AI performance as well, praising it for the way it handles AI features like Google's image editing, "circle to search" function, and much more.

What does that mean? You can do just about anything you need, from watching your favorite shows and movies to getting work done on the go, all without having to wonder what the tablet can handle all at once. It's a multitasking machine.

This deal won't last for long, so if you're looking to save some serious cash on a tablet right now, you'll want to get one before this deal ends. It looks like it's only going to be around for a limited time, so you'll want to jump on this lowest-priced tablet now before it's no longer up for grabs.

SAVE $200: As of Jan. 24, get a Microsoft Surface Pro 11 Copilot+ PC for $799.99, down from its usual price of $999.99, at Amazon. That's a 20% discount and the lowest price we've seen.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Microsoft Surface Pro 11 Copilot+ PC (Snapdragon X Plus, 16GB, 512GB SSD) $799.99 at Amazon
$999.99 Save $200.00 Get Deal

Ready to invest in a new laptop? Whether you're interested in work or play, there's a Surface laptop that's versatile enough for all of your different needs on sale for an all-time low price at Amazon.

As of Jan. 24, the Microsoft Surface Pro 11 Copilot+ PC (Snapdragon X Plus, 16GB, 512GB SSD) is $799.99, down from its usual price of $999.99. That's $200 off and a discount of 20%. It's also the lowest price we've seen.

SEE ALSO: Asus unveils the 'world's lightest Copilot+ PC' with a 32-hour battery life at CES 2025

This Copilot+ PC is powerful enough to handle all of your daily tasks and then some. Thanks to its Snapdragon X Plus processor, it's got the juice to help you multitask if needed, but it's so much more than that. It also comes packed with AI options to help you get work done more efficiently when you need to.

It has a 13-inch display with an LCD touchscreen as well, making it a 2-in-1 laptop that you can use as a regular computer or like a tablet, depending on how you chose to work. It has 16GB of RAM that makes it the perfect contender for editing video, gaming, or creating presentations, as well as 512GB of storage that means it can tote around all your important files, too.

With up to 14 hours of battery life and a multitude of connectivity ports, this laptop is the height of portability, especially since it's just under two pounds. If you need a new laptop that fits more into your mobile lifestyle, this is the one to get. Just be sure to nab it while it's still on sale.

The first Android 16 beta dropped this week — and it's ready for you to give it a whirl.

If you're one of the folks who likes to have things first, it might be the perfect opportunity for you to test-run the latest operating system for Android. You'll get to test out new features such as Live Updates and video-editing upgrades.

How to try the Android 16 beta

First, you'll need to have a newer Pixel phone. Anything from a Pixel 6 and newer should work. From there, it's simple. Just go to google.com/android/beta and opt-in, using the device on which you want to use the beta. Once you enroll, you'll get updates as a part of the beta. From there, you can test all the new features.

What new features should you expect?

There are a number of exciting updates with the Android 16 beta, thus far. Including one that seems like a direct response to Apple.

Live Updates

This is, effectively, Android's answer to Apple's Live Activities. Google described them as "a new class of notifications that help users monitor and quickly access important ongoing activities." Basically, it shows things as they progress.

Google noted to developers that, for the moment, these notifications "are suggested only for ride sharing, food delivery, and navigation use cases." But notifications like Live Updates could, eventually, prove super useful for folks following sports games or other such live events.

Camera and media upgrades

There are a number of upgrades to the camera and media-editing abilities via Android 16 Beta, which, as Tech Radar aptly summarized, boils down to "improved support for high-resolution video recording and editing." For the advanced video editors out there, you can see the full details on Google's blog post.

SEE ALSO: Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra vs S24 Ultra: What are the upgrades? Adaptive apps

Android 16 is working to phase out apps that "restrict screen orientation and resizability on large screens," Google noted. In other words, apps should work on any sized device with any sized screen.

Credit: Google

The idea is that developers can no longer lock screen orientation, meaning an app should look good on a regular phone, a foldable, or tablet. That might feel like a small thing, but could be a huge change for everyday use.

SAVE $90: As of Jan. 24, the Google Pixel Buds Pro are just $109.99 (reg. $199.99) at Woot. That's a 45% discount.

