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Mashable is a leading source for news, information & resources for the Connected Generation. Mashable reports on the importance of digital innovation and how it empowers and inspires people around the world. Mashable's 25 million monthly unique visitors and 10 million social media followers have become one of the most engaged online news communities. Founded in 2005, Mashable is headquartered in New York City with an office in San Francisco.
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Turn complex ideas into clear visuals with this $10 Microsoft tool

Tue, 01/27/2026 - 17:00

TL;DR: Make difficult ideas more accessible with this Microsoft Visio 2021 Professional lifetime license for Windows, on sale now for only $9.97 (reg. $249) through Feb. 8.

Opens in a new window Credit: Microsoft Microsoft Visio 2021 Professional: Lifetime License for Windows $9.97
$249.99 Save $240.02   Get Deal

Tired of trying to explain your ideas over and over again? Maybe it’s time to try a new approach — turn them into a visual. Microsoft Visio 2021 Professional lets you transform complex ideas into easy-to-digest diagrams, so you can get your point across more effectively.

Right now, you can get a Microsoft Visio 2021 Professional lifetime license for Windows for just $9.97 (reg. $249) until Feb. 8.

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If you’re dealing with large amounts of data or technical info that can be hard to share, Microsoft Visio 2021 Professional is ready to help. This tool comes complete with premade templates, starter diagrams, flowcharts, org charts, floor plans, stencils, and more, so you can present your ideas clearly and confidently.

Gain access to over 250,000 shapes to help share your data, or create your own using a finger or pen if you’re using a touch-enabled device. There are also brainstorming templates available to help you flesh out ideas that may still need further development.

Using data from Excel, Exchange, or Microsoft Entra ID? Microsoft Visio makes it easy to automatically create org charts, process maps, floor plans, and more with your data with just a few clicks.

This Microsoft tool’s lifetime license gives you permanent access to all the features from Visio Standard, and even more templates, shapes, and collaboration features. Just note, you will need a Microsoft 365 or SharePoint subscription to use this tool.

Get this Microsoft Visio 2021 Professional lifetime license for Windows, on sale now for only $9.97 (reg. $249) through Feb. 8.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

TikTok settles as Meta and Google face jury in social media addiction suit

Tue, 01/27/2026 - 16:52

A jury will decide whether or not platforms like Instagram and YouTube intentionally foster addictive behaviors in teen users, as their owners — Meta and Google, respectively — head to court over a series of social media lawsuits.

Set to begin today (Jan. 27), the lawsuit claims the companies knowingly created site features that led to addictive behavior, self-harm, and suicidal thoughts. It was brought forth by a 19-year-old user, referred to as K.G.M., and her mother. The suit seeks monetary damages for the individual and seeks to force named platforms to change the design of their sites to curb excessive use. The original claim also named Snapchat parent company, Snap, and TikTok, in addition to Meta and Google.

SEE ALSO: TikTok in the USA so far: Outages and outrage

Hours before the tech giants were set to appear before the jury, TikTok reached a settlement agreement with the plaintiff and will no longer face a deposition before the court. Matthew Bergman of the Social Media Victims Law Center, the organization representing K.G.M., told the press that the terms of the settlement remain confidential.

Last week, Snapchat also settled out of the case, saying the plaintiff's claims were resolved in an "amicable matter." The next day, Snapchat announced new parental controls for teen users, including upgrades to activity and screen time monitoring tools. TikTok and Snapchat are still named in other cases related to tech use and youth mental crises.

K.G.M.'s case, which will be heard in a Los Angeles court, is the first of what could be numerous cases related to social media's effects on user mental health — they are the culmination of years of pressure on Big Tech following a 2021 whistleblower investigation against Meta. The Los Angeles hearing is one of three chosen test cases, selected from the vast number of related suits, that will determine how to proceed with subsequent lawsuits. In addition to individual suits, social media platforms have been sued by child safety coalitions, school districts, and even state attorneys general. Many have been consolidated under state courts.

Some have called the bellwether trials a legal reckoning for platforms and, especially, their executives, many of whom have allegedly been complicit in continuing addictive features on their websites and apps despite warnings from employees. Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg is expected to testify before the Los Angeles jury.

