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Generation Z (born between 1997 and 2012) uses the internet to self-diagnose their own mental health conditions, but not in the ways one might reflexively (or judgmentally) assume.
A new survey and report from the Made of Millions Foundation, a nonprofit mental health advocacy organization, found that only a small fraction of Gen Z youth relies solely on the internet to interpret their symptoms and make their own conclusions about a diagnosis or disorder.
The majority of youth surveyed instead consult online resources, including social media, in conjunction with seeking or receiving mental health care and treatment. The findings counter a prevailing narrative that it's become trendy, and common, for young people to diagnose themselves with a specific condition without any professional help or support.
SEE ALSO: Why teens are telling strangers their secrets onlineIn fact, of the 970 people between ages of 13 and 28 surveyed for the Made of Millions report, 431 of them were in some phase of what the researchers described as a mental health "journey."
Of the subset of nationally representative participants who had a diagnosis, a mere five percent, or 10 people, said they were self-diagnosed and had no plans to follow up with a clinician. Eight percent intended to see a mental health professional after having made a diagnosis for themselves, based on internet research.
But nearly three quarters of respondents who said they had a diagnosis received it either exclusively from a clinician or through a combination of clinical expertise and independent online searching.
Uma Chatterjee, a neuroscientist and mental health advocate who provided expertise for the Made of Millions report, says she supports young people using the internet to explore information about their symptoms and possible diagnoses.
That information can be particularly validating when someone realizes they may have a condition like OCD, which is often misunderstood, Chatterjee says.
It's so "powerful to show people that something that they never had a word for, or a way to describe, or they just thought was normal, is actually something that is a commonly shared experience, especially when there's so much shame associated with so many of these symptoms," she adds.
How to safely explore self-diagnosisChatterjee does encourage young people to adopt a few key strategies when attempting to self-diagnose their mental health concerns online.
Once they've looked into their symptoms and believe that a specific diagnosis might explain what they're experiencing, Chatterjee recommends they seek out trusted nonprofit and professional medical organizations that focus on that condition through research, education, or advocacy. From there, they should look for resources related to finding a local mental health professional who can provide expert guidance.
For example, someone who thinks they may have OCD might look to the International OCD Foundation, which maintains a directory of not only therapists and clinics but also support groups and other organizations that specialize in the condition. (Chatterjee is a volunteer advocate for International OCD Foundation.)
Either way, Chatterjee strongly recommends that someone who's self-diagnosed via internet information searching follow up with a clinician, including a general physician who can make a referral to a therapist or psychiatrist. If a person's self-diagnosis is incorrect, it's highly unlikely that they'll get the tools they need to recover.
Relying only on social media accounts or influencers, even those who seem qualified, for medical and mental health advice can also be dangerous, Chatterjee says. People may be exposed to misinformation or hear about cures that don't exist.
The pros and cons of self-diagnosisTheresa Nguyen, chief research officer of Mental Health America, says that people are typically developing health literacy through online searching related to their mental health. (Nguyen and Mental Health America were not involved in the Made of Millions report.)
That research can include reading about symptoms, spending time in forums dedicated to a certain condition, viewing influencer content on social media, and taking mental health screeners.
Every year, two million people in the U.S. take a Mental Health America screener for mental health conditions including depression, anxiety, and psychosis. Users can print out the results and take them to a physician or therapist for follow-up.
Overall, Nguyen believes that many young people have "enormous capacity" to research mental health online, explore social media, and post their own content, all while making timely decisions about seeking out professional guidance or care.
Still, social media posts with high engagement that treat mental health labels, including textbook diagnoses, with surprising casualness can give the impression that Gen Z is eager to adopt certain conditions as a fad.
Chatterjee says the ease with which Gen Z talks about mental health online can both empower and mislead them, depending on the context and person.
"Just because it's filling a void, doesn't mean that it's actually helping in the long run." - Uma Chatterjee, mental health advocateThere are scammers in the mental health and well-being space, for example, who cultivate a following by validating their fans' experiences and building a well-intentioned community all while selling an unproven treatment or so-called cure.
Chatterjee warns that young people searching for help can fall into these traps, believing they've found an explanation for their emotional or psychological suffering, as well as a community to belong to as they navigate it.
"Just because it's filling a void, doesn't mean that it's actually helping in the long run," Chatterjee says. "Not all content is created equal."
If someone has found an influencer or community they like in the process of self-diagnosis, Chatterjee recommends remaining critical about how those resources contribute to their recovery.
She also advises people to vet the influencers they follow. That can include checking their academic credentials, whether they're affiliated with a professional organization like the American Psychological Association, and evaluating with skepticism any claims they make.
Angel, 23, was diagnosed with OCD as a young adult after receiving an incorrect diagnosis as a teenager. After learning they actually had OCD, Angel spent considerable time online researching the condition and looking for community. (Angel requested that their last name not be used to protect their privacy.)
For Angel, who has often felt isolated by their OCD, the research connected them to important resources and supportive peers. But the internet also became risky at times.
They began spending hours on a subreddit about OCD, partly to make themselves feel better about their own recovery journey. Angel decided at that point to delete Reddit from their phone as a way of balancing their desire for information with maintaining positive well-being.
Angel tries to focus their attention on practical information, like insights about OCD flare-ups and techniques for managing symptoms.
"I feel like the internet can be helpful but also not helpful," Angel says. "It all depends on how you learn to use it. I've been making sure to learn to use it properly."
There’s a lot to love about being a small business owner, but we’d be lying if we said it didn’t come with its fair share of challenges, especially around tax season. From figuring out how to manage quarterly taxes to actually paying what you owe the IRS, the learning curve can be steep.
The process isn’t all bad, though. For example, there are certain tax breaks and deductions that are afforded to small business owners and self-employed individuals that regular employees don’t get to take advantage of.
If you don’t already know about the tax deductions that come with being a small business owner, you’ll want to read on. Here are twenty major tax deductions for small business owners that may surprise you:
Advertising fees
The costs associated with advertising your business are completely tax deductible. This can include things like getting business cards printed, launching a new website, social media campaigns, and even sponsoring a local event.
Bank fees
Bank fees such as PayPal transaction fees, wire transfer fees, and any service charges are 100 percent tax deductible. Keep in mind this only accounts for business banking accounts and doesn’t work for personal bank accounts or credit cards.
Business meals
Business meals are 50% deductible as long as they aren’t considered lavish or over-the-top. Keep in mind that meals for employees, like pizza Fridays, are considered 100% tax deductible.
Car fees
If you have a vehicle that you use entirely for business, all costs associated are tax deductible. If you use your car for personal and business use, you can still deduct certain costs, but only the costs associated with business use.
Charitable donations
You cannot deduct charitable donations as a business expense, but it’s possible to deduct these donations on your personal income tax return as long as they were made to a qualified charitable organization.
Childcare and dependent care
If you have children under the age of 13 or a dependent who is mentally or physically unable to care for themselves, you might be eligible to deduct up to a certain amount of what you spend on childcare and dependent care while working.
Credit card interest
If you’ve opened up a credit card specifically for your business, any credit card interest is completely tax deductible. This also applies to other interest payments (such as a business loan) as long as you can prove that you intend to pay back the loan in full.
Depreciation fees
Depreciation fees are considered the cost associated with normal wear and tear on business-related machinery and tools. Depending on the cost of the items, you can deduct the entire cost of the item in one year or spread it out over several years.
Education
Things like tuition, books, subscriptions to trade-related publications, and workshops to increase your skill set and expertise are all tax deductible as long as they relate back to your immediate field and business.
Employee benefits
Being a good employer means treating your employees well — and you can actually deduct most employee benefits. Things like employee health benefits, achievement awards, and educational assistance are all tax deductions for small business owners.
Freelance labor
If you haven’t required full-time employees yet but still enlist the help of freelancers, the fees associated with freelance labor are also a tax-deductible cost.