Opens in a new window Credit: Google Google Pixel Buds Pro $109.99 at Woot
$199.99 Save $90.00 Get Deal

Earbuds are like a protective shield or security blanket, even if we’re not listening to music. Without them, tasks like commuting, going to the gym, or just getting a little work done can make us feel a bit vulnerable and exposed. The only problem is that most earbuds worth their salt can cost a fortune. But sometimes, you can get lucky and find a good deal.

As of Jan. 24, you can score a pair of Google Pixel Buds Pro at Woot for just $109.99, down from $199.99. That’s a 45% discount and a savings of $90.

SEE ALSO: The 7 best earbuds to buy in 2025

With a battery life of 31 hours (with the case), active noise cancellation, and customizable audio features, the Pixel Buds Pro are a solid pair of earbuds.

“These are very good wireless earbuds that work seamlessly with Google’s Pixel phones, giving Android fans something akin to the frictionless experience iPhone users get with AirPods,” Mashable’s Alex Perry writes in his review.

Perry’s only qualm with the buds was their price, so at $109.99, this deal is legit.

Another episode of Severance means another collection of moments that make us go, "What in Kier's name just happened?"

SEE ALSO: 'Severance's Lumon LinkedIn page reveals Miss Huang's true identity

Severance Season 2, episode 2, titled "Goodbye, Mrs. Selvig," functions as the flip side of episode 1. Where the Season 2 premiere showed us the Innies' perspective on the events following Severance's Season 1 finale, "Goodbye, Mrs. Selvig" shows us what was going on in the Outie world during that time. We learn that it hasn't actually been five months since the Innies triggered the Overtime Contingency. Instead, Mark (Adam Scott) returns to work mere days after the OTC. (Obviously, this means that there was no big celebration of the Innies or of severance reform, but episode 1 made that perfectly clear.)

But even though we don't spend any time on the Severed Floor this episode, we still get a ton of moments and lines that made me freak out, theorize, and more. Let's break them down.

SEE ALSO: The 15 most WTF moments from 'Severance' Season 2, episode 1 "Fetid moppet."

How is Lumon CEO Jame Eagan (Michael Siberry) dealing with the aftermath of Helly R. (Britt Lower) hijacking her Outie Helena Eagan's big speech? By berating Helena with an instantly memorable — and frankly, creepy — insult: "Fetid moppet." Does this immediately clue us into how rough Helena and Jame's relationship is? Yes. Have I also been murmuring "fetid moppet" to myself ever since seeing this episode? Also yes.

Mr. Milchick rocks a leather jacket and a motorcycle helmet. Tramell Tillman in "Severance." Credit: Apple TV+

This entry is less of a WTF moment and more of a fashion appreciation moment. Mr. Milchick (Tramell Tillman) has always rocked stylish office wear. His blue turtleneck from Season 2, episode 1 alone is worthy of praise! But in "Goodbye, Mrs. Selvig," we see a new side of him. And that side drives a motorcycle and rocks a leather jacket as he does. If we didn't know any better, we'd say he looks like a pretty cool dude. But we do know better, and know that within the walls of Lumon, Milchick is anything but a cool dude.

Helena Eagan makes an apology video. Britt Lower in "Severance." Credit: Apple TV+

To curb any backlash about Helly's speech about the Innies being tortured, Helena takes a page from the book of disgraced celebrities and opts to make an apology video. (Hey, at least it's not a Notes app apology.) The entire sequence is more of Lumon's typical cover-up behavior, complete with Helena lying about her speech being a drunken joke in poor taste. As if that weren't bad enough, Helena ends her apology by saying, "I'm also a human. Just like my Innie." But remember how you told Helly she wasn't a person back in Season 1, Helena? The insincerity is staggering.

"Your Innie is a friend of mine."

Mr. Milchick's damage control tour around the town of Kier brings him to Irving's (John Turturro) doorstep. Before firing him, he tells him, "You know, your Innie is a friend of mine. I feel confident he'd approve of me saying so."

