Feed aggregator

You know that thing where you pick up a mysterious party drug from your dealer's place, snort it, and then, while driving your dad's cool-ass convertible back to his posh pad, you accidentally drop a joint in your lap and have to pull over real quick? But while checking on those luxurious leather interiors for scorch marks, a battered woman dressed only in bandages clamors into your car, groaning, flailing, and bleeding all over you? 

SEE ALSO: What to watch: Best Scary Movies

Okay, so maybe the start of MadS, a French zombie thriller new to Shudder, isn't exactly relatable. But through its ambitious cinematography, this freaky thriller keeps us bound to its oblivious heroes, who are on the brink of an undead apocalypse.

Shot as if all in one continuous 88-minute take, MadS gives its audience no chance to escape. This reflects the plight of the film's characters: a group of hard-partying teens who set out for a night of drugs, sex, and dancing, but find only betrayal, violence, and horror. Within this frenzied setup, writer/director David Moreau delivers a uniquely chilling film, emotionally harrowing with a throbbing undercurrent of political commentary. 

What's MadS about? Milton Riche as Romain in David Moreau's "MadS." Credit: Philip Lozano / Shudder

After his bizarre vehicular encounter, 18-year-old Romain (Milton Riche) rushes home to clean up. The mansion around him is cold, modern, and expensive. As the panicked young man tumbles into the shower, we witness the shock of this gruesome encounter wash over him like the water. You get the sense that the privilege of the wealth and status in which he was raised means he has been pretty much untouchable until now. A phone call from his father confirms this, sobering up Romain enough to pull himself together, feign at being fine, and get dressed for a night out with friends. It's as if he fears his surly father more than the inexplicable horror that just went down in the car. 

Soon, Romain is reluctantly scooped up by his friends, and driven to a house party where music thumps, teen drama brews, and he begins to twitch uncontrollably. Is it the drugs? If so, his fiery girlfriend Anais (Laurie Pavy) and her chic bestie Julia (Lucille Guillaume) have reason to worry beyond a romantic rivalry that's testing their bond. As the night goes on, the camera will move from Romain to Anais to Julia. And with each chapter, Moreau sinks his teeth deeper into tension and agony. Sure, soldiers begin closing in to contain the mysterious contagion that's turning our frolicking youths into rampaging ghouls. But more terrifying in MadS is the transformations that play out right before our eyes. 

Laurie Pavy and Lucille Guillaume ramp up the twisted exhilaration of MadS.  Lucille Guillaume as Julia and Laurie Pavy as Anais in David Moreau's "MadS." Credit: Philip Lozano / Shudder

Often in zombie movies, the turn from human to mindless monster is quick —maybe even a jump scare involving a slathering of pale make-up, bags under the eyes, and a slouched posture before a deadly lurching attack. In MadS,  Moreau makes a meal of this change, unfurling it sickeningly slowly. It begins with dilated eyes, twitching movements, and emotional outbursts. But these are so subtle that the victim and even those around them might write these effects off as the impact of a bad drug trip. This ignorance only makes what follows all the worse, all the scarier. 

With Rachel Sennott-style wild child energy, Laurie Pavy stomps through the streets of this French city, on the hunt for a fight or a fuck. Her mouth opens wide in provocation, her body winding into a manically sexual strut. In some moments, it seems she's enjoying the rush of adrenaline the contagion seems to cause. However, when she batters a random man to steal his bicycle, a jarring disconnect is made apparent. Even as she assaults him with a grin, she's crying out in panic, "It's not me! It's not me!" All at once, you can see the exciting freedom of the contagion and the terror of losing yourself to its influence. Things only get more intense as Pavy's Anais comes across Julia, desperate for reconciliation after a frantic fight. 

In an American movie, Guillaume, in her sharp silhouette and dazzling sequined mini-dress, might be a third-act heroine. Perhaps Ready or Not-style, she'd strap on a gun and blow away any threat, including the encroaching military forces. But Moreau is telling a story of privilege and the horrid, unforeseen consequences of it. So, MadS won't offer anything but a glimmer of hope before a conclusion that is absolutely gutting — and eerily beautiful. 

MadS will fuck you up.  Laurie Pavy as Anais in David Moreau's "MadS." Credit: Philip Lozano / Shudder

Throughout the bloody mayhem of MadS, Moreau laces subtle visual pleasures: the sleek design of a classic car, the shimmer of Julia's dress under streetlights, the radiance of Anais' smile, the pulsing lights of a rocking house party, the glittering lights of a city at night, even the shine of a metal necklace lying across a bared chest. Each of these elements is rebelliously beautiful, forcing us to see the splendor amid the horror. And in this way, Moreau underlines what is being lost. For as the night goes on, all of these things will be ruined or covered in blood. 

Chasing his trio across this wild night, Moreau doesn't fill their mouths with impassioned speeches to bestow meaning onto their suffering. Instead, their dialogue feels achingly natural, being about parties, personal insecurities, secrets, and posturing. The sociopolitical subtext can be found in how their night unravels. A rich boy, craving thrills with no sense of what they could cost, means no harm. Yet his intentions don't matter a good goddamn to his supposed loved ones, who will suffer the consequences of his actions all the same. Some mistakes can't be undone, even if your daddy is intimidating, rich, and powerful. And even as longtime horror fans might scoff at the naive choices of these flailing victims, we can't shake off the terror of how much one bad call can matter.

Throughout the film, MadS' one-take device binds us to these characters, allowing us to experience the claustrophobic frenzy and fear at their sides. No cutaways will offer an escape to another location or from the tension. Doggedly, we follow them as they run, bike, and clamor for salvation. We watch helpless as they are as they transform from frivolous to ferocious, their teeth gone from points of pride to pointed weapons. And we share in their horror as the world around them goes from glowing and full of thrills to wretchedly caked in gore and rife with terror.