Health savings account
Did you know that a health savings account is tax deductible for small business owners? You can use your health savings account up until retirement for things like doctor visits, gym memberships, and even massages.
Home office supplies
Home office supplies — from your laptop to your pens and pencils — are all considered tax deductible for small business owners and solopreneurs.
Internet and phone bills
Business-related internet and phone use is 100% tax deductible, but keep in mind that if you use your phone for both personal and business, only the dollar amount used specifically for business can be deducted.
Legal fees
Legal fees and services required for conducting your business are tax deductible. This also applies to accounting and bookkeeping services required to keep your small business running.
Rent
It doesn’t matter if you rent an office space or you run your small business from your apartment, rent is considered tax deductible. Keep in mind that you cannot deduct the entire amount of your apartment if you work from home but rather the percentage that you use for business.
Retirement contributions
You receive a dollar-for-dollar tax write-off for every single dollar you contribute to your retirement account (up to a total of $77,000). You can also set up an additional pension plan through your business which will allow you to contribute even more.
Tax preparation fees
Small business owners should always work with an accountant at tax season to ensure everything is properly filed. Thankfully any tax preparation fees and services are also tax deductible.
Travel expenses
If travel is part of your business requirements, you’ll want to save as many receipts as possible as there are many deductions available for business travel. As long as your trip is necessary for business, you can deduct everything from plane tickets and hotel fees to laundry and dry cleaning, tips, and parking fees.
Utility fees
Utility fees such as heat and hot water are also tax-deductible expenses. If your business operates out of your home, the entire fee isn’t deductible but rather the percentage you use while you’re actively working.
The International Space Station is nowhere close to the moon, which is about 1,000 times farther away from Earth.
But a new snapshot from an accomplished space photographer makes it look as though the orbiting laboratory is skittering across the lunar surface, both sharply in focus.
The new image, taken on Feb. 5 by Andrew James McCarthy, frames the space station with Shackleton Crater, a famous landmark on the moon near its south pole. The site is a potential future landing spot for NASA astronauts.
Many photos McCarthy has taken of the space station in the past show the ship as a silhouette in Earth's shadow. This time he caught it in direct sunlight, in conjunction with the so-called lunar terminator. That line, also sometimes referred to as the twilight zone, separates the lit and dark side of the moon.
"This might be my new favorite," he told Mashable. "What I love about this one is there's actually dimension to the ISS here because it's illuminated. I've shot it illuminated before, but not in this high resolution."
SEE ALSO: Japan’s moon landing picture might be the space photo of the decade The International Space Station is illuminated as it crosses in front of the moon on Feb. 5, 2025. Credit: Andrew James McCarthyThe arresting image showcases the hard geometric lines of the spacecraft, set against the organic undulations of the moon, mottled with craters and long dramatic shadows.
Getting the shot, which has drawn a few cynics on the internet, wasn't as easy as the click of a button. It required painstaking planning, overcoming several equipment failures, a ride off the beaten path, thousands of frames, and impeccable timing: The space station, spanning the length of an American football field with end zones, flies at about 17,000 mph, or five miles per second. The whole event could have been missed in the blink of an eye.
McCarthy, a former manager for a tech startup, pursued astrophotography after losing his job in a layoff before the COVID-19 pandemic. Over the years, he's developed his acumen, shooting all types of astronomical phenomena. He now makes a living off high-definition pictures that can be blown up into giant prints.
A full view of the International Space Station appears as a bright point of light, upper right, during a lunar transit on Feb. 5, 2025. Credit: Andrew McCarthyEarlier this month, McCarthy discovered there would be two back-to-back days of space station transits that would make good photo opportunities. Not only were they relatively close, but telemetry apps indicated the space station would appear to have a large angular size, due to its position above the horizon.
His first attempt on Feb. 4 took him to Yuma, Arizona. After getting permission from a business owner, he set up his gear in a private parking lot. The equipment included 14-inch and 11-inch telescopes, a couple of cameras, cell phones, and a Canon R5 with a 1,000-millimeter telephoto lens.
Seconds before the transit, one of McCarthy's laptops quit, and the 14-inch Dobsonian telescope didn't work.
Tweet may have been deletedIn astrophotography, getting the shot is sometimes an odds game, so he resolved to try again the next day. This time the projected path for the transit took him to a remote area about 35 miles east of the Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport.
There was nothing in the path but a dirt road off Highway 60, which seemed to be public. Little did he know the road would be so narrow, the prickly cholla cacti would scrape at both sides of his car.
McCarthy pulled over in a small clearing as far as he could. The ground was uneven, so he wedged rocks under his telescopes to keep them level. Then he set up a Starlink to connect to high-speed internet.
Tweet may have been deletedThe wind whipped, and the sun shone in his eyes. McCarthy was unflapped.
"I've definitely shot in worse locations," he said.
McCarthy's laptop crashed again and nearly botched the session. He made the risky decision to swap out computers, just in the nick of time. The photo's exposure was 1/5,000th of a second, he said.
Afterward, McCarthy kept taking pictures to fill in the rest of the moon at the same focal length. Later, he stitched them together to form a mosaic. Each panel is composed of about 2,000 stacked photos. Because the raw image was taken in black and white, a second camera, the Canon R5, captured color.
Tweet may have been deletedIn this age of artificial intelligence and image generators, the public doesn't always believe such extraordinary photos are real. McCarthy spends a lot of time on social media and his website, showing the "receipts" of his work. He posts the original raw image, along with how it looked in motion — harder evidence to fake.
It convinces some. Others remain skeptical.
"So much of astrophotography is about sharing what's invisible — what's so faint, you can't even see it with your eyes," he said.
Looking for something great to watch at home? Streaming subscribers are spoiled for choice between Hulu, Netflix, Max, Disney+, Apple TV+, Prime Video, Shudder, Paramount+, Peacock, and more. And that's before you even look at the vast libraries of movies and television programs within each one!
Don't be overwhelmed or waste an hour scrolling through your services to determine what to watch. We've got your back, whatever your mood. Mashable offers watch guides for all of the above, broken down by genre: comedy, thriller, horror, documentary, animation, and more.
But if you're seeking something brand spanking new (or new to streaming), we've got you covered there, too. Mashable's entertainment team has scoured the streaming services to highlight the most buzzed-about releases of this week and ranked them from worst to best — or least worth your time to most watchable. Whether you're looking for a moving documentary, the return of Bridget Jones, cannibal teen drama, or some of the best movies of 2024, we've got something just for you.
Here's what's new on streaming, from worst to best.
11. SLY LIVES! (aka The Burden of Black Genius)Questlove went from beloved musician to Academy Award–winning filmmaker with his critically heralded documentary Summer of Soul (...Or, When the Revolution Could Not Be Televised), which explored the legendary 1969 Harlem Cultural Festival. Now, for his follow-up, he's plunged into the life and legacy of the iconic funk band Sly and the Family Stone.
Out of the film's premiere at Sundance 2025, critics cheered Questlove's vision as a director and the engaging energy of the doc. Not only does SLY LIVES! step audiences through the tumultuous effects fame had on frontman Sly Stone, but also, this propulsive movie boasts an array of big names, who reflect on his legacy with awe and empathy. — Kristy Puchko, Entertainment Editor
Starring: Jerry Martini, Larry Graham Jr., Greg Errico, Vernon Reid, Q-Tip, D'Angelo, Clive Davis, Chaka Khan, André 3000, and George Clinton
How to watch: SLY LIVES! (aka The Burden of Black Genius) is now streaming on Hulu and Disney+.
10. Waitress: The MusicalBring a bit of Broadway home with Waitress: The Musical. Based on Adrienne Shelly's hit 2007 rom-com of the same name, this theatrical production centers on a waitress named Jenna Hunterson, who by day serves up unique pies — like the "I Hate My Husband Pie" or the "Pregnant, Miserable, Self-Pitying Loser Pie" — and by night wrestles with her failing marriage and impending pregnancy. Things get even more complicated when she falls for her dashing gynecologist.