People are joking about Signal alternatives amid FBI investigation

Tue, 01/27/2026 - 16:41

Signal, the privacy-focused messaging platform, is in the news — and not for pleasant reasons.

FBI Director Kash Patel said he had opened an investigation into Signal chats used by Minnesota residents to share information about ICE's movements. Signal offers end-to-end encryption and is often used by folks worried about privacy and cybersecurity. The Trump administration itself used Signal chats to discuss military strikes.

But with the news that the FBI wanted to go after Signal chats, folks joked about what could replace it. Mostly, people joked about returning to super-antiquated or random chat platforms. The jokes were especially popular on Bluesky.

Deleting Signal now that I know it's compromised. Find me on Facebook Messenger

— Joad The Wet Sprocket (@joadsprocket.bsky.social) January 26, 2026 at 6:02 PM

Deleting Signal now that it's compromised. Find me at first light on the fifth day; at dawn, look to the east.

[image or embed]

— prim ❄️ (@primordial.bsky.social) January 27, 2026 at 9:05 AM

Deleting Signal now that I know it's compromised. Find me with the Dymo label maker.

[image or embed]

— David Brauer (@dbrauer.net) January 27, 2026 at 12:16 AM

Deleting Signal now that I know it’s compromised. Find me on Netscape.

[image or embed]

— 𝚌𝚛𝚢-𝚌𝚛𝚢 𝚑𝚘𝚛𝚜𝚎 (@mandulorian.bsky.social) January 26, 2026 at 7:34 PM

Deleting Signal now that I know it's compromised. Find me on Game FAQs

[image or embed]

— Patrick Lindsey (@patricklindsey.bsky.social) January 26, 2026 at 6:22 PM

If you want to get in touch with me, forget Signal. I'm communicating only through skywriting. Look upward and find me there.

Ticketmaster is selling $1,000 Harry Styles tickets. Fans are not having it.

Tue, 01/27/2026 - 16:39

Harry Styles fans are expressing frustration over ticket prices for his newly announced Together, Together tour, after Ticketmaster presales this week revealed costs that many said were prohibitively expensive.

The backlash reflects a familiar tension in modern pop fandom, where highly online communities collide with soaring concert prices, limited tour dates, and a cost-of-living crisis that has made live music feel increasingly out of reach. As screenshots of ticket prices spread across X, Threads, and TikTok, the presale chaos quickly became less about one artist and more about a broader question: Who gets to participate in pop culture moments when "together" comes with a four-figure price tag?

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The frustration quickly spilled onto social media, where fans shared screenshots of ticket prices, queue messages, and memes critiquing the Together, Together tour's cost and accessibility.

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Compounding the frustration is the tour's residency-style rollout, which limits Styles' U.S. appearances to a single venue — 30 dates at Madison Square Garden in New York City — and just a handful of cities globally, a format fans have already criticized as inaccessible. With many forced to factor in travel, lodging, and time off work on top of ticket prices, the Together, Together tour has sparked renewed debate online over whether destination concerts prioritize spectacle and exclusivity over fan access.

The backlash comes as Styles returns to the spotlight with his new single "Aperture" and the upcoming album Kiss All the Time. Disco, Occasionally. — and it's part of a broader, ongoing tension between fans and Ticketmaster.

Last fall, Live Nation CEO Michael Rapino said that concert tickets are actually "too cheap." Speaking at CNBC and Boardroom's Game Plan conference in September, Rapino compared concert pricing to that of expensive sports events, noting that shows by top artists are now complex productions that justify higher costs. "We have a lot of runway left," he said. "So when you read about ticket prices going up, the average concert price is still $72. Try going to a Laker game for that… The concert is underpriced and has been for a long time."

Critics weren’t convinced. As Mashable's Tim Marcin noted, "On average, a ticket to Taylor Swift's Eras Tour cost $3,071 in Indianapolis, the capital of a state with a median income of $71,959. The price of a single ticket was double the average monthly rent in the city. That surely cannot be considered 'underpriced.'"