In short, MadS is a viciously enthralling thriller you don't want to miss. 

MADS debuts on Shudder Oct. 18. 

With MaXXXine, the latest in their X trilogy, Ti West and Mia Goth are charting a curious course as horror's most fascinating new duo. 

It was little more than two years ago that the writer/director and actress/producer unleashed the ultra-violent slasher X upon a giddy SXSW audience prior to a successful theatrical release. Then, just four months later, they unveiled the prequel Pearl, which not only unfurled the tormented origin story of the first film's villain, but also offered a tone so wildly different that it left critics and audiences dizzy with deranged delight. Where X was dripping with lurid sex, vicious shame, and a mean sense of humor plumbed from Tobe Hooper's seminal 1974 slasher, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, Pearl was a campy ode to winsome Technicolor children's movies like The Wizard of Oz and Mary Poppins, but with a dark undercurrent that reflected the devilish potential behind its titular antiheroine's wide-eyed ambition. 

The two films formed a festered fairy tale, where the princess of one becomes the wicked queen of the other. So what does all this mean for MaXXXine, the sequel that follows X's sole survivor to 1985 Los Angeles? Like its predecessors, it's rooted in a tale of sex and murder. But this time West's influences lean into the film-noir classics set in L.A., like Roman Polanski's iconic 1974 hit, Chinatown. The result is a film that starts off familiar but strong, tapping into the seedy pleasures of peep shows and surreal realities of studio backlots. But something gets lost as West and Goth hurtle toward a climax that feels undeserving of the movie that leads up to it. 

What's MaXXXine about? 

Set six years after X, MaXXXine l finds its titular sex worker, Maxine Minx, a successful porn star hoping to make the leap to legit moviemaking in Hollywood. Convinced the sequel to a popular, gory horror movie called The Puritan is her ticket to the big time, she throws her all into the audition. But getting the part won't be nearly as difficult as surviving the leather-gloved stalker who's been picking off her friends one by one. 

SEE ALSO: Ti West owed us Pearl dancing for farm animals

A Final Girl in full, Maxine is not one to be easily scared. Not by the sneering ego of her director (Elizabeth Debicki), the intimidation tactics of a pair of LAPD detectives (Michelle Monaghan and Bobby Cannavale), or a Southern-twanged private eye (Kevin Bacon), whose white suit, wide-brimmed hat, and busted nose make for the movie's most explicit Chinatown reference. But when these murder investigations threaten her fledgling career, Maxine is determined to face off against the mystery killer, with a dark glare and her mantra: "I will not accept a life I do not deserve." 

Mia Goth is once again great under West's direction.  Credit: A24

The baby-voiced British actress has worked with an array of acclaimed filmmakers, including Lars Von Trier (Nymphomaniac), Gore Verbinski (A Cure for Wellness), and Luca Guadignino (Suspiria). Yet it might well be West who has best showcased the doll-faced actress, giving her much more to play than the tragic while beautiful gamine. 

With X, she pulled double duty, portraying the uninhibited and ambitious Maxine as well as the desperately horny (to the point of homicidal rage) Pearl. With Pearl, she threw herself into a parody of an ingenue tale, giving a performance as jarring and enchanting as it was hysterically vulnerable. With MaXXXine, she locks away the insecurities of Pearl, leaning into Maxine's borderline dangerous delusions of grandeur. Witnessing Maxine swaggering onto a studio lot and trash-talking her competition without breaking stride, her unchecked confidence gives a thrill. But as the film lurches into its final act, Maxine threatens to become more clichéd than compelling. 

MaXXXine is at its best when it's a showbiz satire.  Credit: A24

West and Goth are wickedly clever in how they depict Hollywood here. On one front, the film-within-the-film The Puritan II looks destined to be gory, goofy trash. Yet its director — with a lofty English accent — speaks of it like it will rival The Godfather. In the audition for the role of a possessed 1950s housewife, it's not enough for Maxine to cry on cue. She's also expected to bare her breasts, and she does so matter-of-factly, as if being asked to hand over her headshot. 

Such shrugging absurdity comes to a head in a chase sequence through the actual Universal Studios back lot. Here, Bacon's dick chases Goth's starlet from the Old West sets, through a false Manhattan, and up to the stairs of the Bates Motel. It's a knowingly silly sequence that draws attention to the facades of Hollywood and fame, while also showing how mastering the landscape of such agreed-upon lies can help one survive — and even thrive — in Hollywood. It's a point that West drives home with the film's finale. But getting there is a bloody battle. 

MaXXXine loses the courage of its convictions with a frustratingly unsatisfying climax.  Credit: A24

For much of MaXXXine, I was on the edge of my seat, a big goofy grin on my face. West and Goth were chiseling out a film-noir story of a femme fatale who, having survived one attempt on her life, is determined to let no one get the better of her now that she's closer to her dream than ever before. There's a horrid determination in Maxine, who will not be slowed down by the bodies stacking up on the morgue, her grief, or the slaughterhouse secrets she ran from in Texas. To her, Los Angeles is a place of heat and promise. West paints his setting accordingly, framing Maxine as a goddess, tall and untouchable among the squalid backdrops and the blaring evening news reports of the (real) serial killer known as the Night Stalker. 

While outwardly, Maxine can be stoic in the face of death and condemnation, the movie quivers with the energy of an animal running for its very life. Neon lights, leather pants, spurts of blood, and snorts of cocaine piece together an atmosphere so thick you can practically smell the sweat and hairspray. And Goth's supporting cast — which also boasts enthralling turns from Giancarlo Esposito, Moses Sumney, and Halsey — fleshes out this world with attitude, moxie, sneers, and screams. 

