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When the galaxy is going to hell, you're fighting with your daughter at her wedding, and you've just learned an old friend will die for the sake of the Rebellion you're leading, how do you shake it off?
If you're Senator Mon Mothma (Genevieve O'Reilly) in Andor Season 2, episode 3, here's your answer. You down some shots, hit the floor with other moms in a stunning gold number with shoulder capes when the DJ drops an EDM banger, and make like an X-wing: Lock S-foils in dance position.
"We wanted to get inside her head somehow," O'Reilly explains to Mashable. "We wanted to see the physical chaos. She was releasing ... in a way we've never witnessed before. She got to throw off the strictures of her physicality, and that says something about her."
SEE ALSO: 'Andor' Season 2 review: The best Star Wars show goes out with a brilliant bangThe result is the first electronic dance music scene in Star Wars, and arguably its best dance scene ever (sorry, Ewoks), in which the future leader of the Rebellion, plus a floor full of dignitaries from Mon's highly traditional home planet, Chandrila, throw some shapes in the church of noise.
And in context, it's all played as incredibly dark irony. Which only makes Mon's wild moves more meme-worthy.
Making the dance scene look natural, and incorporating a lot of made-up Chandrilan styles, took "days" of choreography rehearsals, and Chandrilan formalwear that was also designed to be danced in, O'Reilly says: "There's a lot of work in there."
What is that EDM banger?Mon's chaos groove moment begins after the kids hit the dancefloor. A drone-like DJ droid has floated in playing what Andor showrunner Tony Gilroy wanted for the scene: "a galactic hit."
"The young people are waiting to cut loose," Gilroy says. (After a three-day Chandrilan wedding that has been all tradition at this point, no wonder.) "And what do they want to hear? They want to hear the Tarzana EDM mix of 'Niamos!'"
"Niamos!" was composed by Nicholas Britell, the genius behind that ultimate TV earworm, the theme from Succession. It's cropped up repeatedly in the background of Andor so far, Gilroy points out — starting in the brothel scene on Morlana that opens Season 1, episode 1.
SEE ALSO: 'Andor': more, more! Burning questions for Season 2 of the best Star Wars.Prior to this brand new EDM remix, "Niamos!" has also been available in "Coruscant Lounge Mix" and the funkier "Galaxy Mix" on Britell's Andor Season 1 soundtrack albums. Niamos turned out to be the name of the vacation planet where Cassian is arrested.
Whether Britell's banger from a galaxy far, far away is also a hit in the here and now ... remains to be seen. Especially after Gilroy made the interesting choice to have this thumping track also play over Cassian Andor (Diego Luna) and Bix Caleen (Adria Arjona) as they deal with some intense grief and trauma.
Why the dance scene is Star Wars' darkest moment yetMon Mothma doesn't just need some balm for that burn from her daughter (whom Mon suggested back out of an arranged marriage to a 15-year-old boy). She also just learned that Luthen Rael (Stellan Skarsgård) has arranged the death of suave old school friend Tay Kolma (Ben Miles), a banker who was suggesting a little light blackmail.
"How nice for you," Luthen says when Mon doesn't catch his meaning at first. Waves of doubt and guilt then cross Mon's face as she peeks outside her bubble of privilege — before retreating back into its safety by downing those shots and allowing herself to be pulled onto the dance floor.
She may be the coolest dancing mom in the galaxy. But while Mon shakes it off like Tay-Tay, Tay is still going to die — and at the bottom of the social ladder, far worse things are happening.
Intercut with the dance, Bix knocks out an imperial officer, ending what is the first attempted rape scene (and the first use of that R-word) in Star Wars. Cassian arrives to take Bix away, but not before their dear old Ferrix friend Brasso (Joplin Sibtain) dies on his way to save her.
Already, there may not be enough clubs in the galaxy for our downtrodden heroes to shake off their grief. And be warned: Worse is on the way as Andor continues its dark prequel path toward the Death Star and the battle of Yavin.
It's murder on the dance floor, but Andor won't kill the groove as it burns the Empire's house right down.
Other shows give you a ticking clock. Andor, which just returned to Disney+ for its second and final season, gives you a ticking calendar.
That's the meaning of "BBY 4," which appears on screen at the beginning of Andor Season 2, episode 1. Casual viewers may not remember all the way back to Andor Season 1, episode 1, when we were given another time setting: BBY 5.
SEE ALSO: 'Andor' Season 2 review: The best Star Wars show goes out with a brilliant bangGet used to it, because time jumps are coming: The second batch of Andor season 2 (dropping next week) is set in BBY 3; the third in BBY 2; and the final three episodes, hitting Disney+ on May 13, cover the events of BBY 1, and dovetail with the beginning of Rogue One.
However, Andor never explains this mysterious acronym. You'd be forgiven for thinking the "Y" refers to year. But no, BBY means Before the Battle of Yavin — another name for the Death Star-destroying conclusion to the original Star Wars movie in 1977, which George Lucas renamed Episode IV: A New Hope in 1981.
BBY and ABY (After the Battle of Yavin) became a useful dating system for Star Wars books, comics, and other media. The Empire Strikes Back, for example, takes place in ABY 3; Attack of the Clones was BBY 22. Not that either movie ever said so on screen, of course.
And the more that Lucasfilm's chief nerds thought about it, the less BBY and ABY made sense in the Star Wars universe. After all, the Empire didn't fall until the events of Return of the Jedi (ABY 4). Wouldn't the new Galactic Republic choose that as its key date?
One company veteran mocked the whole concept of the BBY dating system in a now-deleted tweet: "'I know! Let's make a calendar based around our second-greatest victory!' — The Rebels."
SEE ALSO: 'Andor': more, more! Burning questions for Season 2 of the best Star Wars.Lucasfilm's 2014 canon reset, which declared all previously published novels and comics to be part of a separate, never-happened timeline called Legends, effectively did away with the dating system. But it persisted in fan discussions, and in the online resource known as Wookieepedia.
And when director Tony Gilroy came along to create Andor as a prequel to Rogue One, he needed to indicate his time jumps to viewers. BBY made sense given that Cassian Andor (Diego Luna) dies in Rogue One, mere days before the Battle of Yavin — and far from being wiped out, BBY became enshrined on screen for the first time.
Students won't be using Pinterest during class — or, at least, they will be heavily discouraged from doing so.
The social media app is experimenting with a prompt that will encourage American and Canadian users between the ages of 13 (the minimum age for account holders) and 17 to close the app and pause notifications during typical school hours (Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.). Pinterest confirmed in an email to Mashable that the prompt will reach "millions" of school-age users, and the wide-scale experiment is intended to better inform the app's teams. This comes after Pinterest CEO Bill Ready announced his support for the Kids Online Safety Act and phone-free school policies in the Washington Post.
"Focus is a beautiful thing," the prompt says, according to the Verge. "Stay in the moment by putting Pinterest down and pausing notifs [sic] until the school bell rings."
SEE ALSO: Instagram will restrict teens from going Live, as Teen Accounts expand to Facebook and MessengerPinterest also announced on Tuesday a partnership with the International Society for Technology in Education to develop digital citizenship and well-being action plans through newly established Digital Innovation Wellbeing Task Forces.