Well, I don't feel that same confidence, Mr. Milchick — especially not after you retired the love of Irving's life! This line is just another example of Lumon's manipulation of its employees — both Innies and Outies — due to the information barrier created by the severance procedure. Nasty stuff by a nasty company.

Severance's new opening credits sequence is a lot.

Severance Season 2 introduces a brand-new opening credits sequence from visual artist Oliver Latta (aka Extraweg), and they are perhaps even more terrifying than Season 1's. This time around, we're treated to nightmarish images of Mark diving deep into his own severed brain. Plus, characters like Helly, Gemma/Ms. Casey (Dichen Lachman), and Ms. Cobel (Patricia Arquette) are along for the ride. Not only will the title sequence's images of floating balloon heads and green brain matter haunt your dreams — they might also give hints at what to expect from the rest of the season.

SEE ALSO: 10 fascinating details from the 'Severance' Season 2 opening credits sequence Ricken is still Ricken.

It wouldn't be a season of Severance without Mark's brother-in-law Ricken (Michael Chernus) being the worst, and boy, does he deliver in "Goodbye, Mrs. Selvig." He's more worried about rescheduling his reading of The You You Are than about Mark's Innie revealing that Gemma is alive or the near-disappearance of his daughter Eleanor. He also steers Mark into thinking his "She's alive!" statement was about Eleanor instead of Gemma. Thankfully, Devon (Jen Tullock) is on the case.

Ricken's best moment this episode? Coming up with the portmanteau "Cobelvig" to talk about Ms. Cobel's double life as Mrs. Selvig. It's not much, but it is funny.

Helena is a little too liberal with the replay button. Britt Lower in "Severance." Credit: Apple TV+

Helena takes a break from her newfound hobby of making apology videos to engage in her other newfound hobby: replaying the security footage of Helly and Mark's kiss. It's a deeply unsettling reminder of the extent of the Innies' lack of privacy. But on the flip side, it must also be deeply unsettling to witness your body experiencing a moment of intimacy that you weren't privy to. What are the ethics of consent when you share a body with someone else? Not that Lumon would care, of course.

SEE ALSO: 'Severance' Season 2, episode 1: Why does Helly lie about what she saw?

Helena's obsessive viewing of the Severed Floor's security footage does give weight to a theory that the Helly we see on the Severed Floor is actually Helena disguised as her Innie. This scene could be part of her research for going undercover.

The door factory gives Lumon a run for its money.

After getting fired, Dylan (Zach Cherry) seeks out new employment at a door factory. The interview with the manager (Adrian Martinez) is equal parts surreal (the two men look and act strangely alike) and funny (if Dylan could be a door, he'd be a pocket door). However, it takes a turn when Dylan reveals he was severed, leading the anti-severance manager to reject him and deliver the best description of severance we've seen on the show: "You want to circumcise your brain, that's your business."

The entire scene is an Easter egg for Severance creator Dan Erickson's own life. On The Severance Podcast, he revealed he came up with the idea for the show while working at a door factory. The real question: If Erickson could be a door, what kind would he be? And what gloss would he use?

Burt is spying on Irving. John Turturro in "Severance." Credit: Apple TV+

After his firing, Irving goes to a pay phone to make a call. Severance doesn't reveal his conversation, or who he's talking to, but I'm guessing it has to do with the newspaper clippings and list of severed employees we saw Irving had in Season 1.

SEE ALSO: 'Severance,' protect Burt and Irving at all costs

However, Severance does show that someone is keeping tabs on Irving. It's none other than Outie Burt (Christopher Walken). Severance didn't show us what happened between Irving banging on Burt's door in the Season 1 finale and Mr. Milchick showing up to Irving's place. Did the two men talk at all? Did Irving just run away? Or are we in for a reunion down the line?

Lumon's favorite new cursed food? Pineapple.

News flash for Lumon employees. Melons are out, pineapples are in.

SEE ALSO: 'Severance' food, ranked

Pineapples are part of the elaborate fruit basket Milchick brings to Mark, Dylan, and Irving in his efforts to bring them back to Lumon. (Sidebar: None of the fruit is seasonal. Does Lumon have greenhouses specifically for its fruit basket needs?) This isn't the first time pineapples have come up this season. In episode 1's "Lumon Is Listening" video, pineapple bobbing was announced as one of the new perks for Innies, making it a new entry into the hall of cursed Lumon food, alongside eggs, melons, and waffles.

