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DreamWorks has announced Shrek 5's cast in a short clip which draws on TikTok memes and trends. Of course, this includes the viral "yassified" Shrek filter of the ogre wearing a black catsuit and dancing in the sky.

In the brief 27-second video, Shrek scrolls through short clips on the Magic Mirror in a manner reminiscent of a TikTok feed — and is suitably repulsed by the questionable depictions of himself that he encounters. Unsurprisingly, Shrek alum Mike Myers is returning to voice the titular ogre, alongside Cameron Diaz as Princess Fiona and Eddie Murphy as Donkey. Doing a Shrek film without these three would basically be sacrilege at this point. Less expected was the revelation that Zendaya is joining the cast, the Euphoria actor voicing Shrek and Fiona's daughter.

SEE ALSO: How Shrekfest keeps the 20-year legacy of 'Shrek' alive

Shrek and Fiona's children first appeared in 2007's Shrek the Third, which featured the birth of triplets Fergus, Farkle, and Felicia. It seems safe to assume Zendaya's teen ogre is Felicia all grown up, however we don't yet know whether Shrek 5 will also feature her brothers, or who might be voicing them.

Little has been revealed about the plot of Shrek 5, which is the first entry in the Shrek film franchise's main series since 2010's Shrek Forever After. Though judging by this teaser, it looks as though DreamWorks may be taking some inspiration from Shrek's status as an enduring meme online.

Shrek 5 is set to arrive in theatres on Dec. 23, 2026.

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

If you just want to be told today's puzzle, you can jump to the end of this article for today's Connections solution. 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 What is Connections?

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

Tweet may have been deleted

Each puzzle features 16 words and each grouping of words is split into four categories. These sets could comprise of anything from book titles, software, country names, etc. Even though multiple words will seem like they fit together, there's only one correct answer.

If a player gets all four words in a set correct, those words are removed from the board. Guess wrong and it counts as a mistake—players get up to four mistakes until the game ends.

Tweet may have been deleted

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

SEE ALSO: NYT's The Mini crossword answers for February 28 Here's a hint for today's Connections categories

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

• Yellow: Someone who can't make up their mind

• Green: Terms of endearment for someone sweet

• Blue: Clarity of thought

• Purple: Irreversible actions

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

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

• Yellow: Be Indecisive

• Green: Lovely Person

• Blue: Lucidity

• Purple: Components of Metaphors for Things That Can't Be Undone

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

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

Drumroll, please!

The solution to today's Connections #628 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• Be Indecisive: HESITATE, WAFFLE, WAVER, YO-YO

• Lovely Person: ANGEL, DARK, DOLL, PEACH

• Lucidity: MARBLES, MIND, SENSE, WITS

• Components of Metaphors for Things That Can't Be Undone: BELL, EGG, GENIE, TOOTHPASTE

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

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for February 28

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

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 Connections.

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 February 28 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 February 28, 2025 Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

Something unclear or covered in soft fibers.

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

The letter Z appears twice.

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

Today's Wordle starts with the letter F.

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...

FUZZY.

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 February 28

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

Strands requires the player to perform a twist on the classic word search. Words can be made from linked letters — up, down, left, right, or diagonal, but words can also change direction, resulting in quirky shapes and patterns. Every single letter in the grid will be part of an answer. There's always a theme linking every solution, along with the "spangram," a special, word or phrase that sums up that day's theme, and spans the entire grid horizontally or vertically.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable

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

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

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for February 28 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for February 28 NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: Nautical ink

These words are permanently on your body.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

The words are tattoos that share the same ocean-related theme.

NYT Strands spangram hint: Is it vertical or horizontal?

Today's NYT Strands spangram is horizontal.

NYT Strands spangram answer today

Today's spangram is SailorTattoo.

Featured Video For You Strands 101: How to win NYT’s latest word game NYT Strands word list for February 28

• Mermaid

• Anchor

• Ship

• Compass

• Eagle

• Swallow

• SailorTattoo

Looking for other daily online games? Mashable's Games page has more hints, and 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 Strands.

Connections: Sports Edition is a new version of the popular New York Times word game that seeks to test the knowledge of sports fans.

Like the original Connections, the game is all about finding the "common threads between words." And just like Wordle, Connections resets after midnight and each new set of words gets trickier and trickier—so we've served up some hints and tips to get you over the hurdle.