"At Pinterest, we believe that schools can take advantage of all that technology has to offer students, while minimizing the harms and distractions," Wanji Walcott, Pinterest’s chief legal and business affairs officer, told the Verge. "Tech companies need to work together with teachers, parents, and policymakers to build solutions that ensure in the hands of our students, smartphones are tools, not distractions."
When you really think about it, life is just a constant cycle of acquiring new stuff and figuring out what to do with the old stuff. And when there's not a one-size-fits-all way to properly get rid of that old stuff, clutter happens.
Most of us have been conditioned to recycle some common everyday materials, but curbside recycling isn't too helpful past paper, metal, glass, and certain types of plastic. Even then, a shockingly low percentage of recyclable items are actually recycled. I digress.
Other personal items, like clothes and shoes or electronics and batteries, are more confusing to deal with. Can they be recycled, or is throwing them away the only option?
SEE ALSO: Texas resident used Apple AirTags to track her recycling. It ended up in the middle of nowhere.Perhaps you've Googled "how to recycle insert item here" just to be given some vague instructions like "Check locally." You'll quickly learn that most municipal recycling programs don't cover much beyond trash-like recyclables. Past that, it can be hard to pin down actionable ways to downsize sustainably.
Fortunately, getting rid of hard-to-recycle stuff isn't so mysterious. In many cases, there actually are solid options for recycling all of that junk crammed under your bed and into old shoeboxes. Once you hone in on a certain category — beauty empties, coffee maker pods, smartphones, old chargers — there's usually a super straightforward answer for how to recycle said items. In fact, you can often find easy (and free) drop-off or mail-in programs.
SEE ALSO: 15+ eco-friendly gifts that someone would actually useIt just takes a little more effort than plopping them in the curbside recycling bin and hoping the recycling fairy whisks it away to the right place. That's called wishcycling, or aspirational recycling, and I would definitely sleep better at night if I were still blissfully living in "everything can be recycled" ignorance.
So, to help you recycle electronics, clothing, beauty packaging, and other awkward items, let's break it down in the most candid way possible.
How to recycle electronicsE-waste is a doozy of a rabbit hole. As with plastic pollution, a good chunk of e-waste (the umbrella term for improperly discarded electronic devices) comes from big tech corporations. The U.S. Public Interest Research Group estimates that we generate around 6.9 million tons of e-waste each year. Of that, less than 18 percent is recycled properly.
But as a species that has treated our personal devices as extra limbs for almost two decades, it's also our personal responsibility to deal with our old devices in the most sustainable way possible. Not only do electronics in landfills leak dangerous toxins into the ground, but it's also a missed opportunity to recover metals and precious rare earth minerals.
SEE ALSO: How California's high-speed rail is already helping the planetTo be fair, people aren't exactly given clear instructions on how or where to safely recycle old devices. A recent CNET survey found that over 30 percent of U.S. adults hold onto old phones, tablets, and chargers simply because they don't know what to do with them.
Cellphones, laptops, TVs, and moreYou're probably aware of the trade-in promos that your smartphone carrier offers. Similar incentives exist for devices like iPads and tablets. But even if the device in question isn't exactly in trade-in or sell-on-Mercari condition, there are still super accessible ways to recycle the gadget without smashing it for parts.
Best Buy actually has a super-expensive in-store electronics recycling program. Items accepted in store include TVs, computers and routers, audio gear (from headphones to old CD or cassette players), cameras and camcorders, and video game controllers. A household can recycle up to three items per day. You can also pay Best Buy to come haul away larger items, like an old fridge or treadmill.
No Best Buy store nearby? The company also offers a mail-in recycling service.
SEE ALSO: Want to avoid tariff price hikes? Shop our giant list of 91 refurbished tech deals.Once received, recyclers disassemble the tech to pull out and properly get rid of ozone-depleting chemicals like PCBs, mercury, and insulation, then separate materials like plastic, glass, and metal to be repurposed when possible.
Samsung device owners can also conduct a similar zip code search to find participating Samsung e-cycling drop-off centers. They pop up all over in retail stores like Best Buy and Staples, and sometimes even at your local solid waste authority. Before recycling, check to see if Samsung will offer credit to trade in your old device — yes, cracked screens count.
Apple offers its own recycling program for old Apple devices, and you can even get a prepaid shipping label.
Chargers, cables, and donglesThat harrowing nest of old cords in your basement or junk drawer is growing more powerful by the day. Rather than continue feeding it, you can recycle old chargers and similar connectors through the Best Buy recycling program mentioned above. Apple's service also takes old Apple chargers.
BatteriesCall2recycle is a nationwide battery recycling program that offers free battery recycling at partnering stores like The Home Depot, Lowe's, and Staples. Head to the website and enter your zip code to find the closest drop-off location to you. Note that not all participating locations accept every type of battery, so be sure to check the box.
If no collection boxes are popping up in a practical distance, call2recycle also has a mail-in battery recycling program — though at $80 for the smallest battery and cellphone recycling kit, it's not exactly the cheapest route.
How to recycle clothes and shoesThere are paths forward for both gently-worn clothes and too-worn-to-donate clothes that aren't merely forcing them upon Goodwill and hoping they squeeze their way onto an overflowing rack.
If the clothes are in decent enough condition, consider trying to sell them online. You don't need a ton of followers to get eyes on your items on Depop, Mercari, or Poshmark — just take well-lit, clear photos, write a detailed and honest description, and add a price. (Check out my full guide to selling your stuff online.)
SEE ALSO: Zero Waste Daniel is drag's sustainable fashion pioneerIf you don't feel like getting into online resale, there are a few mail-back options for repurposing old clothing. Give Back Box is a non-profit that partners with a slew of small charities from which you can choose to send your items, depending on what they need (i.e., kids' shoes or gently used women's clothes). Once you find a good fit, Give Back Box will just ask for $20 to cover the pre-addressed shipping label and the weight of the box. Then, pack your items in any random box you were going to recycle anyway, and send it off.
Of course, there are always the straggler pieces of clothing that are probably too worn to donate. Sustainable clothing brand Girlfriend Collective has partnered with SuperCircle (a growing textile recycling platform) to facilitate ReGirlfriend, an amazingly easy mail-in garment recycling program. Shipping labels are free, and you can pack multiple pieces in each bag, regardless of brand. As a "thank you" for not contributing to the pile of textiles in landfills, Girlfriend offers credits to girlfriend.com.
How to recycle random household itemsAh, Swiffer pads. The ubiquitous mopping and dusting thingamabob that, turns out, is a pain in the ass to recycle. That's just one of a horde of everyday household items that folks mindlessly trash. But what's the alternative?
Well, my initial suggestion would be to retire the Swiffer and buy a robot vacuum and mop combo. Even if you insist on keeping the Swiffer as backup for some pesky corner cleaning (though I have a robot mop recommendation for corner cleaning), a robot vacuum that can mop at least minimizes your Swiffer use.
When you do collect enough used Swiffer refills, you can mail them to TerraCycle: a mega-recycling business that gives average consumers an easy way to recycle everyday items that don't play well with curbside recycling. Its free mail-back system covers a ton of household items, with the cost of shipping labels funded by participating brands like Swiffer, Tide, Brita, Black + Decker, and Febreze.