"We need Mark S. back to work long enough to complete Cold Harbor." Adam Scott in "Severance." Credit: Apple TV+

Cold Harbor comes up again in "Goodbye, Mrs. Selvig," when Helena reveals that Lumon desperately needs Mark to complete it. With this in mind, the biggest question for the season so far becomes, "Why does Lumon need Mark specifically to finish this file? Why couldn't they put another employee on Cold Harbor?"

It's almost certainly due to Mark's relationship with Gemma, who seems to be a part of Cold Harbor based on what little we saw of her in episode 1. But how exactly their connection will come into play is unclear yet.

"The board's going to give him what he wants. Including Helly R."

"Goodbye, Mrs. Selvig" takes us behind the scenes of Lumon's decision to cave to Innie Mark's demands and bring the rest of the original MDR team back. That leads to a chilling line from Lumon enforcer Mr. Drummond (Ólafur Darri Ólafsson): "The board's going to give him what he wants. Including Helly R."

Talking about Helly as if she's just an object to be given is already creepy enough, but Helena's reaction adds an extra layer to it. There's a discomfort there, likely due to her contentious, violent relationship with her Innie, but also potentially due to the fear of ceding control of her body in sending Helly back to the Severed Floor. The kiss with Mark was something Helena couldn't control, along with Helly's suicide attempt — what might Helly do post-OTC? And will Helena's worries about "giving" Mark Helly R. lead her to have any empathy for her Innie, or at least consider that her current worries about agency are what the Innies experience every day?

"I broke a fucking lease in Grand Rapids." Adam Scott in "Severance." Credit: Apple TV+

On the way into Lumon, Outie Mark catches sight of Mark W.'s (Bob Balaban) Outie as he's escorted out of the building by security. Mark W. complains about being fired after three days of work, and how he uprooted his life from Grand Rapids to come to Kier. That's an awful situation in itself, but it also suggests that the Innies we met in the Season 2 premiere are well and truly gone.

Cobel lets it out.

It's been a while since we got a good Ms. Cobel freakout, but the ending of "Goodbye, Mrs. Selvig" does not disappoint. Outie Mark confronts Ms. Cobel about her actions in Season 1, and even asks whether his time at Lumon has something to do with Gemma. Her response? Screaming, honking her car horn, and almost running Mark over. As far as Cobel tantrums go, I'd rank it just above her hurling a mug at Mark and just below her tearing her Eagan shrine to shreds.

Severance Season 2 is now streaming on Apple TV+, with a new episode every Friday.

Much of the capital investment, a big jump from 2024, will fund expansion of Meta’s data centers, which provide the computing power needed by A.I. products and algorithms.

SAVE $55.01: As of Jan. 24, upgrade your mornings with a Nespresso Vertuo Next for just $123.99, down from $179, at Amazon. That's 31% off.

Opens in a new window Credit: Nespresso Nespresso Vertuo Next Coffee and Espresso Maker by De'Longhi $123.99 at Amazon
$179.00 Save $55.01 Get Deal

If caffeine is the only thing that gets you going in the morning, you might want to invest in a coffee maker that can keep up.

As of Jan. 24, you can get a Nespresso Vertuo Next for $123.99 at Amazon. That’s a 31% discount and a savings of $55.01. If you want the machine and the frother, it’ll run you $229.99.

SEE ALSO: The best espresso machines for making perfect coffee at home

The Nespresso Vertuo Next is compact, stylish, and a super easy way to get your latte fix without ever leaving the house. I have this same machine in black and use it every day, twice a day.

It can brew five-, eight-, 12, and 18-ounce coffees and single and double espressos and has a quick, 25-second heat-up time. All you have to do is pop in a Nespresso pod, press a button, and you'll have a rich, barista-quality beverage in about a minute.

Even better, the machine automatically ejects the used pod into a bin that can hold up to 13 of them before it needs to be emptied. You can then send these pods back to Nespresso in a recycling bag (provided by Nespresso) to be properly disposed of.