Singer/songwriter/star of Girls 5eva Sara Bareilles not only wrote the music and lyrics for the Tony–nominated Waitress: The Musical, but also headlines this recorded performance as Jenna. She's joined onstage (and screen) by an array of stars playing a charmingly folksy array of friends, many of which have love plotlines of their own. Salty and sweet, this could be a perfect treat for Valentine's Day. — K.P.
Starring: Sara Bareilles, Charity Angél Dawson, Caitlin Houlahan, Drew Gehling, Dakin Matthews, Eric Anderson, Joe Tippett, and Christopher Fitzgerald
How to watch: Waitress: The Musical comes to Max on Feb. 14.
9. The GorgeAnya Taylor-Joy (Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga) and Miles Teller (Spiderhead) join forces in The Gorge, a sci-fi romance from The Black Phone director Scott Derrickson.
The two play highly trained operatives stationed on opposite sides of a mysterious gorge. Their mission? To keep any of the terrifying creatures within from coming out. Despite being forbidden from making contact with each other, Levi (Teller) and Drasa (Taylor-Joy) strike up a long-distance friendship that quickly becomes something more.
While The Gorge's romance is fairly cheesy — and often at odds with its characters' hardened backgrounds — its action and mystery elements are undeniably fun. Without spoiling any of the film's juicy secrets, let's just say that the gorge itself (and the creepy crawlies within) are the real stars of the film.— Belen Edwards, Entertainment Reporter
Starring: Miles Teller, Anya Taylor-Joy, and Sigourney Weaver
How to watch: The Gorge premieres on Apple TV+ on Feb. 14.
8. Yellowjackets, Season 3I hope you're hungry for more teen cannibalism, because Yellowjackets Season 3 is on the way. And this time, Hilary Swank is along for the ride.
SEE ALSO: In Memoriam: Who is dead on 'Yellowjackets'?Unluckily for her, Swank joins the Yellowjackets in a time of crisis, in both the past and present. Season 2 ended with the young Yellowjackets losing their cabin, and with the present-day Yellowjackets experiencing a heart-wrenching death. How will each group respond to these tragedies? My money's on cannibalism and crime — and I can't wait to see where the wilderness takes us next.* — B.E.
Starring: Melanie Lynskey, Tawny Cypress, Ella Purnell, Sophie Nélisse, Jasmin Savoy Brown, Sophie Thatcher, Samantha Hanratty, Steven Krueger, Warren Kole, Christina Ricci, Courtney Eaton, Liv Hewson, Kevin Alves, Simone Kessell, Lauren Ambrose, and Sarah Desjardins
How to watch: Yellowjackets Season 3 premieres Feb. 14 on Paramount+ with the Showtime plan.
7. The Witcher: Sirens of the DeepFor those missing the Continent ahead of The Witcher Season 4, there's a new anime film on Netflix that's quite the crossover between the games and the Netflix series. Directed by The Witcher: Nightmare of the Wolf's Kang Hei Chul and animated by South Korean animation studio Studio MIR, The Witcher: Sirens of the Deep heralds the return of a familiar voice. Geralt of Rivia is voiced by Doug Cockle, who voiced the titular witcher in the games and inspired Henry Cavill's performance. For fans of the TV show, Anya Chalotra and Joey Batey, who played sorceress Yennefer and bard Jaskier, also lend their voices.
Based on a story from Andrzej Sapkowski's Witcher novels, Sirens of the Deep sees Geralt and Jaskier caught on the brink of war between humans and merpeople in the seaside kingdom of Bremervoord. In my review, I wrote, "Cockle's performance combined with Studio MIR's spectacular animated fight scenes make Sirens of the Deep a worthy watch for The Witcher fans. If you can survive the awkwardness of the romance scenes, can run with The Little Mermaid parallels, and have long yearned for a Joey Batey bard banger moment, you'll have a decent time." — Shannon Connellan, UK Editor
Starring: Doug Cockle, Anya Chalotra, Joey Batey, Christina Wren, Emily Carey, Camrus Johnson, Mallory Jansen, and Simon Templemen
How to watch: The Witcher: Sirens of the Deep is now streaming on Netflix.
6. Cobra Kai, Season 6, part 3Cobrai Kai returns for its final season, and we're not ready to say goodbye!
Serving as a sequel to the original Karate Kid films, this Netflix series reunited Ralph Macchio and William Zabka in their opposing roles as Daniel LaRusso and Johnny Lawrence. But Cobra Kai offered Johnny's perspective on martial arts and much more as he's positioned as an underdog reopening the titular karate dojo. Over six seasons, the series has thrilled fans for its big heart, rich character development, and of course, thrilling fight scenes. So how will it end? It's time to find out. — K.P.
SEE ALSO: 'Cobra Kai' creators tease Season 6, Part 2 and its most polarizing charactersStarring: Ralph Macchio, William Zabka, Courtney Henggeler, Xolo Maridueña, Tanner Buchanan, Mary Mouser, Peyton List, Jacob Bertrand, Gianni DeCenzo, Dallas Dupree Young, Vanessa Rubio, Martin Kove, and Thomas Ian Griffith
How to watch: Cobra Kai, Season 6, part 3 debuts on Netflix on Feb. 13.
5. Omni LoopAyo Edebiri fans rejoice. You don't need to wait for The Bear's return or the release of Opus to get more good times with your girl. Omni Loop pairs the award-winning comedy actress with the esteemed Mary-Louise Parker for a time-travel trip that boasts an enchanting edge of dark humor.
Parker stars as quantum physicist Zoya Lowe, whose been diagnosed with a peculiar fatal affliction: She's got a black hole growing in her chest.
It'll kill her in one week. Well, it would if she quit taking a mysterious pill that keeps pitching her back in time. Living her last week over and over, Zoya seems doomed to repeat eternally or die — until she comes across Paula Campos (Edebiri), a brilliant research student that might be able to help her cure her Groundhog Day nightmare. In a mind-bending quest to "solve time travel," the pair grows close, and finds a new lease on life in the face of death. Dark stuff! But trust us, well worth the watching. — K.P.
Starring: Mary-Louise Parker, Ayo Edebiri, Carlos Jacott, Harris Yulin, Hannah Pearl Utt, Chris Witaske, and Steven Maier
How to watch: Omni Loop is now streaming on Hulu.
4. The White Lotus, Season 3Mike White's social satire The White Lotus heads to Thailand for its third outing, bringing its usual staples of class commentary, meme-worthy drama, and an A-list cast along with it. This time around, the guests include Leslie Bibb (Juror #2), Carrie Coon (His Three Daughters), and Michelle Monaghan (MaXXXine) as three longtime friends on a girls' trip; Parker Posey (Beau Is Afraid) and Jason Isaacs (Baldur's Gate 3) as the matriarch and patriarch of a wealthy family about to lose everything; and Walton Goggins (Fallout) and Aimee Lou Wood (Sex Education) as a traveling couple. Plus, Natasha Rothwell (How to Die Alone) is back as Season 1's spa manager Belinda. Does she know what happened to Tanya (Jennifer Coolidge) at the end of Season 2?
Season 3 of The White Lotus focuses on wellness and spirituality, contrasting those concepts with the unhealthy coping mechanisms people may turn to in order to feel "well." Unfortunately, the results are mixed, with too many characters jockeying for limited narrative space to the point that some stories barely get the chance to breathe. As I wrote in my review, "the disparity between which group of guests gets the most airtime is much higher, making for a more disjointed season... The result is at once overstuffed and underdeveloped, albeit with a slim glimmer of hope that the finale can pull all these disparate threads together in spectacular fashion." — B.E.