SEE ALSO: Spring cleaning starter kit: 10 products to cover all your bases Coffee podsNespresso has a ton of drop-off points across the country to recycle pods. You can also request free pre-labeled recycling bags on Nespresso's website to fill and eventually mail back to Nespresso. (Each mailer can hold up to 200 Original Line pods or 100 Vertuo pods.)
Keurig has a similar setup, but it's not free — and Keurig only describes the program through the lens of office use (like "use the small box in offers that brew 24 K-Cups or less in day") with no mention of keeping a box at home in a Keurig-heavy household.
How to recycle beauty and bathroom stuffMakeup and skincareThough much of it looks recycling-friendly, most beauty packaging isn't. Many bottles that feel like glass aren't the same type of glass as a beer bottle or jelly jar, and many containers that feel like plastic are actually a peculiar type of mixed plastic, which doesn't fall under the number system used to sort at recycling plants. (This includes the pain in the ass plastic pump.)
The presence of the triangle of arrows symbol is misleading, and doesn't automatically mean that said material can be recycled. This is one time when checking locally is crucial — just Google what plastic numbers are accepted in your area. (For example, I live in Philadelphia, and plastics 1, 2, and 5 are cleared for curbside here.)
For beauty empties with a non-accepted number or no number at all, beauty-centric take-back programs are the move. Both Ulta and Sephora have partnered with Pact Collective to offer recycling bins for your empties in a ton of stores across the country. Nordstrom has a partnership with TerraCycle, offering a similar in-store drop-off option for beauty packaging.
SEE ALSO: Yes, there is a plastic bag at the bottom of the Mariana TrenchProject Beauty Share is one great option for giving opened skincare products a new home, as long as they're not expired. Accepted gently-used beauty items include moisturizers and serums, cleansers, body lotions, shower gels, perfumes, and sunscreens. Squeeze tubes of foundation or primer and pressed eyeshadow, blush, and highlighter are accepted if they're open but only barely used.
Hair toolsBeauty brand Mane repurposes hair tools also partners with Pact Collective to take your unwanted hot hair tools, whether they work or not. Hair tools in good working condition will be properly sanitized and shipped off to be distributed to young women through Project Glimmer, an organization dedicated to helping end gender and racial inequality for women and girls. Hair tools that don't work will be taken apart and processed for proper recycling. Labels are prepaid by Mane, as long as you use your own box.
RazorsSure, most disposable razor handles are plastic, and razor blades are metal. Both materials are recyclable separately, but mixed materials like that bar disposable razors from being curbside recyclable. Luckily, TerraCycle has a free recycling program for common shaving brands like Gillette and Venus, from handles, to blades, to the bags the replacements come in. Consider keeping a separate receptacle to safely house a few months' worth of used razors, then send them back to be properly taken apart and recycled. If people caught onto this, just think of the dent that could be put into the estimated two billion disposable razors thrown out each year.
ToothbrushesThe number of toothbrushes thrown out each year is just as grim. National Geographic clocks around one billion plastic toothbrushes ending up in landfills annually, and toothpaste tubes are a similar story. If you use Colgate, Arm & Hammer, or Tom's of Maine toothbrushes, tubes, caps, and more, there's a free mail-in TerraCycle program for that.
SEE ALSO: Bite Toothpaste Bits are the first eco-friendly bathroom swap I'll tell anyone to tryFor old toothbrushes, electric toothbrush replacement heads, used flossers, and toothpaste tubes from Crest, Oral-B, or Fixodent, you can collect and mail those in for free through Oral-B's direct recycling program.
SAVE UP TO $280.99: The Samsung Re-Newed program has certified refurbished Samsung Galaxy S24 smartphones on sale that take between up to $280.99 off retail.
Samsung Re-Newed deals S24 deal Samsung Galaxy S24 (128GB) $619 (save $80) Get Deal S24+ deal Samsung Galaxy S24+ (256GB) $799 (save $200) Get Deal S24 Ultra deal Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra (256GB) $1,019 (save $280.99) Get DealIt's Earth Day, which means many of us are considering ways we can make our existence slightly less taxing on Mother Earth. Fortunately, one of the easiest ways to reduce our impact is to purchase reused goods, including refurbished tech. And as a bonus, buying refurbished gadgets also means sweet discounts, like today's deal at the Samsung Re-Newed storefront.
As of April 22, refurbished Samsung Galaxy S24 smartphones are on sale for as low as $619.99 (Galaxy S24, 128GB) at Samsung Re-Newed. That's $80 in savings compared to buying a new Galaxy S24 with the same storage for $699.99. The savings increase if you're interested in the Galaxy S24+, but the highest discounts come when buying a refurbished Galaxy S24 Ultra, which comes in at $1,019 (a new model sells for $1,299.99). That works out to a savings of $280.99.
Here's a breakdown of the refurbished options available:
Galaxy S24 Re-Newed: $619 (128GB) and $669 (256GB)
Galaxy S24 Plus Re-Newed: $799 (256GB) and $919 (512GB)
Galaxy S24 Ultra Re-Newed: $1,020 (256GB) and $1,139 (512GB)
Keep in mind that the refurbished models only come in black, but that's what cases are for, right?
All Samsung Re-Newed phones come with new batteriesWe understand that buying used can sometimes feel iffy, but the Samsung Re-Newed program offers reassurance that you're still getting a great product, just one that's undergone a facelift. For starters, Samsung equips all Re-Newed S24 smartphones with a brand new battery, and if it needs other repairs, Samsung uses authentic parts. The brand also assigns a new IMEI number and upgrades to the latest software.
Plus, before it goes back on the shelf, Samsung puts it through a quality test that includes 147 checkpoints. Finally, it's given new packaging, a new data cable, and fresh quick-start guide. Boiled down, you won't need to worry you're buying a lemon.
SEE ALSO: Save $50 on the Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Pro and improve your summer playlist experienceThe Samsung Galaxy S24 family was announced in January 2024, but the smartphones still hold up as solid contenders, offering some of Samsung's best features. All S24 models come with Samsung's live translate function and circle to search. The included S Pen with the S24 Ultra is always useful, and it works as a remote trigger to take photos.
For budgeting or Earth-saving reasons, buying a refurbished Samsung Galaxy S24 via the Samsung Re-Newed program is a great option. You'll be reducing your impact while saving some money, and we could all use a win-win these days.
Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Shop Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra $1,019 at SamsungWe're just days away from the official preorder date for the Nintendo Switch 2, which means you better start putting a plan in place.
Major retailers in the U.S. like Best Buy, GameStop, and Walmart will all be taking pre-orders starting April 24, but not all at the exact same time, and they aren't all offering the same pickup and delivery options for the June 5 launch as each other. Allow us to help sort out the confusion here for anyone planning on desperately trying to secure a Switch 2 preorder on Thursday.
Nintendo Switch 2 retailer preorders: Everything you need to knowEveryone will be open for business on the 24th, but not in the same manner. One bit of advice that will apply to all of these retailers: Make an account on their website or app with your payment and shipping info settled in before the preorder window starts so you don't have to waste precious seconds filling in that info at checkout. This helped me secure a PS5 back in the day.
