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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 today's Wordle solution revealed. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable SEE ALSO: NYT Connections today: Hints and answers for April 17 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.

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 was originally available for anyone to enjoy whenever they felt like it, but it was later taken down, with the website's creator stating it was done at the request of the New York Times. However, the New York Times then rolled out its own Wordle Archive, available only to NYT Games subscribers.

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.

SEE ALSO: NYT's The Mini crossword answers for April 17, 2025 Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

Erected.

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

The letter O appears twice.

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

Today's Wordle starts with the letter S.

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 is...

STOOD.

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.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for April 17

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

If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

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

If you like playing daily word games like Wordle, then Hurdle is a great game to add to your routine.

There are five rounds to the game. The first round sees you trying to guess the word, with correct, misplaced, and incorrect letters shown in each guess. If you guess the correct answer, it'll take you to the next hurdle, providing the answer to the last hurdle as your first guess. This can give you several clues or none, depending on the words. For the final hurdle, every correct answer from previous hurdles is shown, with correct and misplaced letters clearly shown.

An important note is that the number of times a letter is highlighted from previous guesses does necessarily indicate the number of times that letter appears in the final hurdle.

If you find yourself stuck at any step of today's Hurdle, don't worry! We have you covered.

SEE ALSO: Hurdle: Everything you need to know to find the answers Hurdle Word 1 hint

Remorse.

SEE ALSO: Apple’s new M3 MacBook Air is $300 off at Amazon. And yes, I’m tempted. Hurdle Word 1 answer

GUILT

Hurdle Word 2 hint

Flies a plane.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for April 17, 2025 Hurdle Word 2 Answer

PILOT

Hurdle Word 3 hint

In first place.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for April 17 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for April 17, 2025 Hurdle Word 3 answer

FRONT

Hurdle Word 4 hint

A cottage.

SEE ALSO: NYT Strands hints, answers for April 17 Hurdle Word 4 answer

LODGE

Final Hurdle hint

The opposite of north.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Games available on Mashable Hurdle Word 5 answer

SOUTH

If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

Fans of MrBeast expressed anger and disappointment at a three-night immersive event themed after the YouTube star.

MrBeast, the stage name of James Donaldson, did not appear at the gathering at Las Vegas' Resorts World casino, which officially wrapped on Tuesday. While a flyer promoting the "MrBeast Experience at Resorts World" didn't promise the star's appearance, what really had attendees steaming was the dearth of "activations" at the casino's restaurants and pool, and an underwhelming "mystery bag" delivered to participants' rooms. Guests reportedly paid $1,000 to attend the "experience."

"There should have been like mini-games, and meet and greets, and photo ops, special food and drink things," attendee Theresa Metta told the Las Vegas CBS news affiliate. "Unfortunately, we didn’t get any of that."

Metta said she was told to wait in her room for her advertised mystery package. When the bag finally arrived, it only contained branded chocolates and kids' clothes. Metta said the gifts were not the "exclusive merchandise" attendees were promised, but actually several items listed for clearance on the MrBeast website.

SEE ALSO: So, uh, what was going on with that nightmarish Willy Wonka experience in Glasgow?

A group of disgruntled attendees gathered to demand refunds from Resorts World executives and air their grievances to the casino's CEO, Alex Dixon.

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Instead of refunds, Resorts World officials offered each guest two $50 food and beverage vouchers, according to attendee Desiree Pineda. "This experience has been nothing short of horrible," Pineda told CBS.

It appears Resorts World may have shifted course, however. The Las Vegas Review-Journal reported it issued full refunds Tuesday evening.

MrBeast didn't release a formal apology, but did respond to an attendee's complaint on X, saying this "definitely isn't the experience we hoped they'd deliver" and promised all disappointed guests an invite to his studio (in North Carolina).

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With 385 million subscribers, MrBeast's YouTube channel is the most subscribed on the video streaming site.

Since ChatGPT's AI image generator launched to free users a couple of weeks ago, people online have been toying around with its possibilities. The latest trend involves people anthropomorphizing their pets. Yes, really.

To be clear, we all kind of act like our pets are humans — my perfect dog, Henry, is a good boy who loves deeply like a real person. But folks are now using ChatGPT's image generator to imagine what their pets would actually look like as people. It's both kind of neat and a little creepy. Here's a super viral example from Reddit.

Reddit

If you search around other social platforms, you'll find more examples of people who said they used ChatGPT to transform their pets into humans.

Do not, under any circumstances, ask ChatGPT to show you what your dog would look like as a human. It will haunt you and permanently alter your relationship with your pet.