But when it comes time to pull back the curtain and reveal the real villain, screenwriter West makes the least interesting — indeed downright predictable — choice. A big, splashy sequence in the Hollywood Hills has action, graphic violence, and plenty of dramatic pronouncements. But after all the possibilities set up in its noir plot, the clunky conclusion feels out of place with the intoxicating satire that led to it. Instead of following the noir-inspiration points to a justly cold and harrowing end (think Sunset Boulevard), MaXXXine seems to abruptly remember its slasher sequel and thus piles on fresh lore, tiresome monologuing, and the requisite higher body count expected as a franchise expands. 

It's a shame. Vibrant in sleaze, satire, and shocking violence, MaXXXine was on the brink of being the best West and Goth have made yet. But a bungled ending leaves a sour taste. 

MaXXXine is now playing on Max.

UPDATE: Oct. 15, 2024, 2:56 p.m. EDT This review was originally published on June 26, 2024. It has been updated to reflect the latest viewing options.

The harrowing story of Dating Game Killer Rodney Alcala boasts a depressingly long list of victims, a series of infuriating failures of the police, and a conclusion that is grim and far from satisfying. Suffice to say, it's pretty shocking that his crimes are the subject that Pitch Perfect's Anna Kendrick has chosen for her directorial debut, Woman of the Hour.

Pulling double-duty on the film, the comedic actress brings her plucky persona to one of the lead roles, playing the unwitting Dating Game bachelorette who peppers the undiscovered serial killer with bawdy questions — much to the delight of a nationwide audience also oblivious to his horrid homicidal streak. 

The script by Ian MacAllister McDonald presents plenty of on-brand scenes for Kendrick, from a humiliating audition with a pair of comically bored casting directors to a deeply awkward interaction with a sex-pest neighbor, to a chance to dazzle under the studio spotlights of a popular TV game show. But how does Kendrick's brand of humor connect with the grisly tale of the Dating Game Killer? 

It doesn't. 

What's the buzz about Woman of the Hour? 

Kendrick's directorial debut premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival amid a wave of other actor/helmer productions, ranging from Taika Waititi's fumbled sports comedy Next Goal Wins, Michael Keaton's mind-bending thriller Knox Goes Away, Viggo Mortensen's somber Western The Dead Don't Hurt, Patricia Arquette's wobbly drama Gonzo Girl, and Chris Pine's bellyflopped comedy-noir Poolman (just to name a few!) Critics out of the first screenings of Woman of the Hour were spreading the word that Kendrick's true crime adaptation was a must-see and maybe the best of this particular crop of movies. Then again, considering the mixed to negative reviews of the aforementioned films, that's not saying much.

Some have compared Woman of The Hour to Emerald Fennell's Promising Young Woman, a darkly comedic thriller that earned its writer/director an Oscar for Best Original Screenplay. However, the similarities between the two films are superficial: Both deal with rape culture, involving a plotline in which women are sexually assaulted and/or murdered by men within a patriarchal society that aims to give the latter the benefit of the doubt, whatever the cost. (Spoiler: The cost is women's lives.) Both films are directed by women. (Only Promising Young Woman is written by one.) End of list. 

Where Promising Young Woman offered a stylish and provocatively twisted revenge fantasy, Woman of the Hour delivers a wobbly retelling of a true crime story with a thread of showbiz comedy. The former film centers its plotline on an angry avenging angel who lures in her predatory prey with a drunken demeanor or smeared lipstick, visually critiquing the victim-blaming tropes survivors encounter in real life. By contrast, Woman of the Hour doesn't have a central heroine but divides itself among a handful of victims presented as genre tropes: a scrappy teen runaway (Autumn Best), a traumatized witness (Nicolette Robinson), a too-trusting flight attendant, and aspiring actress Cheryl Bradshaw (Kendrick). While the film zips back and forth across Alcala's terrible timeline, Cheryl readies to go on the Dating Game not to look for love but to score her big break. Could her professional ambitions get her killed? Kendrick's film seems to ask.

Woman of the Hour is two movies clumsily stitched together. 

Cheryl's thread follows her throughout her frustrations as a struggling actress in Los Angeles, ducking the spirit-crushing remarks of men in power, dodging unwanted kisses, and battling back against sexist bullies using only her wit and a smile wielded like a shield. In such scenes, Kendrick seems at home. As a performer, she's walked the line of chipper yet biting comedy from Pitch Perfect to Into The Woods and A Simple Favor. And it's wicked fun to watch her face off with a surly Tony Hale as a combative Dating Game host. 

A gruesome cold open shows from the start how Alcala operates. So, while Cheryl deals with annoying but relatively harmless threats from men around her, the audience knows what she does not: Doom looms. The call for The Dating Game gig is not one of opportunity but bad fortune.

Perhaps Kendrick purposely put herself into this familiar role so that audiences could understand how even the quirky heroine of a comedy might be caught up in the trap of such a deceptive serial killer. Through this thread, Kendrick shows how Alcala hid in plain sight. However, this section of the film doesn't convincingly connect to the other women's narratives, in part because those characters are so barely developed that their scenes play like something on Investigation Discovery: a swift setup of sweetness before being savagely killed.  

To the credit of Autumn Best, while her pugnacious runaway is thinly sketched on the page, her screen presence is undeniably mesmerizing. You root for her even as the movie gives you every reason to think hope is pointless. However, the other women depicted in the last hours — or even minutes — of their lives are given even less-caring characterization. All of them fall into the same aesthetic framework of '70s beauty, with long hair, vaguely bohemian babe vibes, and an attitude that is tentatively self-empowered. They are introduced long enough to be shown as lovely, before their smiles are perverted to screams under the glare of Alcala's menace.