Starring: Leslie Bibb, Carrie Coon, Walton Goggins, Sarah Catherine Hook, Jason Isaacs, Lalisa Manobal, Michelle Monaghan, Sam Nivola, Parker Posey, Natasha Rothwell, Patrick Schwarzenegger, Tayme Thapthimthong, and Aimee Lou Wood
How to watch: White Lotus Season 3 debuts Feb. 16 at 9 p.m. EST/PST on HBO and will be available to stream on Max.
3. Bridget Jones: Mad About the BoyRenée Zellweger, Colin Firth, and Hugh Grant all return for the fourth installment of the funny and romantic film series based on Helen Fielding's novels. But in case you've not been keeping up with your reading, brace yourself. Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy is set after the tragic death of Bridget's beloved Mr. Darcy.
As I recounted in my review for Mashable, her latest romp has her coping with grief while falling into another love triangle. It's a lot to process! Thus, I concluded, "Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy is the best sequel of the batch. It's joyful, seeded with Easter eggs, and radiant with Zellweger back in full effect, but it's also a tearjerker that might well knock the wind out of you."
Starring: Renée Zellweger, Hugh Grant, Colin Firth, Emma Thompson, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Leo Woodall, Isla Fisher, Josette Simon, and Nico Parker
How to watch: Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy is now streaming on Peacock.
2. Better ManRobbie Williams brings a wild makeover to the musical biopic with Better Man. The English pop star plays narrator to his rags-to-riches story, while a collaboration between actor Jonno Davies and Wētā FX transforms the famous bad boy into a fun-loving chimpanzee.
The concept sounds like a bonkers gimmick, but writer/director Michael Gracey (The Greatest Showman) utilizes this ape to explore not just what happened in Williams' life but also how he felt — like a dancing chimp. The metaphor doesn't get old; over the course of rousing musical numbers that chart William's rise to fame, fall from grace, and finding himself, it opens Better Man up to embrace the surreal and sensational. By rejecting the stodgy standards of a respectful biopic, this movie comes alive.
SEE ALSO: Better Man: Robbie Williams and Michael Gracey ditched accuracy to find truthAs I raved in Mashable's review out of TIFF, "Rich in vibrant emotion, body-rocking musical numbers, daring performances, and a scorching tenderness, Better Man more than rocks. It rules."*— K.P.
Starring: Robbie Williams, Jonno Davies, Steve Pemberton, Alison Steadman, Kate Mulvany, Damon Herriman, Raechelle Banno, and Jake Simmance
How to watch: Better Man is now available for purchase on digital.
1. FlowOne of the best movies of 2024 — and a two-time Oscar-nominee — Flow is a dialogue-free ride through a flooded fantasy world that may leave you feeling as soaked (and stressed) as its unlikely heroes.
Director Gints Zilbalodis puts us in the paws of a little black cat struggling to survive after a watery disaster sweeps it from its home. Stranded on a sailboat with a motley group of animals — including a capybara, a lemur, a secretarybird, and a golden retriever — the cat must learn to cooperate with its crew mates if it's going to adapt to this strange new world.
SEE ALSO: 'The Wild Robot' and 'Flow' are quietly revolutionary climate change moviesFlow eschews any hallmarks of how American animation portrays animals, instead going for realistic animal sounds and movements. The result is instantly engrossing. We are initially alienated from the animals' inner thoughts and motivations, yet Zilbalodis renders them clear through hyper-specific characterization and interactions. The animation (all completed in open-source 3D software Blender) is striking too, mixing detailed textures and graphics to create a film that is beautiful yet somewhat unfamiliar. There's no way you can look away from this sweet, layered tale of teamwork and the climate crisis, or the precious feline at its heart.* — B.E.
How to watch: Flow comes to Max on Feb. 14.
Before Tumblr lost its way through multiple sales, banning explicit content and losing droves of users, the microblogging site was the place to be online. Like any good social media platform, it brought people together, including couples.
"It felt like an easier way to connect with someone than just messaging 'hey' to someone on [a dating] app," said Sara, a former Tumblr user who met her partner Kevin on the platform.
SEE ALSO: How one tweet led me to meet my partner From the Tumblr dash to IRLSara and Kevin started using Tumblr around 2010, considered its heyday. This was before Tumblr's initial sale to Yahoo, which would lead to changes like a turn towards monetization (including ads).
"The way I used Tumblr back then, it was…the most private-public version of myself," Sara told Mashable, explaining she used the platform like an open journal. Facebook and Instagram were more curated; Tumblr was where she would blog about bad days and everything in between — like GIF sets from TV shows.
Kevin initially used Tumblr as a space to write but eventually used it for personal posts, selfies, and reblogging gif sets.
"We would do the perfunctory 'liking' each other's posts, and eventually we got to reblogging each other's selfies."Sara and Kevin, who spoke to me on a Zoom call, had mutual friends on the platform and eventually followed each other a few years later, in 2015. Neither of their blogs was dedicated to one fandom or social issue — "I had no real rhyme or reason to it," said Kevin — but both of them tended to follow blogs that liked similar music or TV shows, and they eventually found each other's.
"We would do the perfunctory 'liking' each other's posts," said Sara, "and eventually we got to reblogging each other's selfies."
"The ultimate endorsement on Tumblr — besides having similar beliefs — was getting that coveted selfie reblog," said Kevin, "with something in the tags like, 'cutie,' or whatever." Sneaking compliments in the Tumblr tags was a little social cue to express your crush.
"I remember you did that once," Kevin said to Sara. "That was pretty cool."
Featured Video For You How Tinder and other dating apps use algorithms to find your match — Horny on MainIn late 2015, Tumblr introduced a chat function for users to message each other. When Kevin underwent knee surgery and wrote about it on Tumblr, Sara reached out. They soon discovered that they both lived in New Jersey, and by the next summer, they decided to take their relationship offline. After dates (that they didn't acknowledge were dates at first) like going to a retro arcade and a Beyoncé concert, they made it official.
"This is funny, the way I said it that night…you definitely remember. You still give me crap for it," Kevin said to Sara.
"'We'll give it the old college try,'" Sara recalled with a smile.
Why Tumblr over dating appsBefore he and Sara got together, Kevin was on dating apps, and it was a lot different than Tumblr because it felt like you had to put a more polished version of yourself forward. You also didn't know who you were talking to, which was true of Tumblr as well, but you can "reference things that they've talked about," he said. "If you guys are comfortable with that on Tumblr, reference in real life, bring it up. Talk to them about it."
Sara said it was easier to get a read on someone on Tumblr than you would on a dating app profile. It was also easier to vet someone if you had mutual friends. And on Tumblr, talking about politics and social issues was the norm, so you could more easily gauge political alignment.
"Obviously, you can say whatever on the internet, but in a very simplistic way, it was like an easier way to vet who they are as a person, as opposed to finding out on the third date that you're completely diametrically opposed because that wasn't something you listed on your dating profile," she said.
...it was easier to get a read on someone on Tumblr than you would on a dating app profile.Tumblr also felt like a more authentic platform. When he was on Tumblr, Kevin expressed his feelings more often than he did on other social platforms. "If you saw that, you were kind of used to me," he said.
One of the reasons their relationship has sustained so long is because they got to know each other in a much more casual and slow manner, Sara said. They had a base of friendship that was established without the pretense of romance.
Now they live together — but that's not the biggest indicator of commitment.
"The most important thing is not just that we live together, but we have a cat together," said Kevin, "and that is the signifier of a serious relationship." (The cat's name is Macaroni.)
A relationship lasting longer than their Tumblr accountsNeither Sara nor Kevin are on Tumblr anymore. Between issues like increased ads and friends leaving the platform, they stopped using it years ago.
Despite this, "I have a very deep nostalgia for Tumblr because at its peak for me is when I was in college," Sara said, when she was starting to form who she would be as an adult. Tumblr is where she was exposed to different subcultures.
From what Sara hears from single friends, the modern, app-based dating scene is pretty rough. "It makes me really appreciate how we met very organically and got to build this long-term relationship with one another," she said.