[image or embed]

— Thomas Frampton (@tframpton.bsky.social) April 10, 2025 at 8:46 AM

Lmao I asked #chatgpt to make a human version of my dog. Not only did it deliver but turns out he’s a pup either way 😁 #aiart #funny #pet

[image or embed]

— Sindel Sloan | ATX (@sindelsloan.bsky.social) April 14, 2025 at 10:45 AM

It seems some folks found the results cute, while others found it unsettling. TechRadar's John-Anthony Disotto wrote that he wasn't "quite prepared to see a grown man sitting on the yellow armchair [his dog] likes to frequent, and [he] immediately felt a sense of uncanny valley."

The dog-as-human trend is just the latest to emerge from ChatGPT's image generator. Last week, for instance, folks were turning themselves into AI-generated action figures.

SEE ALSO: Want to be an AI action figure? Just give ChatGPT a full-body pic. How to use ChatGPT to turn your pet into a human

While some folks might avoid seeing their pet as a person — myself included — should you want to try it out, it isn't difficult.

First, you have to upload a photo of your pet. Then, the prompt can be simple. You simply ask ChatGPT to turn the pet into a human. The sample from the Reddit post also asked to keep everything else in the photo the same. ChatGPT may ask follow-up questions, but it should be relatively straightforward.

Just be careful: You can't unsee it.

TikTok has already secured its status as Gen Z's ultimate search tool, and now it's dipping its greedy little app toes into reviews.

The social media app hosts plenty of content creators who make a living off showing their audience reviews of tech, restaurants, and clothes they've bought. But now, TechCrunch reported that TikTok has started surfacing reviews for some places — like stores and restaurants — inside the comments section of a video.

Right now, if you see a place you want to visit on your For You Page, you'll need to navigate to Google Maps or Yelp to learn its exact location, reviews, hours, and other information. This new TikTok feature has the potential to circumvent that additional step.

SEE ALSO: For Gen Z, TikTok is more than entertainment. It's a search engine. This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

According to TechCrunch, TikTok reviews are currently being tested for select users, who might see a "Reviews" tab on the right of a video's comments. App researcher Jonah Manzano posted a screenshot of his TikTok comments section on Threads, showing that the feature currently only works "on selected videos with a tagged location."

We don't know when, if at all, the feature will be launched publicly, and who knows how users will actually feel about the feature once it launches. Will it be met with annoyance for crowding up the comment section, or glee that the social media giant is slowly morphing into a super app?

Skullcandy headphones and earbuds have long been a well-known budget option, though not exactly a brand that makes you think "premium sound."

Its latest release might change that. Thanks to a partnership with Bose, the new Skullcandy Method 360 ANC earbuds feature sound powered by Bose's technology. Following a press event with new brand ambassador Tony Hawk on April 15, the earbuds are now available to the public. As Skullcandy ups the sound quality of its earbuds, it's keeping the cost low with a special introductory price of $99.99, which will then be raised to $129.99. At their full price, they'll be the most expensive earbuds from the brand (while tied at their discounted price with the Push ANC Active earbuds).

SEE ALSO: The best Bose headphones we've tested

At this time, a Skullcandy rep was unable to share when the discounted pricing would end, telling Mashable, "We’re laser-focused on delivering premium sound to the people at a highly accessible price point for as long as possible."

For comparison, the cheapest earbuds Bose offers are $179.99, though they occasionally drop down to the $150 range and once hit the record-low price of $129. At the time they hit the market, we deemed those earbuds a solid budget option. Meanwhile, early press information about the Method 360s stated that "sound quality is subjective to user taste, but we're confident they're better than anything at this price point and comparable to many above it," and claimed the earbuds could deliver "audio quality two to three times their price point."

If Skullcandy does deliver, they could pose a real threat to those Bose earbuds. I just received the earbuds myself and haven't tested them yet, so I can't say definitively whether or not they will, but I'll certainly be testing the earbuds side by side with Bose products and reporting back.

Along with Bose-powered sound, the Method 360 earbuds will come with features geared toward a premium experience, including:

• Adjustable four-mic hybrid active noise cancellation

• Nine hours of battery life with ANC per charge and 11 without ANC (23 and 29 hours with case, respectively)

• A unique slider case with an O-ring clip

• Three sizes of ear fins and gel ear tips

• Multipoint pairing

• A companion app with custom and preset EQ modes

• Google Fast Pair

• Bluetooth 5.3 and LE connectivity

As of April 16, you can grab the Method 360 ANC earbuds for $99.99 in five colorways at Skullcandy, Amazon, and Best Buy.