Anna Kendrick fumbles in true crime storytelling.

Kendrick has no distinctive voice in depicting violence. In Zodiac, David Fincher stoically depicted detailed scenes of slaughter to display to his audience the cold-blooded nature of the attacks. Though there is little gore and much of the assaults happen off-camera in Woman of the Hour, Kendrick indulges in close-ups of the women screaming, their hands bond tightly, their feet kicking helplessly. Far from distinctive, such scenes play like something out of any random slasher film, with shots of yowling victims being dragged out of frame and to their annihilation. It's a sickening spectacle.

Vexingly, by favoring these cliched setups of introducing sexually attractive and confident young women, only to show them slaughtered for letting a male stranger into their lives, Kendrick's approach reduces these sisters in suffering — some of whom are based on real people, like Cheryl herself — into cautionary tales. Don't hitchhike! Don't let a stranger into your home! Don't follow a creep to a second location!

As true crime media evolves, there's been a push from activists and audiences to focus on the victims or the heroes over glamorizing the killer. To be fair, Kendrick doesn't seem interested in Alcala's motives or background. Actor Daniel Zovatto offers a low-boil portrayal of the smirking serial killer, revealing how a bit of kindness might be a hook. Woman of the Hour doesn't fall prey to treating Alcala as special or especially clever, mostly just bold enough to trust in institutional misogyny to not only ignore all his red flags but also the women who would speak out against him. However, the script cherry-picks his story to package a concise yet grisly thriller with that oh-so-marketable true crime edge. Yet it tells us nothing new — about rape culture, police apathy, or even Alcala and his victims.

SEE ALSO: Untangling true crime: Inside the ethics of Hollywood's greatest guilty pleasure

Worse yet, Woman of the Hour manufactures a fictional climax whole cloth in a sweaty bid for a satisfying ending. With so much of this story being stranger than fiction but still true, audiences may well assume this conclusion is fact. Yet McDonald has dreamed up a fantasy finale that isn't even believable within the world he and Kendrick have built. In a film where police are repeatedly presented as impotent and uncaring, it's outrageous to show them victoriously sweeping in, sirens blazing, to save the day. This creation provides a solace the real story does not, and an ending that feels cheap and even insulting.

Far from the thought-provoking narrative within Promising Young Woman, Woman of the Hour plays to preconceived notions without complication: All men are bad, ranging from rapists and killers to creeps or incompetent cops to disappointing boyfriends and failed allies. Women, on the other hand, are victims, gossips, or witnesses.

"What are girls for?" Cheryl playfully asks her bachelors, who mostly flub their replies. Kendrick's film fares no better answering that query.

Woman of the Hour is streaming on Netflix.

UPDATE: Oct. 14, 2024, 5:01 p.m. EDT "Woman of the Hour" was reviewed out of its world premiere at the 2023 Toronto International Film Festival. This article, originally published on Sept. 22, 2023, has been updated for the film's Netflix debut.

In The Line, there is no place more terrifying than a frat house.

Director Ethan Berger portrays these supposed havens of brotherhood as dens of racism, sexism, and homophobia. Between snorting lines of cocaine off bikini pictures and forcing freshmen to shave their genitals, The Line's fraternity brothers complain that prospective pledges are "too dark" or kick up fights by calling each other gay. It would all seem over-the-top, if it weren't so rooted in reality.

SEE ALSO: 'The Line' trailer pulls you into a nightmare frat

That realism is where the true horror of The Line lies. While the film focuses on the fictional Kappa Nu Alpha fraternity — or "KNA," as its members chant mindlessly throughout — you can easily imagine its hazing rituals appearing in the news. With this in mind, Berger and his committed young cast have crafted a searing deep dive into one of the most disturbing elements of American university culture.

The Line explores the nightmarish depths of fraternities.

The Line makes no attempts to glorify the frat bro lifestyle. There are no wild parties attended by everyone in the school, no crazy sex scenes, no moments where you'd think, "Man, this is how I wish I'd spent my formative college years."

Instead, Berger and cinematographer Stefan Weinberger turn KNA's frat house into a dingy, lonely space. You can almost feel floors sticky underfoot with alcohol and smell the brothers' BO as they brag about all the sex they're having, or how they "set the tone" for Sumpter College and the rest of the world. As the brothers are keen to point out, three of their members went on to become president, while others run major companies (and give other brothers jobs there). Yet despite all this important history, there's no sense of connection with the rest of the campus, aside from a mixer with a sorority whose members we never meet. One pledge's roommate doesn't even bother to talk to him. For all their crotch-grabbing, air-humping bravado, the KNA boys come across as pathetic young men. But they're pathetic young men who think they're on top of the world — and based on their privilege and connections, one day they probably will be.

SEE ALSO: 42 movies you'll want to see this fall

That realization is one of the most menacing aspects of The Line, along with a threatening undercurrent Berger weaves throughout. We first get a sense of this threat in the film's opening, a destabilizing sequence where pledges in camo facepaint celebrate after a heinous round of hazing. (The hazing ritual isn't shown in full, but the implied task is a horrifying one.) Cut to Tom Backster (Alex Wolff), a sophomore KNA brother from Florida. He's spent his summer working in a restaurant instead of interning at a prestigious company like the rest of his more well-connected brothers. However, he lies to his friends about his real summer job, hoping not to risk humiliation at their hands. Another lie is the exaggerated Southern accent he puts on to mimic the rest of KNA, a front his mother (Cheri Oteri) likens to "fake Forrest Gump." (She also thinks he sounds brainwashed.) With these character details, The Line lets us know right from the get-go that there's nothing worse for a KNA brother to do than to break the norm.