Sara is also grateful to Kevin, both because he's been part of her support system during a turbulent time professionally, and because they share internet humor and language.
"It's very nice to have that level of connectedness to someone that thinks stringing together a bunch of words seems sensical in some type of way," said Sara.
"It's very nice to have someone who feels like home," said Kevin, and (evoking a classic Tumblr meme) "also understands what 'they crave that mineral' means."
TL;DR: Save $67 on a FolderFort 250GB lifetime cloud storage subscription while codes last.
Opens in a new window Credit: FolderFort FolderFort 250GB Cloud Storage Plan Lifetime Subscription $39.99Thinking of ways to cut costs this year? Look at your subscription services first. Those "small" fees for streaming, meal delivery services, and cloud storage add up fast when you look at the total yearly cost. While you might not be willing to give up on your favorite TV shows or Chipotle treats, we can help you save on digital space.
A lifetime cloud storage plan would free you from the shackles of subscription fees for life. FolderFort offers a 250GB plan for a one-time $39.99 payment (reg. $107). While you won’t find a better price anywhere else, we have a limited number of codes to sell — so get yours before they’re gone.
More about FolderFortWhile you probably haven’t heard FolderFort’s name, that’s no excuse not to try it. After all, this 250GB cloud storage plan pays for itself in as little as four months. Those $10 monthly savings add up beyond that, whether you want to put it toward groceries or just a carton of eggs.
You’ll love how simple FolderFort is to use. Open the web app on any device’s browser to upload files, and they’ll be secure with world-leading encryption.
This 250GB plan is enough to store about 60,000 photos, 250 hours of video, or six million documents, depending on their size. And, if your storage needs expand in the future, FolderFort will make it easy and affordable to upgrade.
Get affordable cloud storage with FolderFort: 250GB for $39.99 (reg. $107).
StackSocial prices subject to change.
TL;DR: Microsoft Project for Windows (lifetime license) is on sale for $20 through Feb. 23 (reg. $249.99).
Opens in a new window Credit: Retail King Microsoft Project 2021 Professional: Lifetime License for Windows $19.97Feeling buried under project deadlines and shifting priorities? You’re not alone — in fact, many professionals feel overwhelmed with the work they have these days. Sometimes, finding a task management tool can help ease your stress by laying everything out visually.
Microsoft Project for Windows (lifetime license) is on sale for $20 through Feb. 23 (reg. $249.99).
Here’s how Microsoft Project could help lighten your mental load:Organize chaotic projects: Bring order to complex projects by breaking them down into manageable tasks and subtasks.
Visualize your workload: See all your tasks, deadlines, and dependencies at a glance with Gantt charts and other visual tools.
Prioritize effectively: Identify time-sensitive tasks and allocate resources strategically.
Track progress effortlessly: Monitor real-time project timelines, budgets, and resource utilization.
Collaborate seamlessly: Share project plans and updates with team members to keep everyone on the same page.
Get this project management tool at a steal. Project is only $20 until Feb. 23 at 11:59 p.m. PT (reg. $249.99) with no coupon needed.
StackSocial prices subject to change.
TL;DR: The 8-in-1 GoCable features fast 100W charging, universal compatibility, and built-in tools like a bottle opener, package cutter, and keychain clip for just $20.99 (reg. $44.99) through Feb. 23.
Opens in a new window Credit: Mutant Design Lab GoCable: The Ultimate 8-in-1 EDC Charger $20.99Have you ever found yourself scrambling for the right charging cable while your phone clings to its last one percent? Or, worse, realizing you forgot to pack the right adapter while traveling? GoCable can help end that struggle.
This 8-in-1 everyday carry charger isn’t just a fast, universal charging solution — it also features some useful everyday tools in one compact design. Whether you’re commuting, traveling, or just trying to keep your tech organized, GoCable is the one gadget you’ll always want on hand.
For a limited time, this portable charger is on sale for just $20.99 (reg. $44.99).
With 100W ultra-fast charging, GoCable isn’t just another flimsy travel cord. It powers up everything — phones, tablets, laptops, Bluetooth earbuds, drones, and more. Apple or Android? Doesn’t matter. This cable has universal compatibility, so you’ll never be caught without the right connector again.
Instead of carrying a mess of tangled cables in your bag, GoCable features a magnetic wrap system that keeps things neat and easy to store. And with an LED power display, you can see your charging status in real time — no more guessing if your device is actually powering up.
And guess what? GoCable doesn’t stop at charging. It’s also packed with handy extras that make life easier.
Need to open a package? The built-in safe-proof cutter has you covered. Grabbing drinks with friends? The bottle opener is always within reach. Traveling light? The carabiner clip lets you attach it to your bag or belt loop, so you never leave it behind.
And when you’re not using it? It snaps together compactly so it doesn’t get lost at the bottom of your bag.
Don't miss getting the GoCable 8-in-1 Everyday Carry Charger while it's just $20.99 (reg. $44.99).
StackSocial prices subject to change.
TL;DR: Generate AI music with 87% off a Supermusic AI lifetime subscription for a limited time.
Opens in a new window Credit: Supermusic Supermusic AI: Lifetime Subscription $39.97Post-Grammys energy got you thinking you might have star potential? Maybe you have an idea for a hit song or the lyrics sitting in your notes app, but no clue how to bring them to life. Another AI innovation now means you don’t need a studio — or even a guitar — to start making music.
You’ve heard of AI image and article generators, but now, check out an AI music generator. It’s like ChatGPT, except when you enter your prompt, you get a complete song with a melody and vocals. You can get a lifetime subscription to Supermusic AI for only $39.97 (reg. $319) and generate 100 songs every month.
Create serious or silly songsWe on the StackCommerce deals team have had a little too much fun creating songs with AI. Supermusic makes it addicting, whether you want to create a silly theme song about your pet cat or turn lyrics you wrote into an actual song.
Here’s how simple it is to create a song:
Enter your song idea, or paste your lyrics if you have them.
Select a music style, like pop, rock, or country.
Hit ‘generate’ and listen to your AI song.
We think you’ll be surprised at how well the songs turn out, and even with how realistic the vocals sound. Listen to one of the songs we generated:
After you generate a song, Supermusic makes it easy to share on social media so you can laugh with friends or grow your pop star dream. You can also explore other creator’s songs on the app, like an AI version of Spotify.
Create songs from a prompt with a Supermusic AI lifetime subscription, now $39.97 (reg. $319) for a limited time. No coupon is needed to get this price drop.
StackSocial prices subject to change.
The Mini is a bite-sized version of The New York Times' revered daily crossword. While the crossword is a lengthier experience that requires both knowledge and patience to complete, The Mini is an entirely different vibe.
With only a handful of clues to answer, the daily puzzle doubles as a speed-running test for many who play it.
So, when a tricky clue disrupts a player's flow, it can be frustrating! If you find yourself stumped playing The Mini — much like with Wordle and Connections — we have you covered.
SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on MashableHere are the clues and answers to NYT's The Mini for Thursday, February 13, 2025:
Across"___ the gap!" (advice for solving this puzzle)The answer is Min.
The answer is Amour.
The answer is Rhino.
The answer is Cisco.
The answer is Ste.
The answer is Marcs.
The answer is Imhit.
The answer is Noise.
The answer is Droop.
The answer is UNC.
If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.
Featured Video For You The Wordle Strategy used by the New York Times' Head of GamesAre you also playing NYT Strands? See hints and answers for today's Strands.
Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to yesterday's Mini Crossword.
HULU BUNDLES: Hulu is offering a range of bundle deals so you can stream from its library without breaking the bank.
The best Hulu deals and bundles in February 2025: Best Bundle Deal Disney+, Hulu, Max Bundle $16.99/month with ads, $29.99/month ad-free Get Deal Best Add-On Deal Disney Bundle Duo Basic Disney+ and Hulu with ads for $10.99 per month Get Deal Best Student Deal Hulu Student Deal Hulu (with ads) for $1.99 per month Get DealThere's a wide range excellent shows and films to watch on Hulu. From Poor Things to the thrilling (and Golden Globe-winning) Shōgun, it's a library that's full of options to keep you entertained for hours.