Opens in a new window Credit: Skullcandy Skullcandy Method 360 ANC $99.99 at Amazon
$129.99 Save $30.00 Get Deal

Elon Musk’s steady mission to erase every trace of Twitter’s former identity continues — and the next feature on the chopping block appears to be Direct Messages. According to rumblings from X employees and independent researchers, the classic DM tab may soon be replaced by something called XChat.

SEE ALSO: Jack Dorsey, Elon Musk call to delete IP laws, but artists are pushing back

The change was first hinted at by Zach Warunek, a software engineer at X, who responded to a user reporting issues with DM message requests. Warunek stated that the page would be “deleted soon." He clarified that the existing DM tab would be removed entirely, not just the requests section.

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App researcher and web dev Nima Owji backed up that theory when he reported on X that XChat is already being used internally by X employees. Based on screenshot leaks from another X user, it seems XChat is being positioned as a full-fledged WhatsApp competitor — complete with encrypted messaging, file sharing (including PDFs), disappearing messages, unread status toggles, message deletion for everyone (not just you), and voice messages (sometime after launch).

If you're curious, Owji also shared a screenshot of XChat, though we can't independently verify that it's genuine. At a glance, the biggest difference we see is the addition of a PIN-verification tab.

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This move aligns with Musk’s broader vision of turning X into an all-in-one platform. Back in February, the X CEO stated that he eventually plans to stop using a phone number altogether, opting to handle all texts and calls exclusively through X.

There’s no official release date for XChat yet, but several employees openly discussing the feature on X suggest its rollout is imminent.

The company also introduced a new tool that helps computer programmers use chatbots when writing code.

TikTok is testing out Footnotes, which is effectively its version of X's Community Notes. The company announced the new feature Wednesday in a blog post on its website.

TikTok is just the latest social media platform to roll out its own version of Community Notes, joining giants like Facebook and Instagram. The idea is that a community of users can help combat misinformation.

In the post announcing the feature, TikTok wrote:

"Footnotes will draw on the collective knowledge of the TikTok community by allowing people to add relevant information to content on our platform. To start, this feature will be tested in the U.S. for short form videos. It will add to our suite of measures that help people understand the reliability of content and access authoritative sources, including our content labels, search banners, our fact-checking program, and more."

U.S. users can apply to become Footnotes contributors but must meet certain requirements, including being on the platform for longer than six months, being 18 or older, and having no recent violations of community guidelines.

Credit: TikTok

The tool will rely on users rating the helpfulness of different Footnotes.

Wrote TikTok:

"Footnotes will use a bridge-based ranking system designed to find agreement between people who usually have different opinions, inspired by the open-sourced system that other platforms use. It works by allowing contributors with differing opinions to leave and vote on the helpfulness of a footnote. Only footnotes that meet the threshold for "helpful" will be visible to the community, at which point the broader community can vote on it, too. The more footnotes get written and rated on different topics, the smarter and more effective the system becomes."

It's not clear when, exactly, Footnotes will launch, but TikTok noted that it'll open access to the tool in the "coming months."

China’s success in artificial intelligence has the Trump administration and lawmakers weighing rules and investigations to slow Beijing’s progress in the industry.

SAVE UP TO 47%: Amazon has hundreds of tech and toy items on sale for up to 47% off that will arrive by Sunday, including Lego sets, Bose speakers, Sony headphones, Echo devices, and National Geographic STEM toys.

Best sprig tech anad toy deals at Amazon Best tech deal Bose SoundLink Flex portable Bluetooth speaker $119 (save $30) Get Deal Best Lego deal Lego Botanicals Mini Orchid Set $24.99 (save $5) Get Deal Best toy deal National Geographic Diamond Painting Solar System Night Light $15.99 (save $4) Get Deal

Since we could all use some treats in 2025, now is a great time to snag some spring fun — especially if you're packing Easter baskets for Sunday, April 20. Even if you're not one to celebrate Easter, it's an excuse to shop some great deals and grab a few things that make you (or the kids in your life) feel good.

Amazon has discounts on plenty of tech, as well as hundreds of toys and games that are great for all ages. If you're shopping for last-minute treats, check out some of our favorites, but be sure to order today (or by tomorrow at the latest) to ensure Sunday arrival.

Best tech deal Opens in a new window Credit: Bose Bose Soundlink Flex portable Bluetooth speaker $119 at Amazon
$149 Save $30 Get Deal Why we like it

The Bose Soundlink Flex is a great summer companion that gets up to 12 hours of battery life on one charge. While it normally sells for $149, it's on sale at Amazon for $119 as of April 16. That's a 20% discount that works out to a savings of $30. Plus, this deal extends to a bunch of colorway options including Alpine Sage, Dust Blue, and Pink Petal.