2025 is going to be a big year for gaming (supposedly, we're getting Grand Theft Auto VI), so it's probably a good idea to start stocking up on all the accessories you'll need to set yourself up for success on the sticks.

Thankfully, GameStop is hosting a limited-time buy one, get one 50% off sale on select gaming accessories for Pro members, and the included items are actually pretty amazing. Check out some of our top picks from the sale below. (Not already a Pro member? Go ahead and sign up.)

SEE ALSO: Gaming starter kit: All the gear you need to play like a real gamer Seagate Storage Expansion Card for Xbox Series X/S Opens in a new window Credit: Seagate Seagate 1TB Storage Expansion Card for Xbox Series X/S at GameStop
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Nobody likes doing the storage shuffle, a.k.a. having to constantly delete your old games to make room for new ones due to limited space. That's why it's imperative to have a storage expander, and this one from Seagate is the perfect option for Xbox players. It's super easy to install, and comes with a whole terabyte of space. Need something for the PlayStation 5? Seagate makes an expandable SSD for the Sony console as well.

Backbone One Mobile Gaming Controller Opens in a new window Credit: Backbone Backbone One Mobile Gaming Controller at GameStop
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Cloud gaming is becoming more and more popular over the years, and the Backbone One is one of the best mobile cloud gaming controllers out there right now. They make them for iPhone and Android phones, and they effortlessly snap onto your smartphone, which makes picking up and playing at a moment's notice easy. Pick one up during GameStop's buy one, get one 50% off sale and add a new way of play into your routine.

SanDisk microSDXC Card for Nintendo Switch Opens in a new window Credit: SanDisk SanDisk 128GB microSDXC Card for Nintendo Switch at GameStop
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Speaking of storage solutions, the Nintendo Switch is notorious for running out of space quickly. Thankfully, SanDisk's popular microSD cards are included in the sale, and you can get the 128GB version for just $25.99.

Razer Wolverine V2 Pro Controller Opens in a new window Credit: Razer Razer Wolverine V2 Pro Controller $249.99 at GameStop
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Finally, one of our favorite PS5 controllers on the market is a part of GameStop's sale — the Razer Wolverine V2 Pro. The controller is light, fast, and has an amazing tactile feel, especially on the face buttons. Also, it has programmable back paddles, which feels like a must-have nowadays.

SAVE $60: As of Jan. 24, grab an Instant Pot Duo Plus for just $69.99, down from $129.99, at Amazon. That's a 46% discount on a 9-in-1 pressure cooker.

Opens in a new window Credit: Instant Pot Instant Pot Duo Plus 9-in-1 Pressure Cooker $69.99 at Amazon
$129.99 Save $60.00 Get Deal

I’ve already had so many soups, chilis, and pasta this year, and it’s only January. If you're also craving cozy comfort food but don't have time to spend hours in the kitchen, Amazon's latest deal on an Instant Pot Duo Plus might be the perfect solution.

Right now, the Instant Pot Duo Plus 9-in-1 Electric Pressure Cooker is on sale for $69.99. That’s $60 off the list price of 1$29.99and just $10 away from its all-time lowest price on the site.

SEE ALSO: Which Instant Pot should you buy? Here's a breakdown.

This Instant Pot is a 9-in-1 multicooker, which means it can handle much more than just pressure cooking. Slow-cook a brisket, sauté onions, steam vegetables, and make rice, yogurt, and more. There are 15 customizable Smart Programs for cooking soups, beans, ribs, and even cake, all with the touch of a button.

With a six-quart capacity, you can make big batches of your favorite recipes to store and freeze for later or feed a crowd. And because almost everything is dishwasher safe (including the pot, lid, and accessories), cleanup is much easier than using multiple pots, pans, and appliances.

SAVE $200: As of Jan. 24, you can score a 13-inch MacBook Air (M3, 16GB RAM, 256GB SSD) for $899 at Best Buy.