But break the norm is exactly what one member of the freshman pledge class does. Gettys O'Brien (Austin Abrams) skips pledge events and shows reluctance to adhere to traditions. He pushes back on the older brothers, especially Tom's roommate, Mitch Miller (Bo Mitchell). Between his actions and the new dean of students' (Austin Purnell) promise to crack down on frats' code of conduct violations, it's not long before tensions within KNA lead to disaster. The major turning point of The Line likely won't come as a shock if you're familiar with all the ways fraternity hazing can go wrong, but that doesn't make it any less nauseating when it happens.

The Line's cast brings the brothers of KNA to all-too realistic life.

The Line is a tense horror show throughout thanks to its realistic quality, a tribute to both its handling of its subject matter and its ensemble cast. Wolff and the rest of the KNA boys are frighteningly believable as frat bros, although Wolff brings an extra layer of vulnerability as a KNA outsider who's worked hard to get into this brotherhood and establish a certain image for himself.

As Gettys, Abrams is a slippery enigma who oscillates between "thinks he's too cool for frat tradition" and "desperately wants to be in a frat." His frustration at KNA's dumb demands doesn't stop him from participating, speaking to the sacrifices people will go through to be part of a seemingly high-status group. Facing off against Gettys is Mitchell's Mitch, whose rich father got him into the frat even though everyone there hates his guts. It's a potent combination that leads to volatile, at times even sadistic, outbursts that Mitchell delivers in chilling fashion.

The Line also features Halle Bailey, fresh off her leading turn in The Little Mermaid, as Annabelle Bascom, a sharp student who catches Tom's eye. Bailey does excellent work with the material that she's given, which is disappointingly thin for the star. There's not much to Annabelle beyond her initial aversion to Tom's frat bro status, making her less of a fully-fledged character and more of a figure for Tom to project his misgivings about KNA onto.

The Line is best when it focuses solely on KNA's inner workings, and for the most part, that's where Berger keeps his focus. Charged conversations between the brothers reveal their gross attitudes and their disdain for consequences. Meanwhile, haunting images such as hooded pledges awaiting hazing will make you crave any kind of consequence that much harder. Staying true to real life, The Line doesn't necessarily give you the outcome you might want based on the KNA brothers' actions. But that just makes it an even more compelling indictment of an antiquated tradition, one that unfortunately remains relevant due to its members' privilege.

The Line opens in theaters in New York Oct. 18 and expands nationwide Oct. 25.

UPDATE: Oct. 14, 2024, 3:44 p.m. EDT "The Line" was reviewed out of its world premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival. This article, originally published on June 19, 2023, had been updated to include the latest viewing options.

Online dating as a lesbian can be a joyous experience, but it can also involve having your space invaded by straight people or seeing your ex-girlfriends (and your ex-girlfriends' ex-girlfriends) show up in your feed over and over.

Back in 2020, the heteronormative weirdness on the apps got so alienating that many lesbians turned to TikTok as a means of meeting other single lesbians (and it worked). Unfortunately, it's just not realistic to expect a social media app to work like a dating app for everyone. Lesbians who have exhausted their local romantic options are still going to want to meet new women in time for cuffing season.

And while it's still all too common to match with a woman just to be hit with the classic, "My boyfriend and I are looking for a threesome," dating apps have been making strides against unicorn hunting. Our favorite apps now give queer women a safe space to meet and date other women and non-binary folks.

A Pew Research Center survey from 2023 found that 61 percent of LGBTQ users have positive experiences with online dating. That's not to say it's always easy, though. The same survey showed that we're more likely to experience unwanted advances and even the occasional scammer. But with a bit of caution and the right app, online dating can be a great way to connect with other queer women.

SEE ALSO: TikTok's algorithms knew I was bi before I did. I'm not the only one.

So, what are the best dating apps for lesbians? We tested the most popular dating sites and apps and got some insight from our Dating & Relationships writers to find out.

How to find the best dating apps for lesbians Niche lesbian dating apps aren't your only option for finding love in 2024. Credit: Stacey Zhu / Mashable

Mainstream dating apps attract the most users — including queer users. That means niche lesbian dating apps aren't your only options for finding love. These days, Hinge, Bumble, OkCupid, and even eharmony all have clear filters to help you match with people of the same gender (or any gender at all), as well as filters that acknowledge the existence of non-traditional relationships. Especially if you don't live in a densely populated area, going for the more popular dating apps over lesbian dating sites can often lead to better results.

With that said, there is one dating app lesbian women should try. HER is an app by and for queer women, and it's grown to have a strong user base. According to their website, the app has more than 15 million registered users worldwide. The app also emphasizes finding community and making friends in addition to dating, giving you plenty of ways to find a connection with other queer women and non-binary users.

SEE ALSO: Are dating apps getting too niche?

Check out our guide below for the full rundown of our recommendations and dating app reviews.

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 October 18'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 SEE ALSO: Hurdle hints and answers for October 18 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.

SEE ALSO: NYT's The Mini crossword answers for October 18 Here's a hint for today's Connections Sports Edition categories

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

• Yellow: All important for baseball.

• Green: All would love to see a Super Bowl

• Blue: Places for when you wanna go fast

• Purple: Step up to the plate and bring your popcorn

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 - Places on a Ballfield

• Green - NFC South Cities

• Blue - Nascar Tracks

• Purple - Last Words of Baseball Movie Titles

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 #24 is...

What is the answer to Connections Sports Edition today

• Places on a Ballfield: BULLPEN, DUGOUT, MOUND, PLATE

• NFC South Cities: ATLANTA, CHARLOTTE, NEW ORLEANS, TAMPA BAY

• Nascar Tracks: BRISTOL, DAYTONA, POCONO, TALLADEGA

• Last Words of Baseball Movie Titles: DREAMS, DURHAM, NATURAL, OWN

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.