The included utility loop makes the Bose easy to take on any adventure, and it's also waterproof and dustproof. The silicone-wrapped body of the portables speaker means it's better equipped to handle a tumble. Plus, Bose sound quality is always reliable.

More tech deals

• Amazfit Bip 5 Unity Smart Watch — $49.99 $69.99 (save $20)

• Ninja Fit Compact Personal Blender — $54.99 $69.99 (save $15)

• Amazon Echo Spot — $64.99 $79.99 (save $15)

• Amazon Fire HD 10 Kids Pro tablet (32GB) — $139.99 $189.99 (save $50)

• Bose QuietComfort Headphones — $249.99 $399.99 (save $100)

Best Lego deal Opens in a new window Credit: Lego Lego Botanicals Mini Orchid Set $24.99 at Amazon
$29.99 Save $5 Get Deal Why we like it

Spring is a wonderful time to celebrate flowers — unless you have pollen allergies. Avoid the runny rose, and go with a Lego floral set. The adorable Lego Botanicals Mini Orchid Set is on sale at Amazon for $24.99, down from the usual price of $29.99.

The Lego building set is perfect for an office, dresser, or an entry-way display. Plus, it never needs watering.

SEE ALSO: 9 of the best air purifiers, according to experts More Lego deals

• Lego Daffodils — $7.99 $14.99 (save $7)

• Lego Minecraft The Pirate Ship Voyage — $9.59 $14.99 (save $5.40)

• Lego Botanicals Lucky Bamboo Set — $23.99 $29.99 (save $6)

• Lego Creator 3 in 1 Adorable Dogs Set — $23.99 $29.99 (save $6)

• Lego Creator 3 in 1 Wild Animals Panda Family — $31.99 $39.99 (save $8)

• Lego Botanicals Tiny Plants Set — $39.99 $49.99 (save $10)

Best toy deal Opens in a new window Credit: National Geographic National Geographic Diamond Painting Solar System Night Light $15.99 at Amazon
$19.99 Save $4.00 Get Deal Why we like it

National Geographic has great toys that find fun ways to introduce STEM topics. For the kids who like to craft, the National Geographic Diamond Painting Solar System Night Light is a ton of fun, and it can become part of their bedroom decor since it functions as a night light with adjustable brightness.

Thanks to today's sale price at Amazon, the crafting kit is down to just $15.99, which takes 20% off the normal price of $19.99.

More toy deals

• Kalour 72 Count Colored Pencils — $9.99 $12.99 (save $3)

• Play-Doh Rainbow Swirl Ice Cream Playset — $11.28 $19.99 (save $8.71)

• Squishmallows Original Skyler The Skunk — $11.99 $15.99 (save $4)

• Hungry Hungry Hippos Game — $13.29 $19.99 (save $6.70)

• National Geographic Bug Catcher Kit — $16.99 $19.99 (save $3)

• National Geographic Kids Weaving Kit — $18.74 $24.99 (save $3)

UPDATE: Apr. 16, 2025, 2:18 p.m. EDT Now that the OpenAI livestream has ended, this article has been updated with the latest information about the o3 and o4-mini launch.

OpenAI's o3 and o4-mini models for ChatGPT have arrived.

As expected, during a livestream event today, the ChatGPT maker released the newest versions of its reasoning models. OpenAI launched o1, its first reasoning or chain-of-thought model, last summer and skipped over o2 to announce its progress on o3 in late December. While o3 has not been publicly available until today, OpenAI already has a lightweight version, o3-mini, on the market.

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In the livestream, the OpenAI team (sans CEO Sam Altman) described some of the models' capabilities and demoed how users can use o3 and o4-mini. The models have been trained to use tools and can process visuals like charts and images.

"For the first time, our reasoning models can agentically use and combine every tool within ChatGPT—this includes searching the web, analyzing uploaded files and other data with Python, reasoning deeply about visual inputs, and even generating images," read the announcement.

The o3 model is now OpenAI's most advanced reasoning model. The lightweight o4-mini is a smaller model designed to be more cost-efficient, and it's particularly good at math and coding, according to OpenAI. Both perform higher than o1 and o3-mini on benchmarks like AIME and GPQA. They have also improved at visual reasoning, based on multimodal evaluations.

Initially, in an effort to streamline its numerous and somewhat confusing model options, Altman said they wouldn't release o3 and o4-mini as standalone models, and would instead integrate their capabilities into ChatGPT-5. But a few weeks later, the company pivoted and decided to release the two models after all, delaying the ChatGPT-5 launch. Again.