If you just want to be told today's puzzle, you can jump to the end of this article for the latest Connections solution. 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 What is Connections Sports Edition?

The NYT's latest daily word game has launched in association with The Athletic, the New York Times property that provides the publication's sports coverage. Connections can be played on both web browsers and mobile devices and require players to group four words that share something in common.

Tweet may have been deleted

Each puzzle features 16 words and each grouping of words is split into four categories. These sets could comprise of anything from book titles, software, country names, etc. Even though multiple words will seem like they fit together, there's only one correct answer.

If a player gets all four words in a set correct, those words are removed from the board. Guess wrong and it counts as a mistake—players get up to four mistakes until the game ends.

Tweet may have been deleted

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

Here's a hint for today's Connections Sports Edition categories

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

• Yellow: Important in poker

• Green: Recent hockey event

• Blue: One of the best NBA centers

• Purple: Share a mascot

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

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

• Yellow: High cards in poker

• Green: 4 Nations Face-off

• Blue: Related to Nikola Jokic

• Purple: Eagles

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

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

Drumroll, please!

The solution to today's Connections Sports Edition #158 is...

What is the answer to Connections Sports Edition today

• High cards in poker - ACE, JACK, KING, QUEEN

• 4 Nations face-off - CANADA, FINLAND, SWEDEN, USA

• Associated with Nikola Jokic - JOKER, MVP, NUGGETS, SERBIA

• Eagles - BOSTON COLLEGE, IAN, MARQUETTE, PHILADELPHIA

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

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

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 Connections.

The employee objected to a post on X by Mr. Musk, Tesla’s chief executive and a top adviser to President Trump, that referred to Nazi leaders.

OpenAI's GPT-4.5 has arrived.

On Thursday, the ChatGPT maker announced the latest version of its LLM (large language model) in research preview. As OpenAI CEO Sam Altman said a few weeks ago, GPT-4.5 is OpenAI's last non-chain-of-thought model, meaning all future models will have reasoning capabilities.

"Early testing shows that interacting with GPT-4.5 feels more natural," said the white paper. "Its broader knowledge base, stronger alignment with user intent, and improved emotional intelligence make it well-suited for tasks like writing, programming, and solving practical problems - with fewer hallucinations."

In the demo, OpenAI team members talked about how GPT-4.5 is not a reasoning model, but it still has advanced knowledge and can be used to reason through problems, even though it's meant to be used as general purpose tool compared to the o series which is best for science and mathematics.

GPT-4.5 is the newest addition to its GPT series since OpenAI announced GPT-4o last May. OpenAI has also shipped versions of reasoning models, o1, o3-mini, and o3-mini-high in the past year in a reported effort to focus more on models that rely on increased computing power (test-time compute) in real-time instead of extensive training and more data.

The release of GPT-4.5 also serves as a reminder that the rollout of the elusive GPT-5 has not gone to plan. Persistent rumors indicate that OpenAI has seen diminishing returns in model improvements, suggesting scaling laws (more compute, bigger datasets) for training a model might not equate to improved results.

This is a possible reason why we've yet to see GPT-5 which has been massively hyped. Altman said it will be smarter than him and former CTO Mira Murati who said it will have "Ph.D.-level intelligence." In the meantime, we now have GPT-4.5, which could either be an indication that OpenAI is close to meeting very high expectations or stalling for more time.

Anonymous former OpenAI employees told Fortune that GPT-4.5, internally dubbed Orion, was supposed to be GPT-5, but couldn't achieve enough performance gains to merit the GPT-5 name. Altman said GPT-5 could be expected in a matter of months.

How to try GPT-4.5

As of today, we can start putting GPT-4.5 to the test. Well, not everyone. GPT-4.5 is currently only available to ChatGPT Pro members who shell out $200 a month, with access for ChatGPT Plus subscribers who pay $20 a month, coming out next week. It's only a week apart, but Plus subscribers used to be the top tier granted with early access to new features are now wondering why they even bother paying for a subscription.

Tweet may have been deleted

While OpenAI is undoubtedly hoping to gain more Pro subscribers, this could have a backfiring effect by alienating Plus subscribers who suddenly have good options with competitors that are catching up, like xAI's Grok 3, DeepSeek R1, and Anthropic's Claude 3.7 Sonnet.

A lot is riding on GPT-4.5 as an indicator of GPT-5 progress, and now we'll know whether it lives up to the hype.

Apple is upgrading its app safety offerings later this year, including new age assurance policies intended to wade into the online child protection debate.