Best BuyBest Buy helpfully has a company blog post explaining how its Switch 2 preorder situation will work, which is blessedly straightforward. Put simply, you can preorder a Switch 2, any games like Mario Kart World, and any accessories you might want starting at midnight ET on April 24 on Best Buy's website or mobile app. Retail stores will also have preorders available starting at their regular opening hours, so be sure to look up when your local Best Buy opens that day beforehand if you plan on doing it in-person.
WalmartWalmart is another company that's doing things in a pretty easy-to-grasp way. As with Best Buy, you'll be able to preorder Switch 2 consoles, games, and accessories on Walmart's website at midnight ET on April 24. Walmart is also promising delivery of the console by 9 a.m. on launch day if you secure your preorder before June 4. If that all works out, that fake sick day you plan on taking will be even more awesome.
TargetThere isn't much to say about Target's Nintendo Switch 2 preorder policy. Just like Best Buy and Walmart, if you go to Target's website at midnight ET on April 24, you should be able to at least try to preorder a Switch 2. Good luck.
GameStop This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.GameStop is the one retailer of the four listed here that's doing things a little bit differently on the 24th. Namely, preorders don't start at midnight. Instead, they start in-person whenever each individual store normally opens, or at 11 a.m. ET on April 24 for online orders. If you try to get one at the other retailers at midnight and strike out, set an alarm for 11 hours later and give it another shot.
And a backup planJust in case none of those options work out for you, there's one more way you can try to get your hands on a Switch 2 preorder: Buying directly from Nintendo.
Be warned though that the process is a bit strange. If you go to Nintendo's preorder website, you'll be prompted to log in with an active, paid Nintendo Switch Online account. The paid part is important and I'll note why in a minute. Once you do that, you choose either a Switch 2 standalone console or the Mario Kart World bundle and then hit the confirm button to "register your interest" in preordering a Switch 2. These preorders will start going out on May 8, not April 24.
Now for the weird stuff. Only Switch Online members who have paid for at least 12 months of service and registered at least 50 hours of gameplay on their Switch consoles will get invitation links starting May 8. In other words, you better be a true Switch gamer if you want to preorder this way. Anyway, if you're eligible, you might get an invitation link to a preorder page on May 8. Nintendo also confirmed these invites will go out in waves after May 8, so if you don't get in on that day, don't be too discouraged.
Looking forward to Tesla's long-awaited "affordable" electric vehicle? Well, prepare to wait even longer.
For years, Tesla has promised a cheaper, affordable version of its electric vehicles. And each time one of those reports breaks, they are usually followed by news that Tesla CEO Elon Musk "killed" the company's latest affordable car project.
However, the most concrete news of an affordable Tesla came late last year when the company gave an update during its earnings report.
"Preparations remain underway for our offering of new vehicles — including more affordable models — which we will begin launching in the first half of 2025," Tesla said in the report, even doubling down on the timeframe.
So, how's that affordable electric vehicle coming along?
It's been delayed once again, according to a new report from Reuters.
It's unclear exactly why the affordable Tesla model, known internally at the company as E41, has been pushed back this time. Reuters' sources say that the company is still planning to make the vehicle, with production expected to begin in the U.S. soon.
The current timeframe for Tesla's seemingly eternally delayed affordable EV? Sometime between the third quarter of this year and early 2026. Next year, the company could produce as many as 250,000 affordable Model Y vehicles.
While the price point for an "affordable" Tesla hasn't been revealed, Musk has long talked about an affordable EV for around $25,000, which would be roughly half the price of the current Tesla Model Y. The company may be hoping that a cheaper Tesla would help the company boost sales during a difficult time period.
Tesla sales have taken a hit in recent months. (And as a result of Tesla's sales woes, Tesla's stock has fallen, too.) The company has experienced blowback from consumers over CEO Musk's relationship with President Donald Trump and Musk's involvement in the federal government cost-cutting project known as DOGE. Tesla protests have become global as well. In Germany, Tesla sales have plummeted by 76 percent.
Tesla customers are also seeking to get rid of their vehicles through trade-ins and on the used car market at record-highs.
Rumors about iPhone 17e production suggest Apple's budget-friendly iPhone might be a regular part of its product cycle moving forward.
Questions around Apple's somewhat sporadic launch of the iPhone SE were revisited this year, when it launched the iPhone 16e, the fourth generation of Apple's more affordable model, this past February. The previous three iPhone SEs launched in March 2016, 2020, and 2022 respectively, so that roughly lines up with this year's product cycle.
SEE ALSO: Apple iPhone 17 Pro leaks highlight major new design changeHere's the wrinkle: Because this year's device was called the iPhone 16e (instead of the iPhone SE 4), Apple followers are speculating on whether the "e" model will now sync up with the regular batch of iPhones released annually.
And according to a credible leaker, reported by 9To5Mac, this looks to be the case. The source shared on the Chinese social media app Weibo that the iPhone 17e is underway. "There will still be 17e next year, and it is almost in the trial production stage," the source wrote (translated to English via Google Translate).
So, per the leak, Apple is working on an iPhone 17e, and it's in Foxconn's small-scale production phase, which occurs before mass production, as 9To5Mac explained. At the very least, this means Apple is planning a consecutive iPhone "e" model launch, and it could mean the company will continue to release a new budget model annually.
Typically, Apple leaves models from previous generations on the market, and their prices naturally drop. So, a new iPhone 17e doesn't necessarily mean Apple will do away with older models. It could also mean that Apple is experimenting with different iPhone offerings to see what resonates with consumers, like it did with the iPhone mini (RIP).
A new survey is a wakeup call for parents who believe their teen would never exchange sexually explicit imagery of themselves for money or other valuable items like gift cards, clothing, gaming currency, and social media followers and likes.
The survey, conducted in fall 2024, found that 1 in 7 young people participated in a "commodified sexual interaction" at least one time before they turned 18.
Thorn, a nonprofit organization that builds technology to defend children from sexual abuse, surveyed 1,200 teens and young adults. One in four teens said they were sexually solicited online for money, gifts, or social opportunities. The respondents who received solicitations got them from both minors and adults, as well as from strangers and known contacts, offline and online.
SEE ALSO: Parents need to talk to their kids about this online danger right nowThe findings illustrate the surprising prevalence of commodified sexual interactions. And while it's not news that teens actually receive solicitations online, anecdotal evidence suggests that they are being offered social media perks such as likes and followers in return for complying, according to Thorn's research.
Melissa Stroebel, Thorn's vice president of research and insights, says that it can be less clear that an exploitative transaction is occurring when the offer is something of value other than money.
The dynamic also indicates that the marketplace for child sexual abuse material, in which explicit imagery is bought, sold, and traded, is becoming responsive to young people's interest in building an online following.
Though parents have to manage an ever-growing list of online threats to discuss with their children, Stroebel says there are ways to talk about commodified sexual interactions in order to emphasize that teens' bodies "are private and they are personal, and they are not commodity to be traded, for money or for likes, or anything else, whether that is with another minor or with somebody they haven't met, online."
Here's what Stroebel says parents should know:
1. This overlaps with other risky situations and behaviors.Some parents may understandably assume that their child will never receive or comply with a request for an explicit image in exchange for something of value. But Stroebel says young people need to know their parents can and will help them with this and other difficult challenges they'll encounter online.
When parents have already talked to their teen about sending or receiving nude images, or the threat of sextortion, they can draw on previous discussions related to consent, healthy relationships, and personal agency to talk about commodified sexual interactions.