Skeptics say the multiple delays of GPT-5 indicate internal struggles to significantly improve model performance. But Altman says the wait will be worth it. In the meantime, o3 and o4-mini have been deemed strong enough models to exist on their own.

o3 and o4-mini are available today via the API and for ChatGPT Pro, Plus, and Teams subscribers, with Enterprise and Edu access coming next week.

In the lead up to Earth Day on April 22, tech giant Apple announced it's making major headway in its goal to be more environmentally friendly, including cutting global greenhouse gas emissions by 60 percent since 2015.

Apple outlines these initiatives, including recent renewable energy investments, in its newly published Environmental Progress Report. The company says it redirected 600,000 metric tons of waste through its Zero Waste program and explains it surpassed the 99 percent mark for use of recycled rare earth elements in magnetic and battery components. A line of what Apple calls carbon-neutral devices, including the Apple Watch Series 10 and Mac mini, were announced in 2024, as well.

SEE ALSO: Your old phones can help plant new trees with new AT&T trade-in program

Apple aims to reduce its carbon emissions by 75 percent, become fully carbon neutral, and switch to 100 percent renewable energy before the global 2030 climate goal deadline.

"Today, we’re using more clean energy and recycled materials to make our products than ever before, we’re preserving water and preventing waste around the world, and we’re investing big in nature," Lisa Jackson, Apple’s vice president of Environment, Policy, and Social Initiatives. "As we get closer to 2030, the work gets even harder — and we’re meeting the challenge with innovation, collaboration, and urgency."

Apple device owners can also take advantage of a new Earth Day programs, including 10 percent off an Apple accessory when they recycle an eligible item in-store. On Earth Day, Apple Watch and Fitness+ users can earn a limited-edition award by completing a 30 minute workout, as well as access planet-friendly advice in the Tips app.

This week, we're getting a peek behind the scenes at Meta and Facebook as the FTC's antitrust trial against the company begins.

On Monday and Tuesday, Meta founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg took the stand as the U.S. government makes its case that Zuckerberg and company run a social media monopoly. The FTC argues that "Facebook has engaged in a systematic strategy — including its 2012 acquisition of up-and-coming rival Instagram, its 2014 acquisition of the mobile messaging app WhatsApp, and the imposition of anticompetitive conditions on software developers — to eliminate threats to its monopoly."

For its part, Meta argues that the social media space is still full of healthy competition and that the company grew Instagram and WhatsApp into what they are today.

The antitrust trial is years in the making, with the FTC originally opening the investigation in 2019 during the first Trump administration. Already, the trial has produced revelations about Meta's history and view of the social media industry as a whole. Let's take a look at the standout revelations from the Meta-FTC antitrust trial so far.

Mark Zuckerberg was really worried about Instagram as a competitor

Before acquiring Instagram for $1 billion in 2012, Mark Zuckerberg was really worried about Instagram. So much so that the Facebook founder called the prospect of falling behind Instagram "really scary," according to internal messages from the time.

"Right now they seem to have two things that we don't: a really good camera and a photo centric sharing network," Zuckerberg wrote in an email prior to the acquisition.

Zuckerberg shared in messages that he was concerned by Instagram's rapid growth and the fact that Facebook employees were using the app.

"One concerning trend is that a huge number of people are using Instagram every day…even FB employees -- and they're only uploading some of their photos to FB," Zuckerberg said.

Messages like this show that Zuckerberg viewed Instagram as an existential threat to Facebook's social media dominance. And he wasn't only concerned about Instagram beating Facebook; he was also worried that a larger competitor would scoop up Instagram first.

“If Instagram continues to kick ass on mobile or if Google buys them, then over the next few years they could easily add pieces of their service that copy what we're doing now," Zuckerberg said. "I view this as a big strategic risk for us if we don't completely own the photos space.”

Facebook was building an Instagram competitor  Credit: picture alliance / Getty Images

“Theoretically we could go build this technology, but I’m worried we’re so far behind,” Zuckerberg wrote as he contemplated what an Instagram acquisition would cost the company. 

In fact, Facebook was so concerned about Instagram that it started building a competing product. The company had interns working on building a competitor to the photo-sharing social network before ultimately deciding they were too far behind. According to internal company messages from 2011, Zuckerberg wasn't happy with the progress being made on a Facebook Camera app.

"We might want to consider paying a lot of money for this," Zuckerberg said, speaking of Instagram.

Zuckerberg considered abandoning Instagram after the acquisition

One really damning piece of the FTC's case is a 2012 message from Zuckerberg from just months before Facebook acquired Instagram.