According to a recently published white paper, the company plans to expand its Child Account settings, App Store Age Ranges, and provide avenues for app developers to set more comprehensive age-restriction settings for minor users.

SEE ALSO: Apple shareholders voted to keep DEI policies, and Trump is mad about it

"Protecting kids — whether they’re young children, preteens, or teenagers — from online threats requires constant vigilance and effort. The digital world is increasingly complex and the risks to families are ever-changing, including the proliferation of age-inappropriate content and excessive time on social media and other platforms," writes Apple. "For years, Apple has supported specialized Apple accounts for kids — called Child Accounts — that enable parents to manage the many parental controls we offer, and help provide an age-appropriate experience for children under the age of 13. These accounts are the bedrock of all the child safety tools that we offer today."

Age range for developers

Launching later this year, Apple's new privacy-driven Declared Range API allows developers to request an approximate age range for Child Account users, approved by parents, that can then be used to better tailor app experiences and set access limits for age-restricted apps. Minor users would be prompted with a "share age range" notification, similar to pop-ups for App Tracking or Location Services, and can be turned off at any time. Developers can still choose to have their apps require government identification, but ID will not be required to use the App Store at large.

The policy represents a significant stance taken by Apple amid a flurry of industry debate around "age assurance" or verification. Politicians and tech leaders have offered mixed ideas about the most effective, and appropriate, way to verify the ages of young users across social media platforms and other digital spaces, including app marketplaces. Many, like Meta, argue that app marketplaces should be held responsible for connecting minors to platforms that host age-restricted or harmful content. State legislatures, backed by tech companies, have proposed various age verification laws — their effectiveness is widely debated.

Politicians have introduced legislation tackling the issue from the lenses of digital privacy, as well, while others have suggested outright bans on minors accessing certain online spaces. The Kids Online Safety Act, proposed in 2023, would require online platforms to enable the strongest privacy settings for all underage users, and place a "duty of care" on social media companies, specifically.

Apple, conversely, is arguing for a policy that places the burden on app developers, not marketplaces, and minimizes data collection. "Some apps may find it appropriate or even legally required to use age verification, which confirms user age with a high level of certainty — often through collecting a user’s sensitive personal information (like a government issued ID) — to keep kids away from inappropriate content. But most apps don’t. That’s why the right place to address the dangers of age-restricted content online is the limited set of websites and apps that host that kind of content."

Managing youth accounts and app access

Apple's updates will also incorporate age ranges into a more streamlined Child Account set-up process, as well, making it easier for parents to determine child safety settings for required users (those 13 and younger), as well as voluntarily-included accounts for device owners under the age of 18. During device set up, parents and guardians can choose from pre-selected safety settings categorized by age range or use default child settings— this makes it possible for young users to set up devices on their own, with the aid of Apple's oversight. Parents can still adjust and customize settings at a later date.

To accommodate these new settings, Apple's age ranges will get more specific, with new thresholds for apps including:

• 4+ years old

• 9+ years old

• 13+ years old

• 16+ years old

• 18+ years old

Along these same lines, Apple will also expand its content visibility restrictions for youth accounts, preventing apps outside of selected age ratings from appearing in devices' Today, Games, and Apps tabs, and editorial stories and collections.

The tech giant’s co-founder said Google could reach an artificial general intelligence breakthrough if workers were in the office “at least” every weekday.

The latest trailer for A Minecraft Movie is chock-full of Easter eggs for Minecraft fans. Characters use a water bucket to prevent fall damage, a chicken jockey spawns during a fight, and a baby panda appears when two adult pandas share bamboo.

SEE ALSO: 'A Minecraft Movie' trailer proves 'Minecraft' looks pretty freaky in live-action

But beyond these Easter eggs, the trailer offers up a clearer glimpse at the film's story. A Minecraft Movie sees four humans — played by Jason Momoa, Emma Myers, Danielle Brooks, and Sebastian Hansen — get sucked into the Overworld, a realm where everything is made of cubes. (The cubic effect remains fairly disturbing, especially when applied to living creatures like villagers or sheep.)

The Overworld may seem like an imaginative wonderland, but it's under siege from a dire threat. Expert crafter Steve (Jack Black) has stumbled upon a portal to the Nether, where piglins and their villainous leader Malgosha (voiced by Rachel House) spurn creativity and only seek to conquer. Now, he'll need the help of A Minecraft Movie's four heroes to keep the Overworld safe.