As for Styles' Together, Together tour, fans who managed to make it through the presale queue were met with a wide price range for the Madison Square Garden dates. Buyers were told that tickets "have been priced in advance by the tour from $50 – $1,182.40, including service fees. Ticket prices will not change during the presale or onsale. Price ranges do not apply to VIP packages. Tickets are subject to availability." According to the Hollywood Reporter, the most expensive VIP package currently available for the MSG shows is $1,667.

Even within those guidelines, seats were priced based on demand, and fans reported costs jumping as the venue filled — leaving many scrambling for anything they could actually afford, or sharing screenshots online to vent about just how out of reach "together" felt.

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For now, "together" may remain more of a marketing promise than a lived experience. Looks like many of us will be watching this tour through TikToks and livestreams.

Pinterest to lay off staff and shift resources to AI, company says

Tue, 01/27/2026 - 14:43

The social media platform Pinterest is laying off as many as 675 workers, according to a new report from CNBC.

Why? Because the company is shifting its focus to AI, at least, in part.

In a securities filing submitted earlier this month, Pinterest specifically cited AI as one of the reasons for the planned reduction in force. The filing states that Pinterest plans on "reallocating resources" to teams with an AI focus and prioritizing "AI-powered products and capabilities."

SEE ALSO: Anthropic CEO warns AI will destroy half of all white collar jobs

Pinterest's layoffs are expected to hit just under 15 percent of its workforce, adding those employees to the growing number of people who have lost their jobs because of AI.

As CNBC also reported late last year, consulting firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas found that nearly 55,000 people lost their jobs in 2025 due to AI. Pinterest plans to have completed its cuts by Sept. 30, 2026.

The filing also says that Pinterest's sales and marketing strategies are being reconfigured, which might be a hint as to which departments will be hit by layoffs.

Pinterest received praise from AI critics last October after becoming the first major social media platform to buck the trends and offer users the ability to filter out AI content from their feeds. Being that Pinterest is so heavily dependent on visual content, AI-generated slop was starting to inundate the platform. The negative reaction from users forced the platform to address this trend and provide users with options to remove the content. 

SEE ALSO: AI slop is killing the internet

Despite this move, Pinterest has been increasingly focused on bringing more AI to the platform, like virtually all tech companies. In late October, Pinterest launched "Pinterest Assistant," an AI-powered shopping tool on the platform.

Furthermore, earlier this year, rumors and discussions spread online about the possibility of AI giant OpenAI acquiring Pinterest, although there have been no substantiated reports about such an acquisition yet.

Lego unveils 5 more Star Wars Smart Play sets, including a Millennium Falcon: Where to preorder

Tue, 01/27/2026 - 14:11
Preorder the new Lego Star Wars Smart Play compatible sets: Lego Star Wars Smart Play: Millennium Falcon $99.99 Pre-Order Here Lego Star Wars Smart Play: Mos Eisley Cantina $79.99 Pre-Order Here Lego Star Wars Smart Play: Luke's Landspeeder $39.99 Pre-Order Here Lego Star Wars Smart Play: Yoda's Hut and Jedi Training $69.99 Pre-Order Here Lego Star Wars Smart Play: AT-ST Attack on Endor $49.99 Pre-Order Here

Alert all commands: Lego unveiled five new Star Wars Smart Play compatible sets at the Nuremberg Toy Fair today (Jan. 27), including an 885-piece Millennium Falcon set with four Smart Minifigures. The sets range in price from $39.99 to $99.99 and will launch on March 1 alongside three previously announced "All-In-One" Star Wars Smart Play sets, more than doubling the lineup.

Preorders are now live through the Lego Store and third-party retailers like Amazon, Best Buy, and Target.

Notably, Best Buy has implemented a reservation system for its preorders due to high demand. Shoppers must create an account, confirm their location, and wait in line for account and inventory verification in order to purchase any of the sets. At the time of writing, I waited 20 minutes trying to add the Millennium Falcon set to my cart before giving up.

What is Lego Smart Play? Get even more interactive with your play. Credit: Lego

Lego first unveiled its interactive Smart Play platform at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in early January. The system revolves around a 2 x 4 "Smart Brick" filled with sensors that make Smart Minifigures and Smart Tags react to movement and positioning, producing lights and sound effects.