The Facebook founder considered buying Instagram and doing nothing with it. Under this strategy, the sole purpose of the acquisition would be to keep away the competition.

“By not killing their products we prevent everyone from hating us and we make sure we don’t immediately create a hole in the market for someone else to fill but all future development would go towards our core products," Zuckerberg said in February 2012.

Zuckerberg defended himself against the FTC's argument here by pointing out that the company didn't end up utilizing this strategy.

Facebook was also concerned about failed platforms like Google+

One of the FTC's other core arguments is that Facebook maintains a monopoly over platforms that "connect family and friends" specifically.

To bolster that case, the FTC raised Zuckerberg's concerns over now-defunct social media platforms.

Path was a social media app that launched in 2010 with the purpose of only connecting with a user's closest 50 family members and friends.

At the time, Zuckerberg was concerned about the app, and Facebook even considered acquiring it.

Zuckerberg was also worried about the launch of Google+ in 2011, admittedly because it was directly competing as a social network among family and friends.

Years later, in 2013, Zuckerberg would contemplate blocking ads on Facebook for mobile messenger apps like WeChat and Line as he worried about those companies becoming competitors.

Facebook offered $6 billion for Snapchat

Facebook tried to acquire Snapchat way back in 2013 for $3 billion. This was widely covered years ago when that news first leaked.

However, there was another, much higher offer that Snapchat turned down that was just revealed at the Meta antitrust trial.

According to Zuckerberg, after the initial $3 billion offer to acquire Snapchat was turned down in 2013, Facebook went back to the company later that year, offering double the amount. However, Snap CEO Evan Spiegel turned down the $6 billion offer as well.

Zuckerberg worried about Snapchat Stories

Snapchat changed the mobile social networking game when it released Stories shortly after turning down Facebook's acquisition offer.

According to internal messages from 2014, Zuckerberg was concerned about the feature.

“Snapchat is now more of a competitor for Instagram and News Feed than it ever was for messaging," he said. “We need to take this new dynamic seriously, both as a competitive risk and as a product opportunity to add functionality that many people clearly love and want to use daily.”

Instagram would go on to launch its own Stories feature in 2016.

Meta views TikTok, LinkedIn as competition

During the trial, Mark Zuckerberg has conceded that Meta views platforms like TikTok and LinkedIn as competition.

Meta even presented evidence showing that when TikTok went down during the brief period that it was banned in the U.S. earlier this year, Facebook and Instagram traffic surged by 20 percent and 17 percent, respectively.

Zuckerberg even shared that the company views the professional social network LinkedIn and the local social network Nextdoor as competitors. According to Zuckerberg, the reason for this is that Facebook is no longer a social media platform just for family and friends.

While this is interesting, it's also a bit self-serving, too. As previously mentioned, the FTC's argument is built around Meta monopolizing the "friends and family" networking space, which includes Snapchat and even smaller platforms like MeWe. (Zuckerberg admitted to never hearing of MeWe before. Mashable previously covered the platform in 2020 during a brief period when it gained popularity among conservative social media users.)

Platforms like TikTok, despite its broad popularity in the social media space, are not being considered as competition to Facebook in the FTC case. That likely explains why Zuckerberg is content with sharing this information in order to refute the government's argument.

Zuckerberg wanted to reset everyone's Facebook friends, create ad-only feed

Perhaps the weirdest revelation during the trial so far is in regards to some off-the-wall ideas Zuckerberg had for Facebook.

According to internal company emails, Zuckerberg came up with an idea in 2022 to reset every Facebook user's friends to zero and then continue to wipe everyone's social graph annually.

Zuckerberg also admitted that the company once considered creating a feed that only provided users with ads.

The Meta-FTC antitrust trial is ongoing, and there are sure to be more revelations as the case progresses. We'll continue covering this story as it develops. You can also view the FTC's exhibits from the case online via Dropbox.

TL;DR: Replace your monthly Dropbox subscription with a 10TB Internxt Cloud Storage Lifetime Plan on sale for A$449 with code STORAGE20.

Opens in a new window Credit: Internxt Internxt Cloud Storage Lifetime Subscription: 10TB Plan AU$449
AU$4,810 Save AU$4,361 with code STORAGE20 Get Deal

Cloud storage subscriptions are expensive, even if they don't seem like it at first. Dropbox's cheapest plan is A$16 per month for 2TB of cloud storage. It seems cheap, but that's a little under A$192 every year, and you're never actually done paying for it. 

If you want a cheaper alternative to Dropbox, Internxt just dropped the price for a 10TB cloud storage lifetime subscription. Now it's only A$449 with code STORAGE20. 