SEE ALSO: Mini crossword answers for October 18

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 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 Mashable

Here are the clues and answers to NYT's The Mini for Friday, October 18, 2024:

AcrossPackers make picks in it, for short

• The answer is NFL.

Slow ___ (South Asian primate)

• The answer is Loris.

The "S" of N.Y.S.E.

• The answer is Stock.

Like twilight

• The answer is Dusky.

Wilt Chamberlain once had 100 in a single N.B.A. game: Abbr.

• The answer is Pts.

SEE ALSO: Hurdle hints and answers for October 18 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for October 18 DownStill sleeping

• The answer is NotUp.

"Two roads diverged in a wood, and I — I took the one less traveled by" poet

• The answer is Frost.

Dog kisses

• The answer is Licks.

Trippy drug

• The answer is LSD.

The air up there

• The answer is Sky.

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 Games

Are 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.

SAVE OVER $50: As of Oct. 18, the HyperX Cloud II is on sale for $49 at Walmart. That's a saving of 51% on list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: HyperX HyperX Cloud II $49.00 at Walmart
$99.99 Save $50.99 Get Deal

Gaming accessories don't need to drain your wallet, because there are always deals to be had. We're always on the hunt for great deals, and this offer on the HyperX Cloud II wired gaming headset is one that gamers everwhere will love.

As of Oct. 18, you can snag this headset for only $49 at Walmart, saving you over 50% on list price.

This headset is a fantastic option if you're looking to upgrade without breaking the bank. Enjoy comfort from memory foam ear cushions for long gaming sessions, plus incredible audio from the large 53mm drivers. The 7.1 virtual surround sound also helps create an immersive experience by accurately pinpointing sounds in your environment.

The microphone is impressive, too. It's detachable, and noise-canceling to ensure clear communication with your teammates.

According to HyperX, this model is compatible with 7.1 virtual surround sound on PC and Mac. And stereo on PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and mobile devices.

Save over 50% on this versatile headset at Walmart.

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 October 18 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections today: Hints and answers for October 18 NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: All wrapped up

These words are delicious.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

These words are wrapped foods.

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 Dumplings.

Featured Video For You Strands 101: How to win NYT’s latest word game NYT Strands word list for October 18

• Gyoza

• Wonton

• Samosa

• Dumplings

• Ravioli

• Pierogi

• Empanada

SEE ALSO: Hurdle hints and answers for October 18 SEE ALSO: Mini crossword answers for October 18

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.

SAVE $60: As of Oct. 14, the Garmin Forerunner 955 is on sale for $439 at Amazon. That's a saving of 12% on list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Garmin Garmin Forerunner 955 $439.00 at Amazon
$499.99 Save $60.99 Get Deal

Garmin is one of the most recognizable names in the fitness tracker game. With watches for lifestyle, beginner athletes, serious endurance athletes, and everything in between, it has a product for everyone. For runners specifically, there's the Forerunner range. And we can't help but share the love for the Forerunner 955.

As of Oct. 18, the Garmin Forerunner 955 is reduced to $439 at Amazon. That's a saving of 12% on list price, and the lowest it's been priced in over three months. This deal is only available on the non-solar model.

The 955 boasts an array of fancy tools, tracking features, and training tips. Standout features include training readiness, training load, HRV, and sleep monitoring. The battery life is seriously impressive, too, lasting up to 15 days in smartwatch mode and up to 42 hours in GPS mode.

The 955 also supports full GPS tracking, which makes runs, rides, and even open-water swims incredibly accurate. Did we mention it has a 5 ATM water resistance?

Unlike some of the newer models including the Forerunner 965, you won't have an AMOLED display. However, the colors are still vibrant enough that we think this deal is still worth considering.

Run over to Amazon to check out this deal.

TL;DR: Through 27 October at the Mashable Shop, you can get a lifetime subscription to Headway Premium and pay just £34.58 (reg. £230.52) with code HEADWAY.

These days, finding time for anything extra can be a challenge. However, learning and growing as a person is typically a must if you'd like to move ahead at work or generally feel fulfilled in your own life. Of course, with such a busy schedule, there aren't enough hours in the day for reading all the self-improvement bestsellers on your reading list.

Headway is a mobile app that aims to make growth fun and easy. It offers a simple way to enrich your mind and broaden your horizons, even when you're pressed for time. Through 27 October, you can get a lifetime subscription to Headway Premium for just £34.58 (reg. £230.52) when you use the code HEADWAY at checkout.

Headway provides key ideas and insights from the world's bestselling nonfiction titles. It provides more than 1,500 summaries with up to 50 added monthly. You have the option to watch, listen, or read your summaries, which means you can choose to read on your lunch break and listen on your commute home.

It’s ideal for anyone looking to incorporate self-growth into their life. By breaking down complex concepts into bite-sized nuggets, Headway helps you learn and grow, no matter how hectic your day might be. Some of the many topics include productivity, self-growth, money and investment, negotiation, and love and sex. 

While Headway gives you access to the essential ideas, concepts, and principles of each book, it doesn't replace the full content of the original work. The summaries are designed to introduce you to the core messages and key takeaways, making it easier to decide whether to explore the complete book further.

Headway also gives you personalised recommendations to help you reach your goals. Don't miss your chance to make learning a convenient part of your life with this limited-time offer.

A lifetime subscription to Headway Premium is just £34.58 (reg. £230.52) when you use code HEADWAY through 27 October at 11:59 p.m. PT.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Opens in a new window Credit: GTHW App Limited Headway Premium: Lifetime Subscription £34.58 at the Mashable Shop
£230.52 Save £195.94 Use code HEADWAY Get Deal

TL;DR: Live stream Scarlets vs. Bulls in the United Rugby Championship for free on TVNZ+. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The United Rugby Championship brings together some of the best club rugby sides in the world. It feels like there are massive clashes every weekend, with genuine world-class players on display.