Stroebel says that teens may resist conversations that pivot around specific examples. Instead, Stroebel recommends speaking plainly about the risks, and being curious, candid, and supportive.
Parents can also give particular attention to how their teen reacts to online celebrity and whether they understand what influencers are willing to trade for popularity. Parents may be surprised to learn about young adult influencers who embrace selling imagery of themselves to online buyers as an act of empowerment or autonomy.
2. Some solicitations are coming from minors.Thorn's research shows that, of the minors who previously engaged in commodified sexual interactions, 65 percent and 42 percent of them believed the age of the buyer to be an adult or another minor, respectively. Nine percent were unsure of the age. (Respondents could choose multiple answers.)
While 59 percent of respondents knew the buyer exclusively online, 40 percent said that they knew the buyer offline.
In other words, it's much more complicated for parents than just warning their teens to stay away from strangers online who ask them for imagery. Instead, they'll need to help their teen understand that anyone, including minors they know from school, might make this request.
3. Teens can get hurt quickly.Stroebel says that teens are in a developmental stage where they often feel invincible and are more prone to risk taking. This combination might work against parents who try to raise the topic of commodified sexual interactions. Teens may not grasp the danger of sending imagery. They might even think their parent is being over protective.
But the risk is real, Stroebel says. What begins as an exchange for material that's rewarded with money, goods, or social opportunities can quickly turn into ongoing abuse and sextortion.
When a teen waves away a parent's concerns and shuts down the conversation, Stroebel says that it can be helpful to try a different approach, like waiting for another opportunity, rather than trying to force the issue.
"You just have to keep coming back," Stroebel says.
If you are a child being sexually exploited online, or you know a child who is being sexually exploited online, or you witnessed exploitation of a child occur online, you can report it to the CyberTipline, which is operated by the National Center for Missing Exploited & Children.
SAVE $49.12: As of April 22, get the PlayStation Portal in Like New condition from Amazon for $149.88, down from its usual price of $199. That's a discount of 25%.
Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon PlayStation Portal (Like New) $149.88 at AmazonPlaying your favorite games on the couch is a staple of every gaming enthusiast's life. But sometimes, sitting on the couch can cramp your style. Maybe you want to game somewhere more comfortable, like in bed, or another part of your home. Consoles like the PlayStation 5 can be unwieldy, so dragging them into another room to play isn't always the best option. But there's a solution in the form of the PlayStation Portal that can make enjoying your PS5 games in another room super easy, and you can get one for a great price today.
As of April 22, get the PlayStation Portal in Like New condition from Amazon for $149.88, down from its usual price of $199. That's a discount of 25%. This condition, according to Amazon, means it will look and function as if it's new, with its original packaging. So if you need to give it as a gift, you'll be able to have the original box.
The PlayStation Portal is a remote player that lets you play your PS5 games over Wi-Fi at home in handheld form. You don't need a TV, and you can play anywhere you want as long as you're connected to your home network. Just jump in and choose your favorite game, and you can play from bed, your porch, your bathtub, wherever.
It features an 8-inch LCD screen with DualSense Wireless Controller features and buttons that feature the same haptic feedback the full-size options do. It runs games at 60fps with 1080p resolution, and will play most PS5 games and some PS4 titles as well.
If you're used to playing games via handheld, it shouldn't take much to get used to, and it's a great way to clear out your backlog if your kids or family are using the TV, so it's a good time to nab at this price.
Duolingo isn't just for languages anymore. Now, the app can teach you chess.
Duolingo is set to launch a new course to help folks learn chess in the coming weeks. Right now, the course is only available in beta form in iOS and will roll out to other iOS users in the next 4-6 weeks, the Verge reported. The course will use mini-games and puzzles to teach you the basics of chess and allow you to play matches against Duolingo’s Oscar character as you progress.
This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.The goal from Duolingo was to "make chess as accessible as possible," the Verge noted.
"[Chess is] one of those things that … any age group can learn … but then also something that takes the 10,000-hour theory to really master," Edwin Bodge, a senior product manager with Duolingo, told CNET. "We thought it would fit with the Duolingo medium really well."
SEE ALSO: Duolingo partners with Sony Music to bring pop songs to its music courseSo if you ever had dreams of becoming a chess master, it might be time to download Duolingo.
Instagram just launched its own standalone video-editing app.
The app, Edits, is live globally in the App Store and Google Play Store. Much like TikTok's CapCut, Edits is intended to help users make and edit videos on their phones for Instagram Reels or whatever other platform they want to post them on.
Features include long-camera capture, project management, and a watermark-free export. According to Instagram, the app offers frame-accurate timeline with clip-level editing, features specifically designed to enhance audio, green screen, transitions, and AI-image animation.
SEE ALSO: Instagram tests Storylines, a collaborative twist on StoriesEdits will also include an "Inspiration" tab that allows users to "get inspired" by browsing Reels with trending audio and saving trending Reels for later. The "Ideas" tab is intended to help users keep track of their ideas, notes, saved Reels, and more. We haven't tried the app yet, but if it's anything like CapCut, it's sure to be a beloved tool among content creators.
"We want to build the best creative tools to help creators express themselves, not just on Instagram or Facebook, but on any platform," a press release from Instagram stated. "We have more exciting features coming soon and will keep listening to feedback to improve the app every week."
This announcement comes about three months after Instagram head Adam Mosseri said the company was working on Edits, which he described as a "full suite of creative tools."
SAVE $60: The Shark Rocket Deluxe Pro corded stick vacuum is on sale at Amazon for $139.99, down from the standard price of $199.99. That's a 30% discount.
Opens in a new window Credit: Shark Shark Rocket Deluxe Pro $139.99 at AmazonA versatile and convertible vacuum is essential in any home or apartment. It also needs to be lightweight, unless you're looking to ditch your gym membership in exchange for struggling with a heavy vacuum. But if not, there's a great model on sale at Amazon today that ticks all the boxes.
As of April 22, the Shark Rocket Deluxe Pro corded stick vacuum is on sale for $139.99 at Amazon, marked down from the typical price of $199.99. That works out to a 30% discount, saving you $60.
SEE ALSO: This $41 smart air quality monitor is half the price of the competition, just in time for allergy seasonWeighing just 8.5 pounds, the Shark Rocket Deluxe is ready for any vacuuming task, made even easier thanks to the swivel steering. We're used to headlights on our cars lighting the way, and the Shark Rocket does the exact same: it gives you a better view of hidden dust and debris that need a once-over with the corded vacuum. The light is especially helpful when cleaning under furniture like the couch or getting all the dust bunnies out from under the bed.
Shark installed an extra-large dust cup on this model, which can hold 0.68 quarts, meaning you won't have to empty it out as often. It also easily converts into a handheld model, and the upholstery tool is great for getting stuck-on pet hair off the couch. The anti-allergen dust brush employs the help of nylon bristles to rid your home of pesky dust that loves to accumulate on top of picture frames and behind vases.
If you're not in the mood to battle your heavy vacuum anymore, snag the lightweight Shark Rocket Deluxe Pro while it's 30% off at Amazon. Plus, the corded model means you'll never need to worry about battery life.
SAVE $70: As of April 22, the Blueair Blue Pure 311i Max Air Purifier is on sale at Amazon for $159.99, down from $229.99. That's a discount of $70, or 30% off.