Pay once for a lifetime of cloud storage

Space isn't the only thing this cloud storage has going for it. Internxt is committed to keeping your data safe. That's why they use end-to-end encryption to secure files during transfer and at rest. Its zero-knowledge architecture means that files are encrypted in a way that Internxt itself cannot access. You're the only one who has access to your files.

You don't even have to manually upload. You can sync all your files and photos across platforms, even Linux. This focus on privacy even extends to its open-source design, so users can inspect the code for transparency and security.

This subscription lasts for life with no recurring payments of any kind. You can access your cloud storage on unlimited devices, too. 

Use code STORAGE20 by April 27 at 11:59 p.m. PT to get an Internxt 10TB Cloud Storage Lifetime Subscription on sale for A$449. 

StackSocial prices subject to change.

If you don't unlock your Android device for three straight days, it will now automatically restart.

Why? Because it will make it harder for bad actors, such as a thief, to break into your device. We believe the feature will also make it harder to sell stolen phones.

In the latest Google Play services v25.14 update released earlier this week, Google rolled out a new feature under Security and Privacy, as first noticed by TechCrunch.

"[It enables] a future optional security feature, which will automatically restart your device if locked for 3 consecutive days," the update reads, while noting that this is a new feature for Android smartphones.

Rebooting your smartphone may not seem like an important security function, but it is. After a user unlocks their device, some encrypted data becomes decrypted and easier to access on subsequent unlocks. In fact, as Mashable previously noted when Apple launched a similar feature called "inactivity reboot" last year, law enforcement often depends on an iPhone being in this state in order to crack into the device for forensic investigations.

However, if a device is turned off and then back on or is simply restarted, the smartphone enters a "Before First Unlock" state. Once in this state, everything on the device is encrypted and the device is much harder to break into without the user's password.

Apple and now Google have good reasons to do this for their customers. Devices in "Before First Unlock" state make it much harder for thieves to resell stolen smartphones on the black market. It also makes it much more difficult for bad actors to steal user data off a stolen device and weaponize it for more nefarious purposes.

As most customers use their smartphones on a daily basis, putting a timeframe on an automatic reboot to get the device back into a "Before First Unlock" state makes sense.

SAVE 66%: As of April 16, you can snag a certified refurbished Bose 550 Dolby Atmos Bluetooth soundbar for just $169.99, down from $499, at Woot. That's a 66% discount and a savings of $329.01.

Opens in a new window Credit: Bose Certified refurbished Bose 550 Dolby Atmos Bluetooth soundbar $169.99 at Woot
$499 Save $329.01 Get Deal

If you haven’t browsed the Woot website yet, I highly recommend checking it out if you’re in the market for new tech. Woot is a discount retailer owned by Amazon where you can find daily deals and limited-time sales on a variety of products, including electronics, home goods, and apparel.

Right now, they’ve got a solid deal on a certified refurbished Bose 550 Dolby Atmos Bluetooth soundbar. You can get it for just $169.99, down from $499. That’s a 66% discount and a savings of $329.01. But this offer’s only good for 17 more days or until it’s sold out, so act fast if you want to snag this deal.

SEE ALSO: The best speakers in 2025

The Bose 550 soundbar is a compact, all-in-one soundbar that delivers immersive Dolby Atmos sound. You can use it with your TV or stream music via Bluetooth, Apple AirPlay 2, Spotify Connect, or Chromecast. It also works with the Bose Music App and comes with a remote.

If you're ready for a serious sound system upgrade, this deal is calling your name.

SAVE UP TO 60% OFF: Happy National Horny Day! As of April 16, you can get up to 60% off sex toys, lingerie, and more at Lovers.

The best of Lovers sale: Best deal overall Le Wand Little Pleasures Set $57.14 (save $91.86) Get Deal Best dildo deal Lovers Loyal 5.5-inch Dildo $48 (save $15 when you spend $100 with code SAVE$15) Get Deal Best vibrator deal Playboy Pleasure Ollo $51.20 (save $12.80 with code VIBE20) Get Deal

Feeling burnt out and desperately needing some self-care? (Because, honestly, same.) If a thousand-dollar vacation isn't realistic right now, I've got a much cheaper (and much more effective?) plan B — and it can be delivered right to your door.

Right now, Lovers is running one of the biggest sales I’ve personally seen, slashing prices by up to 60% on tons of best-selling sex toys and bedroom accessories. The sale includes some of my all-time favorites, so I figured I’d share some of the best picks.

SEE ALSO: Are vibrating sex toys on the way out?