As part of A Minecraft Movie's trailer launch, U.S. fans who buy film tickets through Fandango will unlock an exclusive jetpack add-on for Minecraft: Bedrock Edition. Global audiences will have access to similar opportunities through local ticket sites.

A Minecraft Movie hits theaters Apr. 4.

The internet is full of bad things — you might even posit, not entirely incorrectly, that it's become mostly bad things. But sometimes it sparks a bit of magical positivity. It actually can bring people together.

Take Buddies Coffee Roasters in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. Owner Rachel, TikTok handle @its.rachel.rose, posted about her business struggles. The nearly seven-minute video is worth watching in full, but she goes in depth about her difficulties — many of which are outside her control. Her lease is running out in a few months, and the rent is set to go up. A new, seemingly corporate-owned coffee shop is moving in next door. She's worked endlessly, with no financial backing, and still won't be able to make it work.

"Today, I just got word that I might not be able to stay in the same lease because of rent increase, which is the reality for so many people," she said in the TikTok. "But not only that, right next door to me they're putting [in] a coffee shop. And I don't know if I sound so stupid, crying and complaining. But it just feels like you just can't win. The small people can't win."

SEE ALSO: 'Ask an Axolotl' is TikTok's sweet, comforting viral ditty

It's emotional, and she sobs as she talks about her uncertain future. Rachel correctly pointed out that Williamsburg — before becoming a hipster haven turned uber-expensive luxury neighborhood — has a rich history of Puerto Rican residents. While some Puerto Rican mainstays remain — Buddies is actually just a couple blocks down from Toñita's, where Bad Bunny celebrated his recent album release — so much has disappeared. Rachel described being proud to open a new Puerto Rican-owned business in Williamsburg. 

"I won't regret posting this. It's important to see raw emotion," she said. "It's important to see... what people push through, what people have to deal with, why native New Yorkers roll their eyes at gentrification."

The TikTok took off. Her raw honesty resonated, especially with New Yorkers. It's racked up more than 3 million views. It seems like every TikTokker in New York City is posting about it. Hell, Joe Jonas commented, showed up, and posted about going to Buddies. The line was out the door just a day later.

So many people had placed online orders that Buddies' website had a pop-up notice that shipping might take longer than usual.

Soon enough, Rachel posted a thank-you for all the support, noting that "vulnerability is power." Her tearful message certainly generated a response. (Mashable reached out to Buddies and will update if we receive a response.)

It's unclear what Buddies' future might look like — but for now the present is lots and lots of business. And the internet actually did something good.

The new technology, called GPT-4.5, signifies the end of an era for OpenAI.

TL;DR: Harness the power of AI and get this lifetime subscription to the AI MagicX Rune Plan on sale for A$102 (reg. A$1,530) using coupon code MAGIC35 for a limited time.

Ever thought about having your own virtual assistant that would do whatever you wanted it to? While we're not offering an assistant that can fold your laundry and do your dishes (yet!), there is a great deal available on a helpful AI generator and editor by AI MagicX.

Imagine having a powerful AI tool at your fingertips that can generate high-quality text, stunning visuals, and professional designs with just a few clicks. Now you can with lifetime access to AI MagicX, on sale for A$102. No more staring at a blank screen or struggling with design software.

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What sets MagicX apart is its user-friendly interface and advanced capabilities. With this tool, you can easily and quickly create engaging blog posts, chat bots, social media content, marketing materials, and so much more. The AI-powered editor ensures that your content is not only visually appealing but also grammatically correct. You can use the design features to create stunning graphics and layouts without needing any prior experience.

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Score this great price on a lifetime subscription to AI MagicX Rune Plan on sale for only A$102 (reg. A$1,530) using coupon code MAGIC35 through 30 March at 11:59 p.m. PT.

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Opens in a new window Credit: AI Magicx AI Magicx: Lifetime Subscription (Rune Plan) A$102.00 at the Mashable Shop
A$1,530.00 Save A$1,428.00 Use code 'MAGIC35' Get Deal

A new Google app automatically installed on Androids has users outraged about the invasion of privacy, but don't worry, it can be uninstalled.

ZDNET, which first picked up on the chatter online, reports that the app SafetyCore, designed to protect sensitive content on users' phones, also scans their entire photo gallery. The tool was introduced in October as part of its latest system update and has been gradually rolling out to users, which is why they have begun to notice it now. 