In celebration of Valentine's Day, we've even gathered up the 24 best romantic comedies streaming on Hulu that are worth a watch this month. If any of these have caught your eye and have you itching to sign up for Hulu, we're here to help. Outside of the standard ad-supported and ad free plans, there are quite a few bundle deals available with Hulu that are worth exploring if you're looking to save some cash.
SEE ALSO: The best Presidents' Day streaming deals: Peacock, Starz, and moreWith streaming prices on the rise (Hulu even recently increased its prices just last year), there's no better time than now to find a way to save on streaming services like this one. Below you can find details on Hulu's best bundles at the moment — alongside information on both its ad-supported and ad free plan, if you just want the basics — offering you a way to save on the service without going overboard on spending.
You'll even get additional streaming services thrown in at a lower cost, and what's better than that?
Best Bundle Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Hulu Disney+, Hulu, Max Bundle $16.99/month with ads, $29.99/month ad-free Get Deal Why we like itReleased last July, this is one of the best Hulu bundles available at the moment. Starting at $16.99 per month, this bundle grants you access to Hulu, Disney+, and Max's streaming services for a much lower price than what you'd pay for the three of them separately. It's an incredible deal to take advantage of, especially if you've already got Disney+ and Max subscriptions. There are two plans to choose from with this bundle, and they are:
Disney+, Hulu, Max Bundle (with ads) — $16.99 per month (save 43%)
Disney+, Hulu, Max Bundle (no ads) — $29.99 per month (save 42%)
If you don't want to splash out on the full Hulu, Disney+, and Max bundle, the next best thing is the Duo Basic bundle. This comes with just Disney+ alongside Hulu, giving you access to each of their ad-supported streaming platforms for as low as $10.99 per month. If you're already subscribed to Disney+ or have been hoping to jump into its library, this is well worth investing in.
Disney Bundle Duo Basic — $10.99 per month
This isn't the only Disney+ plan available with Hulu, though. For those looking to jump into an ad-free tier for the Disney+ and Hulu bundle, there's the Duo Premium (no ads) plan that'll cost you $19.99 per month instead. And if you're a sports fan and want to throw in ESPN+, there are also Disney Bundle Trio Basic and Trio Premium plans, which run for $16.99 per month and $26.99 per month, respectively.
Disney Bundle Duo Premium — $19.99 per month
Disney Bundle Trio Basic — $16.99 per month
Disney Bundle Trio Premium — $26.99 per month
If you're a student enrolled at a university, you can score a Hulu (with ads) plan for even lower than the above bundles. Hulu's Student Deal gives eligible college students the ability to buy a Hulu (with ads) plan for just $1.99 per month. Hulu notes that the deal lasts "so long as student enrollment status remains verified," then it goes back up to the standard monthly price.
Hulu Student Deal — $1.99 per month
If you're just looking to jump straight into Hulu's library without any fancy bundles, there are a couple of subscription options to consider. The ad-supported tier comes in at $9.99 per month, but you'll get your first month free, which is a great way to test the waters and see if it's the right fit for you. If you want to go ad free, that'll cost you $18.99 per month. Unfortunately, this plan does not offer a free trial like its ad-supported sibling.
Hulu (with ads) — $9.99 per month (get first month free)
Hulu (no ads) — $18.99 per month
If you really want to go big on a streaming investment, there's the Hulu + Live TV plan. This costs a whopping $82.99 per month for its ad-supported plan, but comes with plenty to keep you busy. Hulu + Live TV (with ads) gets you access to 95+ channels, unlimited DVR, Disney+ (with ads), ESPN+ (with ads), and Hulu (with ads). If you want to go even bigger with the ad-free plan — which offers Hulu (No Ads), Disney+ (no ads), and ESPN+ (with ads) alongside Live TV — it'll cost you $95.99 per month. The ad-supported plan also offers a free trial, but for just three days instead.
Hulu + Live TV (with ads) — $82.99 per month (three day free trial)
Hulu + Live TV (no ads) — $95.99 per month
Wondering what to watch once you get set up with a Hulu plan or bundle? We're here to help with that as well. Have a look at our roundups of the 30 best comedies on Hulu, the 25 best sci-fi movies on Hulu, and the 26 best horror movies on Hulu to start building your watchlist. And if you're in the mood to binge-watch a show, check out our breakdown of the 25 best shows on Hulu.
While Black Friday is undoubtedly the best time of the year to score epic streaming deals, it's not the only time. With Presidents' Day around the corner, we're keeping our eyes on our favorite streamers to round up any deals that pop up. Fortunately, a few have already surfaced.
Sure, these deals aren't technically labeled Presidents' Day streaming deals, but they're around for a limited time around the holiday, so why not call them what they are? The prices aren't quite as good as Black Friday season, but a deal is a deal. If you're looking to sign up for a new streamer this winter, snag these subscriptions before they disappear.
If any more streaming deals surface, we'll be sure to update this with the latest additions. For now, here are all the best Presidents' Day streaming deals live.
Best Presidents' Day streaming deal Opens in a new window Credit: Peacock Peacock Premiuim $29.99 for one year with code WINTERSAVINGS (save 63%) Get DealThrough Feb. 18, new and returning subscribers can sign up for an entire year of Peacock Premium (the tier with ads) for only $29.99 instead of $79.99 with the code WINTERSAVINGS. That's 63% in savings and undeniably the best streaming deal we've seen since Black Friday. Peacock is, in my humble opinion, the most slept-on streaming service around. Not only is it home to modern classic TV shows like New Girl, The Office, and Parks and Recreation, but also Peacock Originals that are definitely worth watching — including Poker Face, Based on a True Story, Love Island USA, and We Are Lady Parts. And because it's owned by NBC Universal, it's also where you'll find theatrical releases like Conclave, The Wild Robot, and Twisters. At just $30 for the whole year — only about $2.50 per month — it's practically a no-brainer.
More Presidents' Day streaming dealsYouTube TV — free 10-day trial, then $69.99 per month for 6 months ($82.99 per month thereafter)
Starz — $5 per month month for 3 months ($10.99 per month thereafter)
Sling TV 10-year anniversary deal — $10 off first month, free AMC+ for 1 year, and free Max for 1 month
MGM+ — $58.99 per year $83.88 (save $24.89 per year)
Paramount+ Essential — $59.99 per year $95.88 (save $35.89 per year)
Paramount+ with Showtime — $119.99 per year $155.88 (save $35.89 per year)
Hulu (with ads) — $99.99 per year $119.88 (save $19.89 per year)
Disney+, Hulu, Max (with ads) — $16.99 per month $29.97 (save $12.98 per month)
Disney+, Hulu, Max (no ads) — $29.99 per month $51.97 (save $21.98 per month)
Disney+, Hulu, ESPN+ (with ads) — $16.99 per month $31.97 (save $14.98 per month)
Disney+, Hulu, ESPN+ (no ads) — $26.99 per month $46.97 (save $19.98 per month)
SAVE $65: As of Feb. 13, Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Pro are on sale for $134.99 at Woot, down from $199.99. That is a 33% discount on a pair of AI-powered noise-canceling earbuds with real-time translation, 360 Audio, high-resolution sound, and IPX7 water resistance.
Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Pro $134.99 at WootThe Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Pro offer next-level sound quality, noise cancellation, and AI-powered features. At $134.99, they are an absolute steal. Suppose you are in the market for high-end wireless earbuds without spending over $200. In that case, this deal is worth grabbing before it disappears.
These earbuds are designed for serious audio lovers. SSC HiFi and UHQ audio codecs deliver 24-bit/96KHz high-resolution sound. Add 360 Audio with Direct Multi-Channel, and you get a fully immersive, spatial audio experience that works best with Samsung Galaxy devices.