Opens in a new window Credit: Blueair Blueair Blue Pure 311i Max Air Purifier $159.99 at AmazonBlueair's Blue Pure 311i Max is a HEPA air purifier aimed at smoke, allergens, and other particles. If you suffer from seasonal allergies or live in an area at risk of smoke from wildfire season (aka most of America), this air purifier could be a good investment toward cleaner air.
As of April 22, the Blueair Blue Pure 311i Max Air Purifier is on sale at Amazon for $159.99, down from $229.99. That's a discount of $70, or 30% off.
SEE ALSO: The best Earth Day 2025 deals — find sustainable savings from Apple, Sonos, and BluelandThe Blue Pure 311i Max clears pollutants from the air and circulates clean, fresh-smelling air (I live in a home with two of them). I've encountered other air purifiers that can smell like plastic for the first few weeks. This one doesn't.
The 311i Max has a wraparound prefilter that traps pet fur and large particles before they clog the internal HEPA filter. This wraparound is simple to clean, helping to extend filter life.
Inside, an activated carbon filter provides even more filtration power and helps eliminate smells and cooking odor. The filter isn't designed to trap VOCs, gas, or other chemicals — at least, not that effectively (most air purifiers aimed at these types of pollutants will generally cost a lot more).
Whether for tree allergies, cat dander relief, or to prep for a smoky summer, the Blue Pure is a great air purifier that will benefit all sorts of homes. Plus, it's controlled via a handy app.
Nearly 20 years after its release on Xbox 360, The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion is actually coming back.
Original developer Bethesda shared a quick post on its X account on Monday confirming an announcement livestream on Tuesday at 11 a.m. ET. Well, the stream came and went, and we can confirm there is not only a spiffy new Oblivion remaster, but it's out now on Steam, PS5, and Xbox Series consoles.
SEE ALSO: Reminder: Only true gamers get to pre-order Switch 2 from NintendoThe Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered is a full remake of the 2006 original, with visuals updated from scratch and a host of other changes. Combat has apparently been reworked with new hit feedback animations and audio effects, there's new voice acting to distinguish different races from one another, and the user interface and leveling systems have been reconsidered. Crucially, all the DLC released for the original game is included in this $50 package, though a Deluxe Edition is also available for $59.99 (the Deluxe Edition comes with bonus quests, additional character skins, an artbook, and a soundtrack). It's also available on Xbox Game Pass Ultimate.
Rumors of an Oblivion remake have been around for a while now, but they started feeling a lot more urgent last week when legitimate-looking screenshots leaked off of a development studio's website. Journalist Jeff Grubb of Giant Bomb said on his GameBreaking News podcast last week that the game would shadow-drop this week, and he wound up being right.
This is just one more win for nostalgic millennials, I suppose.
Opens in a new window Credit: Bethesda The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered - Deluxe Edition $59.99SAVE $20: As of April 22, get the Soundcore P20i True Wireless Earbuds at Amazon for $19.99, down from their usual price of $39.99. That's a discount of 50%.
Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Soundcore P20i True Wireless Earbuds $19.99 at AmazonIf you're planning on heading out and enjoying the weather as it gets warmer, one of the best accessories for a rejuvenating walk is a pair of earbuds. But with the way the economy is, they can seem like a pricey luxury. Luckily, there's a deal going on at Amazon right now that can help net you a great pair of buds at an even better price.
As of April 22, get the Soundcore P20i True Wireless Earbuds at Amazon for $19.99, down from their usual price of $39.99. That's a discount of 50%. Currently, this deal applies to the Black, Blue, and White colorways.
SEE ALSO: I tested sleep earbuds for over a month: Here are the 3 best pairsThese earbuds have 10mm drivers, so they're great whether you're getting down with some bass-heavy tunes or crispy treble-based music. They also come with a companion app from Soundcore that you can use to customize their sound to your liking, with a selection of 22 EQ presets.
You can also use them to make and take calls, with two built-in microphones and AI features to help better pick up and transmit your voice for crystal clear conversations.
In addition to their great sound, they have 10 hours of battery life, with a charging case that can extend that time to 30 hours. A 10-minute charge will net you two additional hours of playtime as well, so you're not stuck waiting for them to juice back up before you head out.
With summer around the corner, it's a good time to go ahead and lock in a pair now. They're so affordable, they make a great pair to just keep in your gym bag.
GET 6% OFF: Amazon just dropped prices on the 2025 Macbook Air M4 models for the first time. Right now you can get the 13-inch Macbook for $939 and the 15-inch laptop for $1,129.
Macbook Air M4 2025 Laptop deals Apple MacBook Air 15-inch Laptop (M4 chip, 16GB RAM, 256GB SSD) $1,129.00 (Save $70) Get Deal Apple MacBook Air 13-inch Laptop (M4 chip, 16GB RAM, 256GB SSD) $939.00 (Save $60) Get DealThe M4 series of chips is startlingly capable. If you're in a spot where you're looking to upgrade to a new 2025 model but you've been wary of the price of the new line, your opportunity has arrived. Amazon's just published its first price cut on the Macbook Air M4 series of laptops, which we loved.
Right now, 2025 Macbook Air M4 models are on sale for 6% off, their best price yet on Amazon. Move quick and you can get the get the 13-inch model for $939 and the 15-incher for $1,129.
SEE ALSO: Earth Day 2025 sales: Find sustainable savings from Apple, Sonos, and BluelandApple's new M4 chips are incredibly powerful, further improving on a series of chips that are already so advanced they sail beyond the needs of what most people need.
The new Macbook Air models are available in classic silver, a midnight black, a metallic-taupe "Starlight," and a grayish baby blue. The models sport Apple's impressive retina displays and 12MP cameras.
Both the 13- and 15-inch models support their processors with 16GB of RAM and 256GB solid state drives. Whether you're using them as live performance rigs running Ableton Live, or trawling huge multi-media spreadsheets, the M4 Air models are more than capable.
Right now, Apr. 22, the 13-inch Macbook Air M4 2025 and 15-inch Macbook Air M4 2025 models are on sale at Amazon for $939 and $1,129, respectively.
Lightweight in spite of their 18-hours of battery life, the 2025 Macbook Air models bring exceptional power along, wherever your roam — be that coffee shops, cowork spaces, or abroad.
It's April 22, which means today is Earth Day, and a lot of tech brands are honoring the occasion with special events. You might not think of Earth Day as a big sales holiday, but we’ve actually found tons of Earth Day deals on everything from home and cleaning essentials to eco-friendly mattresses.
In the tech world, Apple is offering customers a trade-in deal to encourage customers to recycle old electronics. Through May 16, when customers recycle an eligible piece of tech at an Apple store, they'll receive 10% off Apple accessories and may be eligible for store credit. A new survey from CNET (Mashable and CNET are both published by Ziff Davis) found that one in three U.S. adults holds onto old devices simply because they don't know how to recycle them.
Here are the best Earth Day deals to shop this week.
Best Earth Day tech deals for 2025 Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Save 10% on Apple accessories with trade-in Learn More Why we like itEven Apple is celebrating Earth Day this year by giving customers 10% off an Apple accessory when they recycle an eligible item in-store. Bonus deal: Apple Watch owners can earn an Earth Day limited-edition award by completing any 30-minute workout on April 22.