Tweet may have been deleted

The feature in question on the app is called Sensitive Content Warnings for Google Messages. It's an "optional feature that blurs images that may contain nudity before viewing, and then prompts with a 'speed bump' that contains help-finding resources and options, including to view the content," according to a description in the Google Security blog.

"When the feature is enabled, and an image that may contain nudity is about to be sent or forwarded, it also provides a speed bump to remind users of the risks of sending nude imagery and preventing accidental shares."

However, for the feature to scan for nudes, it must access the nudes along with the rest of your photos. Google stressed that the scanning only happens on-device, and message contents are end-to-end encrypted. "Sensitive Content Warnings doesn’t allow Google access to the contents of your images, nor does Google know that nudity may have been detected," the description added.

Despite assurances that Sensitive Content Warnings is safe and private, users remain skeptical since Google installed the SafetyCore app without their knowledge, and it runs silently in the background without explicit user consent, so users wouldn't even know that they need to disable or uninstall anything. As one Redditor said, "Silently installed itself in the background and scans all your data. If you take the name Google out of the equation, this is textbook malware behavior." And the reviews on the Google Play store are similarly scathing.

How to uninstall SafetyCore

Don't worry, you can uninstall SafetyCore. Here's how:

• Go to Settings > Apps

• Select "See all apps" and then select "Show system apps" under the three dot menu

• Scroll to find SafetyCore

• When you find the app, tap Uninstall. As ZDNET notes, this option may be grayed out, in which case you can only disable it.

Among massive shifts in Meta's policies, the company said on Thursday that it fixed an error that resulted in a flood of violent and graphic content on some users' Instagram Reels pages.

"We have fixed an error that caused some users to see content in their Instagram Reels feed that should not have been recommended. We apologize for the mistake," a Meta spokesperson told CNBC.

SEE ALSO: Leftist meme creators are undeterred by Meta’s rightward shift

The aforementioned content, according to one Reddit user, was a stream of Reels videos "full of street fights, school shootings, murder, and gore accidents." Another user on Reddit described a feed that switched from "planes, watches, miniature painting, and cats" to "body horror and videos with descriptions in Russian."

In a different Reddit post about Meta's apology, the comments section is flooded with posts blaming AI, Meta's recent layoffs, and misguided policy changes. One user commented, "Okay Meta but I saw a guy get executed." Another user said they were done with Instagram altogether after the platform's error. "I’m still not going back after their 'mistake' decided to show me child p*rn as soon as I opened the app. Never again."

SEE ALSO: Meta offering 200 percent bonuses to execs after laying off thousands

While Meta allows some graphic content on its site, its guidelines say it protects users from prohibited content like "videos depicting dismemberment, visible innards or charred bodies" and "imagery depicting the suffering of humans and animals."

This comes just a few weeks after Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg eliminated fact-checkers in favor of community notes, lifted prohibitions on certain forms of hate speech, scrapped DEI initiatives, removed trans-inclusive features from its apps, and reinstated political content recommendations. As CNBC pointed out, in 2022 and 2023, Meta cut 21,000 employees, many of which were part of its civic integrity and trust and safety teams.

Amazon stole the show with its Alexa+ AI announcements on Wednesday, but OpenAI isn't waiting around for another chance in the spotlight.

The company behind ChatGPT announced on X on that it would livestream...something at 3 p.m. ET on Thursday. The livestream will be...somewhere, presumably, at that time. The tweet features zero other usable information of any sort, like a link or even a reference to which website the stream will be on. It could be on OpenAI's X account, or OpenAI's website, or maybe even OpenAI's YouTube page. None of them say anything about an upcoming livestream at the time of writing.

SEE ALSO: OpenAI GPT-4.5 launch imminent, report suggests. What we know. Tweet may have been deleted

We actually have more information about what might be in this mystery livestream than we do about where to watch it. Various reports point to OpenAI announcing GPT-4.5 imminently.

SAVE $580: The DJI Power 1000 portable power station is on sale at Amazon for $419 with the on-page coupon, down from the usual price of $999. That's a 58% discount.

Opens in a new window Credit: DJI DJI Power 1000 portable power station $419.00 at Amazon
$999.00 Save $580.00 with on-page coupon Get Deal

Surprise power outages can be rough. Instead of going without power during a storm, or even while out camping, get a great deal at Amazon on a portable power station that can charge all your devices.