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple 13-inch MacBook Air (M3, 16GB RAM, 256GB SSD) $899.00 at Best Buy
$1,099.00 Save $200.00 Get Deal

If you thought you couldn’t get a laptop worth buying for less than $1,000, Best Buy has a solid deal that might change your mind.

As of Jan. 24, you can get a 13-inch MacBook Air (M3, 16GB RAM, 256GB SSD) for $899 at Best Buy. That’s a $200 price cut. And, if you trade in an eligible device, you can get up to $370 off that price, bringing the total down to just $529 after all is said and done.

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

The MacBook Air is ideal for students and professionals who are on the go and need a lightweight, portable device that can handle everyday tasks like browsing the web, writing documents, sending emails, and streaming media. This model has an M3 chip, 16GB of RAM, and 256GB SSD storage, so it’s a powerhouse compared to most $900 laptops.

“Our testing shows that the M3 MacBook Air is about 20% faster, give or take, than the M2 MacBook Air, particularly when it comes to creator-focused workflows,” Mashable’s East Coast Tech Editor Kimberly Gedeon wrote in her review of the 15-inch M3 MacBook Air. “In other words, expect zippier performance, whether you’re a fledgling video editor or a photo-editing hobbyist.”

At this price, it's hard to find a better value for a powerful and portable MacBook Air.

SAVE $30: As of Jan. 24, the JLab JBuds Lux ANC headphones are on sale for $49.99 at Best Buy. This is $30 off their list price of $79.99.

Opens in a new window Credit: JLab JLab JBuds Lux ANC Headphones $49.99 at Best Buy
$79.99 Save $30.00 Get Deal

Finding a good pair of noise-canceling headphones with an affordable price tag outside of big seasonal sale events can be tricky. Thankfully, Best Buy's offering a very nice deal on the JLab JBuds Lux ANC headphones, so you can invest in noise-canceling headphones without breaking the bank in the process.

The JLab JBuds Lux ANC headphones are currently on sale at Best Buy for $49.99, which is $30 off their list price of $79.99. Not to mention, your purchase even comes with a bonus offer of YouTube Premium for free for three months, so you can start listening to some new music and videos right away.

SEE ALSO: Rate your favorite smart home gear for a chance to win a $250 Amazon gift card

These headphones boast noise-canceling features that allow you to tune out any outside noise while listening to your favorite music, audiobooks, or podcasts. They also have a Be Aware mode that keeps you more tuned in when you need it. On top of that, they've got a comfortable design that's perfect for long journeys.

Don't miss out on this excellent deal on the JLab JBuds Lux ANC headphones at Best Buy.

If you're curious to see even more headphone deals, you're in luck. There are plenty worth checking out right now, including a discount on the Apple AirPods Pro 2, the Beats Fit Pro, and the Sennheiser Momentum 4 headphones.

President Donald Trump hit the ground running after his inauguration last Monday, making sweeping changes such as delaying the TikTok ban and potentially making all Americans female. He also signed an executive order renaming the Gulf of Mexico the "Gulf of America" and Denali as "Mount McKinley."

Despite this, Google Maps and Apple Maps have not yet been updated to reflect these new names — and realistically might not make the change at all.

SEE ALSO: Did Trump's executive order just make everyone in the U.S. female?

Issued on Monday, Trump's executive order declared that Denali, the highest peak in North America, would be renamed Mount McKinley after the 25th U.S. president. The order also said the Gulf of Mexico would be renamed the Gulf of America, directing the U.S. government's Geographic Names Information System (GNIS) to remove all references to the Gulf of Mexico.

"[A]ll federal references to the Gulf of America, including on agency maps, contracts, and other documents and communications shall reflect its renaming," Trump's order read.

However, Trump's order only applies to the U.S. government's official position. Though headquartered in the U.S., corporations such as Google and Apple aren't beholden to the president's directive to rename the landmarks, raising questions as to whether they'll update their popular map services to reflect the government's stance.

Google Maps and Apple Maps still retain Gulf of Mexico and Denali's names Credit: Mashable screenshot: Google Maps

Mashable's investigation found that neither tech giant appears to have made any changes yet. At the time of writing, Denali and the Gulf of Mexico are still named as such in both Apple and Google Maps. 