While 10% off isn’t huge, it’s a great way to get rid of an old device in your home. Learn more at the Apple website.
More tech dealsSave 25% on certified refurbished soundbars, speakers, and smart home audio products from Sonos through April 22
Save on sustainable tech at Nimble
Shop Plug's Earth Day Sale and save on certified pre-owned tech
Get up to 20% off generators, electric coolers, and more during GoalZero's Earth Day Sale
Save up to 50% on Jackery portable power stations through April 25
Blueland is offering up to 20% off sitewide, plus 30% off subscriptions during its Earth Day Sale. You can find select items on sale at Amazon, too. But the real deals are happening on the company's website.
I use Blueland Dishwasher Detergent Tablets and the Multi-Surface Cleaner. I’ve been pretty impressed with the quality and how much plastic waste I’ve been able to cut down by switching to the brand. It’s also helped me declutter my cleaning cabinet! I keep the tablets in one glass jar under my sink.
More cleaning supplies dealsGet up to 20% off select Cleancult products at Amazon starting April 22
Get up to 30% off sitewide during Grove Co.'s Earth Month sale
Save up to 31% on Seventh Generation products at Amazon
Avocado Green Mattress is having an Earth Month Sale, where you can get 10% off everything, including mattresses, mattress toppers, bedding protectors, and adjustable bed frames. The sale runs through May 5, 11:59 p.m. EST.
The Avocado brand is known for its certified organic mattresses and bedding, plus they're Climate Neutral Certified. But this also means that they’ll be raising prices due to rising costs and tariffs (as stated on their website). So, if you’ve been eyeing an Avocado mattress, now’s the time to buy.
More mattress dealsGet up to 22% off sitewide at Naturpedic with code EARTH22
Get up to 15% off during My Green Mattress' Earth Day Sale
Get up to $400 off mattresses, plus a free gift at Purple
Get up to 25% off mattresses at Casper
Save 25% on Brooklyn Bedding's Ecosleep Lux mattress
GreenPan is offering up to 60% off sitewide during its Earth Day Sale. This is huge considering how expensive GreenPan cookware can be. (I spent nearly $400 on my pots and pans set.) And, if you spend $275 or more, you’ll get a free GreenPan Cook’s Journal Cookbook.
GreenPan sells nonstick cookware that is free from PFAS, PFOA, lead, and cadmium, which justifies the price. They also sell bakeware, kitchen utensils, and small countertop appliances.
More kitchen dealsGet up to 20% off select Stasher products
Get up to 20% off select kitchen accessories during IKEA's Together for Earth Month Sale
Get up to 15% off select Caraway products
Get up to 30% off Energy Star appliances at Samsung
One of the best self-care deals I’ve spotted is from Biird — one of my absolute favorite sex toy brands. They almost never have a sale, so I was super excited to hear that they’ll be offering customers 15% off all non-vibrating toys with the code EARTH now through April 27.
This includes the brand’s newest silicone dildos and my personal fave, the Kalii (a glass G-spot dildo).
More self-care and beauty dealsGet up to 20% off select products at Foria
Get $25 off any sex toy at The Natural Love Company
Get up to 60% off select products at Lovers
New customers can get 15% off the Green Jade Calm Collection at Knesko when they sign up for email & SMS
Get up to 15% off select products at Saltair
Get 2 for $35 at Polite Society
Save on conscious beauty at Ulta
While we're clocking 40 hours a week, the least we can do is give ourselves the support of an ergonomic and comfortable work chair. Humanscale focuses on chairs that are not only good for our health, but friendly to the environment. The collection of Ocean Chairs uses reclaimed fishing nets in construction and the brand's 29 climate positive products work on reducing the manufacturing impact while focusing on seven elements like water, energy, and equity.
The Humanscale Earth Day sale gives the opportunity to save 20% on the brand's Ocean Chairs and climate positive products with code EARTH20.
Best fitness deal Opens in a new window Credit: Rad Power Bikes Save up to $699 on Rad Power Bikes Get Deal Why we like itLooking for a way to reduce your carbon emissions? Hop on an electric bike for your daily commute this summer: Take $699 off the price thanks to the Rad Power Bikes Earth Day sale that runs through April 23.
Rad Power Bikes has been an industry leader in the world of electric bikes and their collection includes cargo bikes, foldable models, and those ready for the trails.
UPDATE: Apr. 21, 2025, 4:13 p.m. EDT This story has been updated with additional information, including a new Earth Day 2025 sale from Sonos.
Trump's massive tariffs on China are going to hurt your sex life. Most sex toys sold in the U.S. are manufactured in China, and production can't quickly shift stateside.
This month, the president has made a slew of announcements and backtracks on global tariffs. This has led to an escalating trade war with China, with current tariffs on imports at 145 percent (as of this writing), and the administration hinting that they can balloon to 245 percent.
As many products sold in the U.S. are made in China, many industries and customers will likely suffer. Sex toy companies aren't any different, and if these tariffs continue, your bedside drawer might look a lot emptier soon.
Why are sex toys made in China?"Pretty much all toys are made in China," said Carolyn Eagle, owner of the online sex toy shop Betty's Toy Box and others.
Factories in China have the manufacturing capabilities and decades of knowledge to make toys, particularly vibrators, which have small electronic parts like motors.
This wasn't always the case, though, according to sex historian and journalist Hallie Lieberman. In the early twentieth century, vibrators were produced in the U.S. — and companies were proud of it.
"Pretty much all toys are made in China." - Carolyn Eagle, owner of the online sex toy shop Betty's Toy Box"In the early 1900s, the U.S. [...] Racine, Wisconsin marketed itself as 'vibrator capital of the world,'" said Lieberman, author of Buzz: A Stimulating History of the Sex Toy. "We were making electric motors and vibrators in Wisconsin […] the Midwest was that production capital, because we were making small electric motors here. They had the infrastructure, they had the factories."
In the decades since, Lieberman said we've "gone from doing vibrator production in the U.S. to completely outsourcing it." Why?
Why does the U.S. outsource vibrator production?Firstly, these Midwestern-made vibrators weren't marketed for sexual purposes (even though that's what they were used for); they were sold as products for health and non-sexual uses — even vacuum cleaners.
Around the sexual revolution and women's liberation movement in the 1960s and 70s, vibrators did become more associated with sex, and women's masturbation in particular. This contributed to more stigma around the toys. American companies like Hamilton Beach, which produced vibrators at the turn of the century (you can find some on eBay), focused on other household appliances instead.
Meanwhile, the iconic Magic Wand vibrator (formerly known as the Hitachi Magic Wand), which isn't produced in the U.S., debuted in 1968. By the time Vibratex, the wholesale distributor of Magic Wand, took over distributing and managing the vibrators in 2000, Magic Wand was manufactured in China. The switch from manufacturing in Japan to China happened in the late 1980s or early 1990s, CEO of Vibratex Ken Herskovitz told Mashable.
Vibratex, which launched the also-famous Rabbit Pearl vibrator, also shifted production from Japan to China (unrelated to Magic Wand) around that time because of the reduced labor cost and larger manufacturing infrastructure, Herskovitz said.