That is very much the case with Scarlets vs. Bulls. The South African side are unbeaten this season, but Scarlets will be hopeful of changing that in front of their passionate home support.

If you want to watch Scarlets vs. Bulls in the United Rugby Championship for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Scarlets vs. Bulls?

Scarlets vs. Bulls starts at 7:35 p.m. BST on Oct. 18. This fixture takes place at the Parc y Scarlets.

How to watch Scarlets vs. Bulls for free

Scarlets vs. Bulls in the United Rugby Championship is available to live stream for free on TVNZ+.

TVNZ+ is geo-restricted to New Zealand, but anyone can access this free streaming platform with a VPN. These helpful tools can hide your IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in New Zealand. This process bypasses geo-restrictions so you can stream on TVNZ+ from any location.

Access free live streams of the United Rugby Championship by following these simple steps:

1. Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)

2. Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)

3. Open up the app and connect to a server in New Zealand

4. Visit TVNZ+

5. Live stream Scarlets vs. Bulls for free from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Year Subscription + 3 Months Free) $99.95 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming aren't free, but leading VPN providers do tend to offer free-trial periods or money-back guarantees. By signing up for these deals, you'll be able access free live streams without actually spending anything. This is a temporary fix, but it gives you enough time to stream Scarlets vs. Bulls (plus more United Rugby Championship fixtures) before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for the United Rugby Championship?

ExpressVPN is the best service for bypassing geo-restrictions to live stream the United Rugby Championship, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries including New Zealand

• Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is always secure

• Fast connection speeds

• Up to eight simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $99.95 and includes an extra three months of coverage for free — 49% off list price. This deal includes a year of unlimited data backup and a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Live stream Scarlets vs. Bulls for free from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

TL;DR: Live stream the 2024 Ningbo Open for free on TVNZ+. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

Interested in watching live coverage of the 2024 WTA Tour? TVNZ+ is the streaming service for you.

This popular free streaming service is offering coverage of a number of top tennis tournament this year, including the Ningbo Open. The likes of Haddad Maia and Krejčíková are competing in this year's tournament, so fans can expect some stellar performances from some of the best players in the world.

If you want to watch the 2024 Ningbo Open for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

What is the Ningbo Open?

The Ningbo Open is a women's tennis tournament played on outdoor hard courts at the Yinzhou Tennis Center. This tournament is part of the 2024 WTA Tour.

When is the 2024 Ningbo Open?

The 2024 Ningbo Open is the seventh edition of the competition. This year's tournament takes place from Oct. 14 to Oct. 20.

How to watch the 2024 Ningbo Open for free

The 2024 Ningbo Open is available to live stream for free on TVNZ+.

TVNZ+ is geo-blocked to New Zealand, but anyone from around the world can access this free streaming site with a VPN. These handy tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in New Zealand, meaning you can unblock TVNZ+ in just a few clicks.

Access free live streams of the 2024 Ningbo Open by following these simple steps:

1. Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)

2. Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)

3. Open up the app and connect to a server in New Zealand

4. Visit TVNZ+

5. Watch the 2024 Ningbo Open for free from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Year Subscription + 3 Months Free) $99.95 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but leading VPNs do tend to offer free-trial periods or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can gain access to free live streams without committing with your cash. This is obviously not a long-term solution, but it does give you time to watch every Ningbo Open match before recovering your investment.

If you want to retain permanent access to the WTA Tour, you'll need a subscription. Fortunately, the best VPN for streaming live tennis is on sale for a limited time.

What is the best VPN for the Ningbo Open?

ExpressVPN is the best service for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries including New Zealand

• Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is always secure

• Fast connection speeds

• Up to eight simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $99.95 and includes an extra three months for free — 49% off for a limited time. This plan also includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee.

Live stream the 2024 Ningbo Open for free from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

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 October 18'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 October 18 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 October 18 SEE ALSO: Mini crossword answers for October 18 Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

Spent some time in the slammer.

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

There is one letter that appears twice.

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

Today's Wordle starts with the letter T.

SEE ALSO: Wordle-obsessed? These are the best word games to play IRL. SEE ALSO: Hurdle hints and answers for October 18 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...

STINT.

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 October 17

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

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

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

The “best bromance in tech” has had a reality check as OpenAI has tried to change its deal with Microsoft and the software maker has tried to hedge its bet on the start-up.

Connections is the latest New York Times word game 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 October 17'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 SEE ALSO: Hurdle hints and answers for October 18 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 October 18 Here's a hint for today's Connections categories

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

• Yellow: Sorry this wasn't it pal

• Green: You only get one

• Blue: Cashless transactions

• Purple: Types of Amazons

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 - Clunker

• Green - Opportunity

• Blue - Non-Cash Way to Pay

• Purple - Amazon___

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 #493 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• Clunker: BUST, DUD, FLOP, MISS

• Opportunity: CHANCE, SHOT, TIME, TURN

• Non-Cash Way to Pay: CARD, CHARGE, CREDIT, PLASTIC

• Amazon___: KINDLE, PRIME, RAINFOREST, RIVER

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 October 17

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

SEE ALSO: Mini crossword answers for October 17

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.

Florence Pugh and Andrew Garfield discuss the ways that food is utilized in 'We Live in Time' and how Florence Pugh's culinary background was able to flourish in this film.

Megan Thee Stallion and Venom have a silly FaceTime call in a promotional clip for "Venom: The Last Dance," out Oct. 25.