Searching for "Mount McKinley" on Apple or Google Maps directs users to the correct mountain, however, it is still labelled Denali on both. Google Maps also amends the search query to "Denali," though Apple Maps does present a pop-up bearing the mountain's Trump-approved name if that is what you searched for. This pop-up may not be new, as the mountain was called Mount McKinley up until a decade ago, when the name Denali was restored.

Meanwhile, an Apple Maps search for "Gulf of America" directs users to the Gulf of Alaska instead. The same search on Google Maps in the U.S. showed Mashable a list of businesses called "Gulf America." Searching Google Maps from Australia produced a broad overview of Northern America, though the Gulf of Mexico did appear as the first suggested location in the results. Repeating the search also had Google Maps suggest the Gulf of California.

Neither Apple nor Google Maps appear to have removed any references to the Gulf of Mexico.

Credit: Mashable screenshot: Google Maps

The fact that no changes seem to have been made does not mean none will be. Trump's executive order included a 30-day timeframe for modifications to be made, with even the GNIS still listing the sea as the Gulf of Mexico and the summit as Denali. Even so, this hasn't stopped some overzealous Google Maps users from taking to its community forum, demanding to know why the Gulf of Mexico has not been relabelled as the Gulf of America.

Mashable has reached out to both Google and Apple for comment.

Credit: Mashable screenshot: Apple Maps

It seems likely that even if Apple and Google decide to defer to Trump, they may only relabel the landmarks for people accessing their maps from within the U.S. Other countries don't have to adhere to Trump's renaming and are unlikely to follow his lead on this matter.

Mexican president Claudia Sheinbaum already reacted to Trump's executive order earlier this week, stating, "For us, it is still the Gulf of Mexico, and for the entire world, it is still the Gulf of Mexico." When Trump initially raised the idea of renaming the Gulf earlier this month, Sheinbaum had sarcastically suggested renaming the U.S. "América Mexicana," or "Mexican America."

Apple previously defied international consensus in 2019 by marking Crimea as Russian territory for users accessing Maps and Weather apps from within Russia. However, Russia's parliament indicated at the time that this was due to legislative requirements demanding such a change.

Credit: Mashable screenshot: Apple Maps Trump renames the Gulf of Mexico as the Gulf of America, Denali as Mount McKinley

Trump renamed Denali and the Gulf of Mexico in his executive order "Restoring Names that Honor American Greatness," signing it within hours of being sworn in. 

"The Gulf will continue to play a pivotal role in shaping America’s future and the global economy, and in recognition of this flourishing economic resource and its critical importance to our Nation’s economy and its people, I am directing that it officially be renamed the Gulf of America," read the order.

The president proposed the name change days before he took office, claiming that the U.S. owns the Gulf and does "most of the work there." The Gulf is bordered by the U.S., Mexico, and Cuba, and is an important site of offshore petroleum drilling, but it is not owned by any one country.

Trump further ordered that Denali, the highest mountain in North America, be called Mount McKinley once more — another change he put forward in the lead-up to his inauguration.

Though the mountain was first dubbed Mount McKinley in 1896 after then-presidential nominee William McKinley, Native Americans knew it as Denali long before. Former president Barack Obama subsequently restored the mountain's original name in 2015. 

Trump's executive order reversed that decision, renaming the mountain Mount McKinley to "[honour] President McKinley for giving his life for our great Nation and dutifully [recognise] his historic legacy of protecting America’s interests and generating enormous wealth for all Americans."

McKinley was the third sitting U.S. president to be assassinated, dying in 1901.

The executive order did specify that Denali National Park and Preserve will continue to be called as such, and that the government will "work with Alaska Native entities and state and local organizations to adopt names for landmarks to honor the history and culture of the Alaskan people." However, Denali will henceforth be named after a president who never visited nor had any connection to Alaska.

The Gulf of Mexico/America and Denali/Mount McKinley may not be the only landmarks that Trump renames either. His executive order also stated that his administration may seek recommendations on "additional patriots to honor," particularly in the lead up to the Declaration of Independence's 250th anniversary next year.

“We are starting to see how Silicon Valley wants to do business during the Trump administration.”