"Shenzhen and Dongguan are where, I would say, about 90 percent of all sex toys are made." - Alexandra Fine, co-founder and CEO of sex toy company DameToday, it's difficult to determine how many vibrators and other sex toys are produced in China and imported into the U.S., Lieberman said. These products don't have a NAICS (North American Industry Classification System) code, so they're not categorized like retail or agriculture products.
Despite the lack of official statistics, Lieberman and business owners Mashable spoke to made it clear that the vast majority of sex toys sold in the U.S. are made in China.
"Shenzhen and Dongguan are where, I would say, about 90 percent of all sex toys are made," Alexandra Fine, co-founder and CEO of sex toy company Dame, told Mashable. "They are experts there at making this type of product."
Certain aspects of vibrators are particularly difficult to make, Fine continued. She used an example of not being able to use high-temperature silicone around electronics because it'll melt the electronics.
"There's nuance. They're hard to do, and this is where the experts are, and how we can make quality product," she said.
"The manufacturers in Shenzhen are exceptional at what they do," wrote Polly Rodriguez, co-founder and CEO of sex toy brand Unbound, in a blog post about how tariffs are impacting the company. "There is no other region that can match their quality of raw materials, technology, safety standards, manufacturing processes, speed, and price."
Can sex toys be made in the U.S.?One stated reason for the tariffs is to bring manufacturing back to the U.S. But in the case of many products, including sex toys, it's not easy.
Two variables are the ability to make products at scale and cost, according to Michael Topolovac, co-founder and CEO of pleasure jewelry company Crave. Currently, supply chains that companies need to make an array of products at scale (meaning, a lot of them) don't really exist in the U.S.
"For example, batteries and motors. They're not manufactured in the U.S. anywhere," said Topolovac. "Not for these kinds of consumer products. They just don't exist. Could you build battery and motor factories in the U.S.? Sure, but that's a five-year problem."
"Could you build battery and motor factories in the U.S.? Sure, but that's a five-year problem." - Michael Topolovac, co-founder and CEO of pleasure jewelry company Crave"When you get to electro-mechanical products, and the scale at work that we're doing it, it's just not feasible in the U.S. currently," said Ti Chang, co-founder and creative director of Crave. Crave does its design, research and development, some assembly, and quality control in San Francisco, but its parts are made in China.
The other problem is cost. Rates for labor, construction, real estate, and basic living costs are higher here than in China. "Even if you could build up the supply chain, it would be materially more expensive," Topolovac said.
So, are sex toy prices going to go up?If nothing changes with the tariffs, yes. "People are going to have to really raise the prices of vibrators," Lieberman said.
Sex toy brands are responding to this potential reality in different ways.
Unbound and Dame posted blog posts about the tariffs, pledging transparency to their customers. When the tariffs were set at 20 percent, Dame instituted a $5 "Trump tariff surcharge," which Fine told Mashable wasn't enough to offset the increased cost on the company's end.
Last week, Dame updated the charge and the blog post, stating, "We've updated our prices to reflect a ~50 percent tariff. Because we just don’t think it will stay at 145 percent." Dame's "Trump's tariff surcharge" is currently $15, and Dame and Fine shared more about the company's math on Instagram.
Vibratex sells wholesale to retailers, and effective immediately, there's a 10 percent tariff offset fee, which also wouldn't fully cover the increased cost, Herskovitz said. As of this publication, beginning in May, there will be a 20 percent tariff offset fee; in June, 30 percent; and in July, 40 percent. Vibratex aims to cap this fee to its customers (retailers) at 40 percent.
Vibratex has also controlled order sizes so one retailer doesn't stock up on all their inventory before prices increase.
Meanwhile, Crave stocked up on extra inventory before Trump's tariff announcement, given his history of imposing tariffs on China. In an email sent to customers and forwarded to Mashable, Crave stated it's not raising prices for now, but urged customers to buy something if they're eyeing it.
"[O]wing to the extreme tariffs and their apparent likelihood of being maintained, it is unclear how long we can keep our current pricing," Crave's email stated.
It's difficult to say how much products will cost if manufacturing eventually shifts to the U.S., Topolovac said, but he estimated prices can go up 300 or 400 percent.
Hurting businesses and bodiesThe escalating tariffs are causing chaos in the markets and businesses.
"If one's intent — I use that word very broadly — was wanting to eviscerate very large swaths of small businesses in America, this is precisely how you would do it," said Topolovac, CEO of Crave.
"I feel a little apocalyptic about my vibrators right now." - Alexandra Fine, co-founder and CEO of DameMultiple business owners told Mashable that the instability of Trump's decisions has made it difficult to decide what to do. Across industries, from beauty to children's toys to furniture, business owners feel, as the Wall Street Journal reported, "stuck in limbo."
"I feel like I'm dancing with chaos," Fine said. "I feel a little apocalyptic about my vibrators right now."
"Everyone's on edge," Herskovitz said of the Vibratex team. "This current situation feels very unpredictable. We don't know. It's why I'm doomscrolling all day."
"Even if the tariffs continue on for another couple of months, companies are going to start going under," said Eagle. "They just won't be able to afford to produce and bring over the product that they need to bring over."
These impacts will undoubtedly affect consumers, and not just their wallets.
"It's easy to look at it and say, 'Oh, it's just frivolous, whatever,'" about sex toys, "but these are products people use on their genitals, inside their bodies," Lieberman said.
SEE ALSO: Whatever Trump decides on tariffs, Apple and Tim Cook lose"People are always going to want to masturbate. They're always going to want to provide pleasure. They will find a way to get the cheaper product, even with the surcharge, the Shein product, or the whatever product that may have dangerous chemicals in it that may break, that may be harmful to them."
What makes matters worse is that this is happening alongside a years-long attempt to stifle online sexuality. Twin laws FOSTA-SESTA, which Trump signed into law in 2018, were outwardly to curb online sex trafficking, but in reality have pushed sex workers (and educators, and other people in the sexuality space) off social platforms and the internet. This makes them less safe and also makes it harder to find credible information online.
Sex toy companies, especially women-centered ones, aren't exempt from this. In 2023, Unbound showed that Meta rejected its toy ads until it marketed to men.
Additionally, around a third of the U.S. is now subject to age-verification laws. These laws typically require identification data (in the form of government ID or facial recognition) for visitors of sites with over a third of explicit content. Despite free speech advocates and researchers saying age-verification doesn't work to stop minors from accessing porn sites, they persist.
And age verification is coming for sex toys. Last month, Texas introduced a bill to require official proof of age to buy sex toys online.
"Current struggles impacting toy businesses with the new tariffs remind us of challenges we continue to see faced by advocates, researchers, and educators like ourselves in the broader field of sexual rights," COO at sexual freedom nonprofit Woodhull Freedom Foundation, Mandy Salley, said in an emailed statement to Mashable.
"Restrictive policies on who can access sexual content online, increasing censorship of sexual expression on social media, and regressive human rights policies contribute to the censorship and stigmatization of consenting adults' access to sexual content."
It's unclear whether the 145 percent tariffs will last long after this publication or for years, and how sex toy companies will respond. One thing for sure is, they're killing the buzz in more ways than one.
Keep checking Mashable for our latest tariff news and explainers, from delayed Nintendo Switch 2 preorders to reports of iPhone 16 panic buying.
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