As of Feb. 27, the DJI Power 1000 portable power station is on sale for just $419, down from the usual price of $999, with an on-page coupon at Amazon. That's a major 58% discount that'll save you $580 on the power station.

SEE ALSO: Grab the EcoFlow Delta 2 portable power station for 59% off and stay charged up anywhere

The DJI Power 1000 focuses on ultimate convenience when you're not connected to power. It comes with high-capacity stable output of 2,200 watts with peak output getting up to 4,400 watts.

In real-life terms, when on the go, DJI says the Power 1000 is capable of recharging a mobile phone 57 times, or keeping a car refrigerator powered for 19 hours. If you're using the DJI Power 1000 as a home backup, it'll keep the refrigerator on for about 45 hours, a lamp for 93 hours, and a WiFi router for almost 77 hours.

The convenience also extends to the charging ports with two USB-A, two USB-C, and two AC ports. The DJI Power 1000 is also compatible with solar power, coming with one SDC port and one SDC lite port.

Once you're back connected to the power grid, the DJI Power 1000 will take just 70 minutes to get back to 100% if the battery has run dry. Getting to 80% power takes only 50 minutes.

If you'll be heading on outdoor adventures that won't keep you in normal power grid range, the DJI Power 1000 is the perfect way to keep charged up. Thanks to today's deal at Amazon, the portable power station is on sale for under $420. The convenience that staying powered up affords is pretty close to priceless.

SAVE $18 & $17: As of Feb. 27, get Pokémon Scarlet for $42.99 and Pokémon Violet for $41.99 at Woot, down from their original price of $59.99.

Opens in a new window Credit: Woot Pokémon Scarlet $42.99 at Amazon
$59.99 Save $17.00 Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Woot Pokémon Violet $41.99 at Woot
$59.99 Save $18.00 Get Deal

Pokémon Trainers have a lot to look forward to. Today's Pokémon Presents revealed a release date for the upcoming Pokémon Legends: Z-A as well as a brand new game called Pokémon Champions in addition to other exciting news for fans. Since Pokémon Legends: Z-A is debuting this year, what better time than now to jump into the most recent titles and get ready for what's to come?

As of Feb. 27, Pokémon Scarlet and Pokémon Violet are on sale at Woot for $42.99 and $41.99 respectively, down from their usual price of $59.99. These prices are for physical Nintendo Switch copies rather than digital codes, so they'll be shipped to you.

Pokémon Scarlet and Violet take you to the region of Paldea, where you'll be partnered with one of three new starters: Sprigatito, Fuecoco, and Quaxly. You'll attend either the Naranja or Uva Academy depending on which version you buy, and you'll be tasked with exploring the region after encountering legendary Pokémon Koraidon or Miraidon.

It's an open-world Pokémon adventure that lets you choose which path you'll use to tackle the game, whether that means tackling the Victory Road challenge to defeat Gym Leaders or helping characters like Arven and Penny tackle different story-related missions. All three paths can be completed, so there's plenty to see and do, no matter where you decide to start.

Beyond the content already in-game, there are DLC expansions to complete and plenty of post-game content to satisfy you. Now's a good time to jump in and catch 'em all, especially with more Pokémon goodness on the way.

SAVE $100: As of Feb. 27, get the Acer Chromebook Plus Spin 714 for $599, down from its usual price of $699, at Best Buy. That's a discount of 19%.

Opens in a new window Credit: Best Buy Acer Chromebook Plus Spin 714 $599.00 at Best Buy
$699.00 Save $100.00 Get Deal

If you need a new laptop but you spend a lot of your time out and about, a Chromebook might be just what you're looking for. They're perfectly portable options that do a lot more than facilitate work, especially the Acer Chromebook Plus line. There's one in particular that you'll want to pay attention to right now, since it's on sale at Best Buy.

As of Feb. 27, get the Acer Chromebook Plus Spin 714 for $599, down from its usual price of $699 at Best Buy. That's $100 off and a discount of 19%.

Mashable's Kim Gedeon praised the Chromebook Plus Spin 714 for its "wallet-friendly price tag", "flexible design", and "military-tested durability" as well as its accessibility for anyone who's firmly entrenched in the Google ecosystem. It also features Google Gemini AI features, so it moves far beyond what you can expect from a typical Chromebook's feature set.