SEE ALSO: Apple iPad mini 7 review: Beefed up and ready for AIActive Noise Cancellation (ANC) is also a major highlight. Samsung has improved its noise-blocking capabilities, meaning you can drown out distractions at work, on commutes, or during workouts. AI-powered sound optimization automatically adjusts to your surroundings for the best listening experience.
The AI features go beyond just audio. The real-time translation tool is perfect for frequent travelers, letting you hear translated conversations on the fly when connected to a Galaxy device. You also get AI-enhanced call clarity, with Super Wideband microphones and noise reduction tech that filters out background noise for crystal-clear communication.
Battery life is solid. With ANC on, you can playback for up to 8 hours, and with the charging case for up to 18 hours. Fast charging support means a quick top-up can keep the music going when you are low on battery.
Durability is also a win here. The IPX7 water resistance rating makes them perfect for intense workouts, outdoor adventures, or getting caught in the rain.
For $134.99, the Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Pro deliver premium ANC, AI-powered features, and high-resolution sound at a serious discount.
SAVE OVER $80: As of Feb. 13, Sennheiser CX True Wireless earbuds are on sale for $39.99 at Woot, down from $129.95. That is 69% off a pair of premium Bluetooth earbuds with passive noise cancellation, 27-hour battery life, touch controls, and deep bass tuning.
Opens in a new window Credit: Sennheiser Sennheiser CX True Wireless Earbuds $39.99 at WootAfter top-tier sound without blowing your budget? Sennheiser CX true wireless earbuds are an absolute steal at just $39.99. That is a massive 69% off their original $129.95 price, making this one of the best budget-friendly wireless earbuds deals we have seen in a while.
Sennheiser has been a household name in high-end audio for decades, and the CX True Wireless earbuds deliver signature German-engineered sound quality. With 7mm TrueResponse dynamic drivers, these earbuds provide clear, balanced audio with punchy bass, crisp highs, and a natural midrange. Whether you are listening to music, taking calls, or watching videos, they offer superior clarity and depth.
SEE ALSO: Apple iPad mini 7 review: Beefed up and ready for AIBattery life is another big win. You get up to nine hours of continuous playback on a single charge, with an extra 18 hours from the charging case, bringing the total to 27 hours of listening time. That means you can go for days without needing to recharge.
One of the standout features is the passive noise cancellation. While these do not have active noise cancellation (ANC), their secure in-ear fit blocks out a surprising amount of background noise, making them great for commuting, working out, or just tuning out distractions. The four sizes of ear adapters included ensure a snug and comfortable fit, no matter your ear shape.
For those who love to customize their sound, Sennheiser offers a dedicated Smart Control app that lets you adjust EQ settings and activate the Bass Boost mode for extra low-end punch. Touch controls on each earbud make it easy to play, pause, skip tracks, and take calls without reaching for your phone.
The IPX4 splash resistance rating means these earbuds can handle sweat, rain, and light splashes, making them a solid choice for workouts and outdoor use.
For $39.99, the Sennheiser CX true wireless earbuds deliver premium sound, solid battery life, and great features at an unbeatable price.
SAVE $209: As of Feb. 13, Beats Studio Buds+ wireless earbuds are on sale for $99.99 at Woot, down from $169.95. That is 41% off a pair of premium true wireless earbuds with active noise cancellation, transparency mode, spatial audio, and 36-hour battery life.
Opens in a new window Credit: Beats Beats Studio Buds+ $99.99 at WootNeed a solid pair of high-quality wireless earbuds that don't vaporize your wallet? This deal on Beats Studio Buds+ is an easy win. Usually $169.95, Woot has them for just $99.99, which is a massive 41% discount. This is an absolute steal for a set of true wireless earbuds with active noise cancellation, transparency mode, and long battery life.
Thanks to their custom acoustic platform, the Beats Studio Buds+ delivers powerful, balanced audio with deep bass and crisp highs. Whether you are listening to music, taking calls, or watching movies, they offer rich, immersive sound with the clarity you would expect from Beats.
SEE ALSO: Apple iPad mini 7 review: Beefed up and ready for AINoise cancellation is another standout feature. Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) blocks unwanted background noise, making them perfect for commuting, working out, or enjoying peace and quiet. If you need to stay aware of your surroundings, Transparency Mode lets in outside sound with a quick tap, so you can hear what is going on without taking out your earbuds.
Battery life is also top-tier. The Beats Studio Buds+ offers up to 36 hours of total playtime, with nine hours on a single charge and an additional 27 hours from the case. That means you can go all day without worrying about recharging. If you are in a rush, a quick five-minute charge gives you up to one hour of playback.
These earbuds are also great for calls, thanks to their larger voice-targeting microphones that filter out background noise for clear, high-quality audio on phone and video calls. The secure, comfortable fit is another plus, with four sizes of silicone tips included to ensure a snug, noise-isolating seal.
At $99.99, the Beats Studio Buds+ offers premium sound, elite noise cancellation, and great battery life for under $100. Woot deals sell out fast, so do not wait too long if you want a pair.
Choosing the best laptop is a largely subjective decision that comes down to your primary use cases, your preferred operating system, and your budget. In other words, there's no such thing as a universally best laptop.
This is an annoying fact of life for both laptop shoppers and those of us doling out "best laptop" recommendations, since we can't make custom judgment calls for everyone in need of a new machine. (I would love to, but I've got a thing after this.) However, I can confidently point you in the right direction of some standouts that I and other members of the Mashable team have vetted and approved.
Our top picksAs of February 2025, Mashable's top laptop overall is the Microsoft Surface Laptop 7, a sophisticated Copilot+ PC with incredible performance, an unrivaled battery life of nearly 23 hours, and some fun AI features, if you're into that sort of thing. Note that Microsoft recently announced an Intel version of it that may appeal to users wary of Windows on ARM for app compatibility reasons, but it's a business-oriented model with a significant markup.
For card-carrying members of Team Apple, we think the best MacBook for most people is the 15-inch M3 MacBook Air, a sleek, peppy notebook with a scrumptious keyboard and closed-lid support for two external displays. We also recommend the 16-inch, M4 Pro-powered MacBook Pro as the best laptop for photo and video editing — it's stupid fast, beautifully made, long-lasting, and configurable with a stunning nano-texture display.
The best laptops we've tried further include several hybrid devices. Our 2-in-1 frontrunner is the Lenovo Yoga 9i 14 (Gen 9), a solid performer with a gorgeous 2.8K OLED display, a rotating soundbar, and a superb webcam. Creative professionals may be better served by the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2, a sturdy convertible with a unique pull-forward design that can turn it into an easel, while heavy multitaskers should look into the 2024 Asus Zenbook Duo. It features two OLED displays, performs well for its price point, and includes accessories like a stylus and a detachable keyboard.
For those on a budget, the Lenovo Yoga 7i 14 (Gen 9) is our newly crowned "best cheap laptop" under $1,000: It's a 2-in-1 Copilot+ PC with ample power for everyday tasks, a good amount of ports, and a starting price of $899.99. It replaces our previous pick, the $799.99 Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3, which has a premium, ultra-portable design and an excellent keyboard but dated internals and a lousy 720p webcam. (It's still a passable option for brand loyalists with tight purse strings, but don't buy it unless it's on sale.)
SEE ALSO: The best cheap laptops for 2025: 6 models under $1,000 that we tested and approvedIf you're trying to spend less than $500, look into the HP Chromebook Plus 15.6-inch: With a large, colorful display, cool everyday performance, and some useful AI features, it's the best Chromebook we've tried.
Finally, we think the Alienware m16 R2 leads the pack among the best gaming laptops we've used. It's a super snappy mid-ranger that's capable of being toned down for everyday use when you're done playing Cyberpunk 2077.