We warned you that this change was coming – but X has just made it official: Blocking on Elon Musk's social media platform, formerly known as Twitter, will no longer actually block users from viewing content — and now users appear to be fleeing X once again. 

Tweet may have been deleted

Essentially, a block on X will now just mean that a blocked user can't interact with your posts. They can still see them though, which was not the case before this change. The change to the block function was met with largely negative reactions, with even Musk supporters pointing out the user safety concerns that come with this shift.

SEE ALSO: Musk is gutting X's blocking feature — why this change is dangerous

And it appears the change in the block function was enough for some users to flee to a new social media platform. X alternative Bluesky announced on Thursday that it had gained half a million new users in the 24 hours since X made the formal announcement about the change.

update: half a million new people in the last day 🤯 welcome, いらっしゃいませ, 환영, bem-vindo! 🦋🎉

[image or embed]

— Bluesky (@bsky.app) October 17, 2024 at 1:00 PM Bluesky grows by 500,000 in 24 hours

Bluesky is one of the few X alternatives that have found success after Musk's acquisition of then-Twitter. It is the third largest micro-blogging type social media platform after competitors X and Meta's Threads. However, unlike those two companies, Bluesky is registered as a public benefit corporation, and brands itself as the decentralized social media platform (Threads also has decentralization features).

"welcome to the 100k+ people who have joined Bluesky in the last 12 hours!!!" the official Bluesky account on Bluesky announced just after 2am on Oct. 17.

welcome to the 100k+ people who have joined Bluesky in the last 12 hours!!! 🦋 🎉

— Bluesky (@bsky.app) October 17, 2024 at 2:22 AM

Bluesky then followed up with an update close to the 24 hour mark.

"update: half a million new people in the last day," the official Bluesky account posted.

Both Bluesky and Threads tend to notice a bump in user sign-ups after Musk makes a decision that appears to alienate X users. However, despite having fewer resources than the Instagram-linked Threads, Bluesky continues to attract hundreds of thousands of new users every time X users set off for a new home

For example, when Brazil banned X from operating in the country last month due to the company's refusal to comply with its laws, Bluesky touted another surge in user growth. In just one week, the social media platform gained 3 million new users.

Shortly after that bump in user numbers, Bluesky announced that it had hit 10 million users. Now, thanks to this latest move by X, Bluesky has just blown past 11 million users. It'll be interesting to see what X does next to bring about Bluesky's next milestone.

Elon Musk's X is moving forward with his proposed changes to blocking users, a shift that allows blocked accounts to see a user's public profile and posts but prevents them from interacting with the content. 

Musk, who has long made it known he doesn't agree with the current blocking and moderation environment online, sees the account blocking standard as ineffectual, with bad actors using alternative accounts or private browsers to get around the block. 

Tweet may have been deleted

The notion is a fragment of the truth. Blocking has never been an effective solution for online harassment. Nor does it guarantee a user's online safety. But it's a first defense against bad actors and abusers in online spaces. And, when used in conjunction with more expansive measures and online safety education, it fills out a user's safe online experience toolbox.  

A standard blocking feature is also a required safety component for downloadable social media apps in online marketplaces. So what will happen when it's gone?

SEE ALSO: Bluesky gains half a million new users in one day after X changes how blocking works Stalking, harassment, and the rise of deepfakes make blocking necessary

Almost a month after Musk initially posted about the change, X users logged on to find a formal pop-up from the platform alerting users to the change. Many were enraged, calling it a misunderstanding of how blocking is fundamentally used and a move that will only support further stalking and harassment.  

Users pointed out that the block button is often the first recourse in situations of mass doxxing or online verbal abuse, like death threats, spurred by a viral post or controversy. Most noted that the new blocking tool makes being online even more difficult for those choosing to keep public accounts, often for professional reasons, essentially forcing users to switch to private profiles if they don't want previously blocked accounts to view their musings and photos. It's essential for many in setting online boundaries.

It also means less protections for communities and identities already at risk for harassment. GLAAD's 2024 Social Media Safety Index, an annual review of online platforms' protection policies, found that X was the most unsafe platform for LGBTQ users. The same was true in 2023. Advocacy organizations like the Trevor Project frequently recommend at-risk users exercise the ability to block users liberally. 

Tweet may have been deleted Tweet may have been deleted

X's altered blocking features could have even greater repercussions on young users, too, who already face higher risks of abuse on these platforms amid a national mental health crisis. 

A report by Thorn, a tech nonprofit combating child sexual abuse, found that teens rely heavily on online safety tools to defend themselves in digital spaces, and are "most likely to use blocking and leverage it as a tool for cutting off contact in an attempt to stop future harassment," according to the organization. 

"Online safety tools serve as a primary defense for minors facing harmful online sexual interactions," the report reads. "Many youth prefer using tools like blocking, reporting, and muting over seeking help from their offline community. In fact, teenagers are about twice as likely to use these online tools than to talk to someone in their real-life network." 

This reliance on digital features by young users conjures up other issues — an overreliance on piecemeal platform policies, as well as a sense of shame and fear in reporting these interactions to people in real life, to name a few — but that won't be solved by removing the features altogether. 

X is already failing to appropriately address concerns about content moderation on its platform, and has been relying on an opaque policy of "rehabilitating" its offending users. As the amount of AI-generated child sexual abuse material, lamely checked by Big Tech, increases, open access to youth accounts and the media they post is even more concerning.  

At large, social media platforms have been under fire for their failures to address online safety and mental well-being. While Musk has brought back some safety and moderation offerings (after gutting them), other social media platforms have leaned more severely into customizable online safety tools, including blocking features. Instagram's recent "Limits" and "Teen Accounts," for example, have built up even more barriers between young users and strangers online — it's parent company Meta has introduced similar restriction across its platforms.