Even stuff not part of the main markdown often has its own deal running. For example, I’m obsessed with the Playboy Pleasure collection, and it's 20% off using code VIBE20. Plus, the newly revamped Lovers Exclusives collection qualifies for their Spend & Save offer, where you get $15 back for every $100 you spend with the code SAVE$15.

Best deal overall Opens in a new window Credit: Le Wand Le Wand Little Pleasures Set $57.14 at Lovers
$149 Save $91.86 Get Deal Why we like it

The best deal overall has to be the Le Wand Little Pleasures Set. It’s on sale for just $57.14. That’s $91.86 off the original price! This little set is the epitome of bougie self-care, and it comes with a super cute box and storage bag, making it feel really special. (It also makes for a great wedding shower gift — I gave my sister one for hers!)

With this set, you’ll get two mini vibrators, a textured silicone ring, an enamel Le Wand pin, and a microsuede travel pouch. Getting all that for under $60 is why it's my top deal pick.

The deal: You save a whopping $91.86 off the original price. No code needed for this one; the $57.14 price reflects the direct markdown.

Best dildo deal Opens in a new window Credit: Lovers Lovers Loyal 5.5-inch Dildo $48 at Lovers
Get Deal Why we like it

Lovers recently revamped its Lovers Exclusive line — they changed the packaging, updated the designs to be more product-focused, and made it more accessible at under $100.

I was lucky enough to receive the entire collection before the launch, and I have to say, I was impressed. The Lovers Loyal 5.5-inch Dildo is hands-down the softest, most lifelike dildo I've ever used. It has a strong suction cup that sticks on any surface, so you can get creative during solo play. And, it comes in three natural-looking shades.

The deal: While not part of the main 60% off sale, this dildo qualifies for the Lovers Spend & Save offer with the code SAVE$15 (get $15 back for every $100 you spend).

Best vibrator deal Opens in a new window Credit: Playboy Pleasure Playboy Pleasure Ollo Vibrator $51.20 at Lovers
$64 Save $12.80 Get Deal Why we like it

I can’t recommend Playboy Pleasure enough, especially the Ollo Vibrator.

I love it because, unlike most bullet vibes, it has a small ring/handle that makes it incredibly easy to hold and maneuver during solo or couples play. It’s also surprisingly powerful for its size and is perfect for targeting specific spots (clit, nipples, you name it!), thanks partly to its angled tip. (It works outside of clothing, too, just in case you need a midday quickie.)

The deal: Use code VIBE20 to get 20% off the Playboy Pleasure collection, including the Ollo Vibrator.

SAVE $50: As of April 16, get the Blink Outdoor 4 at Amazon for $49.99, down from the original price of $99.99. That's $50 off for a discount of 50%.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Blink Outdoor 4 $49.99 at Amazon
$99.99 Save $50.00 Get Deal

The weather's getting warmer, which usually means summer travel, and more time away from your home. A security camera might be a good idea, and you can get one at an affordable price right now.

As of April 16, get the Blink Outdoor 4 security camera at Amazon for $49.99, down from its usual price of $99.99. That's $50 off and a discount of 50%.

SEE ALSO: Get the Amazon Echo Hub for under $130 and stay connected to your smart home

This wireless camera means you can put it just about anywhere you need it to go. It comes with its own mounting kit as well as two AA batteries to keep it powered, which should keep it going for a convenient two years.

You can use the accompanying app to watch five different feeds from your camera with 1080p HD quality, as well as night vision when it gets dark outside. You can use Alexa-enabled devices to view different feeds as well, with voice commands that make it much easier to access your camera's view without a phone in hand.

This is an affordable camera that's well worth adding to your home security stack, so if you're looking for a useful and reliable way to keep an eye out on what's going on outside your house, this is it.

OpenAI has introduced a new image library inside ChatGPT, which gives users quick access to their AI-generated creations in a slick sidebar.

SEE ALSO: Want to be an AI action figure? Just give ChatGPT a full-body pic.

The feature, now rolling out across both web and mobile platforms, is available to all users, paid or not. OpenAI even dropped a short demo on X showing just how seamless it is. If you’ve made images in ChatGPT before, the library should already be visible on the left panel. If not, fire up a prompt, and the feature should appear after reloading the page.

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While modest on the surface, the feature could hint at something bigger. OpenAI may be laying the groundwork for a social platform focused on image creation, according to Mashable’s Cecily Mauran. The goal is apparently greater visibility for its viral image tools and a new stream of real-time user data.

For now, it’s just a library. But in the context of OpenAI’s broader ambitions, it might be the opening move in a much bigger play.