After spending countless hours reviewing laptops across popular brands, we've decided to recommend these models because they're well-made, powerful enough for their respective use cases, and priced fairly. At the very least, we think they can be useful archetypes within different categories of computers. Don't start from square one if you don't have to, you know?
What's on deckWe're currently trying the Dell XPS 13, a Lunar Lake PC with a tandem OLED display. (It'll be the last of its kind: Dell is phasing out the XPS name.) We'll also soon review the latest Framework Laptop 13, a popular modular and repairable laptop with a Mashable Choice Award-winning predecessor. I'll update this story once our testing is complete.
Further down the pipeline is the Asus ZenBook A14, an all-new MacBook Air competitor with a durable "Ceraluminum" chassis and a ridiculous rated battery life of up to 32 hours per charge. I briefly checked it out at CES 2025, and it took home our Best of CES laptop category award. Suffice it to say, I can't wait to put it through the paces of our full testing process.
What we've tested lately (that didn't make the cut)I recently tried the HP OmniBook Ultra Flip 14, a 2-in-1 Lunar Lake laptop priced at $1,899.99 as tested (with an Intel Core Ultra 258V processor, 32GB of RAM, and 2TB of storage). It's an absolutely stunning machine with a colorful 3K OLED touchscreen display, a satisfying keyboard, a velvety touchpad, and a dark aluminum chassis that gives it a moody and elegant look. It also lasted an impressive 15 hours in our battery life test. That said, it has some baffling port placements, mediocre bottom-firing speakers, an oversaturated webcam, and disappointing performance benchmark results.
In a Geekbench 6 multi-core test, my OmniBook Ultra Flip 14 scored slightly lower than the M2-powered MacBook Air from 2023, our current favorite budget MacBook, and significantly lower than its own predecessor. That would be last year's HP Spectre x360 14, which had a mid-range Core Ultra Series 1 processor as tested. I expected way more from a machine with Intel's freshest upper mid-range CPU.
Ultimately, I rated the OmniBook Flip 14 a 4.2/5 — respectable, but not quite a Mashable Choice Award winner. It's a flashy premium hybrid for splurgers who want a future-proofed laptop they won't work very hard, but the zippier Lenovo Yoga 9i 14 feels like a better value for most people at $1,449.99 as tested.
If you're choosing between the two HP models, I'm also inclined to recommend the Spectre x360 14 over the OmniBook Ultra Flip 14. It offers more power and better top-firing speakers for a comparable price.
Read on for Mashable's in-depth guide to the best laptops of 2025. FYI: We've listed the pricing and specs of our testing units, which may not apply to each laptop's base model.
SAVE $209: As of Feb. 13, Sennheiser Momentum 4 wireless headphones are on sale for $169.99 at Woot, down from $379.95. That is a 55% discount on high-fidelity Bluetooth headphones with adaptive noise cancellation, 60-hour battery life, and customizable sound.
Opens in a new window Credit: Sennheiser Sennheiser Momentum 4 $169.99 at WootIf you are in the market for premium wireless headphones, today’s deal on the Sennheiser Momentum 4 is one you should not ignore. These headphones typically go for $379.95, but Woot has them for just $169.99 (55% off). That is insane value for a pair of headphones that compete with the likes of Sony and Bose when it comes to sound quality and noise cancellation.
The Momentum 4 delivers exceptional audio thanks to 42mm drivers and aptX Adaptive support. It gives you rich, detailed sound with deep bass and crisp highs. If you are picky about your audio, the Sennheiser Smart Control app lets you tweak the EQ, presets, and sound modes to get everything right.
SEE ALSO: Apple iPad mini 7 review: Beefed up and ready for AINoise cancellation is also a standout feature. Adaptive ANC automatically adjusts to your environment, blocking distractions so you can focus on your music, podcasts, or calls. But if you still want to hear what is going on around you, the Adjustable Transparency Mode lets in ambient sound without needing to take off your headphones.
Battery life is where these really flex. You get up to 60 hours of playback on a single charge, which absolutely smokes most competitors. Forgot to charge them? No worries — a 10-minute charge gives you six hours of listening time.
For calls, the four beamforming microphones ensure your voice comes through loud and clear. They also automatically suppress wind noise, so your calls sound great even in noisy environments.
Comfort is another win. The lightweight design, padded headband, and deeply cushioned ear cups make these headphones comfortable to wear all day. They also fold up for easy storage, making them great for travel.
At $169.99, the Momentum 4 offers premium audio, elite noise cancellation, and unmatched battery life for a fraction of the price of similar models. Woot deals tend to sell out fast, so if you want a pair, grab them before they are gone.
The U.S. government recently registered DEI.gov and Waste.gov as new federal websites, with Reuters reporting that neither page was responsive as of last Wednesday. Now Waste.gov has been hidden behind a password after apparently going live — with a default WordPress template.
404 Media reports that Waste.gov temporarily displayed an example web page provided by WordPress, using the design template Twenty Twenty-Four and featuring a fictional architectural firm called Études. While the page included the domain name and the tagline "tracking government waste," the rest of Waste.gov focused on Études' fake architectural services. DEI.gov redirected to Waste.gov.
SEE ALSO: Metadata on U.S. government memos reveals authors linked to Project 2025 The Waste.gov website on Feb. 11, 2025, as archived by The Wayback Machine. Credit: Screenshot: MashableThis is a pretty sloppy look for President Donald Trump's new administration, which has also been taking down public health websites hosting information used by doctors to treat patients. That isn't even to mention shutting down the U.S. humanitarian aid agency and its website, the Office of Gun Violence Prevention website, and numerous federal webpages on LGBTQ issues. Waste.gov was quickly locked away behind a password after 404 Media's report.
Judging from the domain names, it's reasonable to assume that Waste.gov and DEI.gov are intended to concern Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency ("DOGE") as well as Trump's ongoing efforts to dismantle diversity, equity, and inclusion programs (DEI). Musk and Trump have continually alleged that the U.S. government is wasting funds, with DOGE aiming to drastically cut federal spending and employees.
Unfortunately, both Trump and Musk have poor histories when it comes to correctly assessing what constitutes waste. An analysis found that Trump's elimination of over 100 environmental protection regulations during his first term contributed to 22,000 American deaths in 2019 alone. Meanwhile, Musk infamously cut almost 90 percent of Twitter's staff after acquiring it 2022, with the company's value subsequently tanking while advertisers deserted the platform.
Despite this, Trump and Musk appear to believe that the U.S. government can be run to an acceptable standard with a fraction of its current employees, significant reliance on AI, and with $2 trillion subtracted from its budget (the federal budget prior to their cuts was $6.8 trillion). On Tuesday, Trump signed an executive order directing federal agencies to execute "large-scale" job cuts and work with Musk's DOGE to limit hiring.
So far, the Trump administration's drastic cuts have primarily caused chaos and concern. DOGE swiftly gained access to the federal government's digital networks and databases ostensibly to search for "waste," locking U.S. government officials out of key systems and sparking numerous lawsuits. Waste.gov's hapless publication of a default WordPress demo website is just another indication that Trump and Musk's hasty gutting of the U.S. government is a messy process that will probably only get messier.
The official trailer for the live-action adaptation of How to Train Your Dragon has arrived, and it looks as though writer and director Dean DeBlois is bring back some very familiar elements in hopes of recreating what made the animated films so beloved.
How to Train Your Dragon follows Hiccup (Mason Thames), the awkward son of Viking chief Stoick the Vast (Gerard Butler, reprising the role he voiced in the animated films). Already struggling to fit in with the dragon-fighting Vikings, Hiccup's life grows even more complicated when he unexpectedly befriends a dangerous Night Fury he names Toothless.
Judging from the trailer, several shots in the live-action film look practically identical to its animated predecessor, particularly Hiccup and Toothless' famous first meeting. We'll just have to wait and see what if any changes have been made to distinguish How to Train Your Dragon's live-action adaptation from the phenomenally popular animated film.
How to Train Your Dragon flies into theatres June 13.