This model packs an Intel Core Ultra 5 Wqq5U processor, 8GB of RAM, and a 256GB SSD. Its 14-inch touchscreen display boasts a 1920 x 1200 display as well, which you can bend backward to use as a tablet or in its usual laptop form factor. Its Steel Gray aluminum chassis is lightweight as well, with a flexible hinge that make it a great pick for anyone who likes to see their favorite tech in different orientations. It also supports a stylus if you have one, so you can use it to navigate.

This is a great opportunity to bring home a laptop that moves with you so you can get a whole host of things done, and at an excellent price, under $700.

Check out the best Amazon deals of the day as of Feb. 27: OUR TOP PICK Sony Bravia 7 65-inch Mini-LED Google TV $1,198 (save $801.99 with Prime) Get Deal BEST SPEAKER DEAL JBL Authentics 500 $499.95 (save $200) Get Deal BEST TRAVEL DEAL Eufy Security SmartTrack Link $11.99 (save $8) Get Deal BEST APPLE DEAL Apple Pencil Pro $99 (save $30) Get Deal

While the deals this week aren't as abundant as they've been in the past, there are still discounts to be found. We've done a little digging at Amazon — our specialty — and hand-picked a few deals we think are worth grabbing on Feb. 27. So, before you ride off into the weekend sunset, check them out for a little retail therapy on a budget.

Here are our picks for the best Amazon deals of the day. If none of these are your cup of tea, be sure to check out our picks from Feb. 25 and Feb. 26. A few of those deals are still live, including a four-pack of Apple AirTags and 43-inch 4-Series Fire TV at their best prices ever.

Our top pick: Sony Bravia 7 65-inch Mini-LED Google TV Opens in a new window Credit: Sony Sony Bravia 7 65-inch Mini-LED Google TV $1,198.00 at Amazon
$1,999.99 Save $801.99 with Prime Get Deal

In need of a TV upgrade? Prime members can score 40% off a 65-inch Sony Bravia 7 mini-LED Google TV as of Feb. 27. That knocks the price down to just $1,198, its lowest on record. While it's not quite as impressive as the Bravia 9, it's also about $1,000 cheaper at full price and comes with many of the same features. And most people won't notice much of a difference between the two. It packs mini-LED backlighting for captivating brightness, an XR processor that enhances scenes in real time, gaming optimization with exclusive features for PS5, and the Google TV experience to simplify your streaming setup.

JBL Authentics 500 Opens in a new window Credit: JBL JBL Authentics 500 $499.95 at Amazon
$699.95 Save $200.00 Get Deal

While the controls can be a bit finicky, overall the JBL Authentics 500 speaker delivers impressive sound with deep bass and crisp highs. Our friends at PCMag (also owned by Ziff Davis) tested it out and noted "The lows are robust, while the vocals and higher-register brass and strings have plenty of treble edge." You can stream through Bluetooth and WiFi and even use Google Assistant or Alexa to play your favorite tunes. The price is one of its downfalls at $699.95, but as of Feb. 27, you can save nearly 30% and pick it up at Amazon for just $499.95.

Eufy Security SmartTrack Link Opens in a new window Credit: Anker Eufy Security SmartTrack Link $11.99 at Amazon
$19.99 Save $8.00 Get Deal

Like the Eufy Security SmartTrack Card we featured yesterday, the SmartTrack Link is essentially an AirTag dupe with a different shape. And as of Feb. 27, it's a whole lot more affordable at Amazon. Pick one up for only $11.99 and save 40%. The SmartTrack Link is small enough to slip onto your key ring or luggage and utilizes Bluetooth and Apple's Find My network to locate your stuff. It also features free left-behind alerts and allows you to find your phone even when it's in silent mode through the Eufy Security app.

Apple Pencil Pro Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple Pencil Pro $99.00 at Amazon
$129.00 Save $30.00 Get Deal

The new Apple Pencil Pro upgrades the simple stylus with vibration effects that match the actions performed on iPads, several new interactive features, pressure sensitivity, Find My support, and the ability to create customized interactions and shortcuts. If you use your iPad for photo editing, illustrating, or digital art of any kind, it'll be a game changer for enhancing your experience. For those who are more basic iPad users, we recommend the more affordable USB-C Apple Pencil (featured yesterday). It's usually $129, but as of Feb. 27, you can save 23% and pick up the Apple Pencil Pro for just $99 at Amazon. Just note that it's only compatible with the new M2 iPad Air and M4 iPad Pro.

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