Shoppers should be aware that the five new sets don't include the Smart Brick or its charger, which is necessary to make them interactive. (Without the Smart Brick, these are just regular Lego builds.) Since Lego doesn't sell the Smart Brick on its own, you'll need to purchase one of the three other All-In-One sets that include it:

Read on for more details about the five just-announced sets that will launch alongside them in a matter of weeks.

Lego Star Wars Smart Play: Millennium Falcon set Credit: Lego

This is Lego's third Millennium Falcon build after its mega-popular, mega-expensive flagship set from 2017 and its $85 midi-scale counterpart from 2024. It contains 885 pieces, including four Smart Minifigures of Luke Skywalker, Han Solo, Chewbacca, and C-3PO, plus four Smart Tags for various effects. According to a press release, fans will be able to "jump into light speed, shoot lasers from the stud shooters, play holochess, or practice lightsaber skills" by adding a Smart Brick. It's meant for ages 9 and up.

Opens in a new window Credit: Lego Lego Star Wars Smart Play: Millennium Falcon $99.99 at Amazon
  Pre-order Here Lego Star Wars Smart Play: Mos Eisley Cantina set Credit: Lego

Tatooine's infamous tavern has also been represented in a Lego build before. But this new 666-piece set marks the first time it will presumably be able to play Figrin D'an and the Modal Nodes' iconic ditty. (It's stuck in your head now, isn't it?) The set comes with Smart Minifigures of Obi-Wan Kenobi, the bounty hunter Greedo, a Sandtrooper, and two band members, plus three Smart Tags for a Dewback, karaoke, and drink mixing. It's geared toward ages 8 and up.

Opens in a new window Credit: Lego Lego Star Wars Smart Play: Mos Eisley Cantina $79.99 at Amazon
  Pre-order Here Lego Star Wars Smart Play: Luke's Landspeeder set Credit: Lego

Luke's grungy X-34 Landspeeder will be able to produce refueling and repairing sound effects in this 215-piece build for ages 6 and up. It includes a Luke Minifigure and teensy Jawa and Gonk Droid models.

Opens in a new window Credit: Lego Lego Star Wars Smart Play: Luke's Landspeeder $39.99 at Amazon
  Pre-order Here Lego Star Wars Smart Play: Yoda's Hut and Jedi Training set Credit: Lego

This 440-piece set builds into Yoda's Jedi training grounds on Dagobah, complete with Smart Minifigures of him and Luke and a little R2-D2. Two included Smart Tags will play force training and cooking sounds when paired with a Smart Brick. It's best for ages 8 and up.

Opens in a new window Credit: Lego Lego Star Wars Smart Play: Yoda's Hut and Jedi Training $69.99 at Amazon
  Shop Now Lego Star Wars Smart Play: AT-ST Attack on Endor set Credit: Lego

Star Wars: Return of the Jedi's final battle gets brickified in this 347-piece set, also for ages 8 and up. It has a Smart Minifigure of Wicket the Ewok and Smart Tags that will make the AT-ST walker and Speeder Bike builds play sounds.

Opens in a new window Credit: Lego Lego Star Wars Smart Play: AT-ST Attack on Endor $49.99 at Amazon
  Pre-order Here

Good news, bad news: Samsung Galaxy TriFold finally has a U.S. release date and price tag

Tue, 01/27/2026 - 14:07

Samsung's next big thing has a big price tag.

The Korean tech giant finally announced a U.S. release date and price tag for the Galaxy Z TriFold, a smartphone with a new foldable form factor that includes not one but two creases in the middle of a gargantuan inner display. The phone, which we got some hands-on time with at CES 2026 a few weeks ago, will launch in the States on Jan. 30 for a price of $2,900.

Yes, you read that right. Two thousand and nine hundred dollars.

SEE ALSO: Samsung Galaxy S26: The 7 rumored features that could make me switch

For early adopters dying to get their hands on the TriFold, it's very much a good news, bad news situation. Previous rumors put the price of the TriFold at about $2,500. In addition, many mobile insiders expected to learn the TriFold's U.S. release date at the next Galaxy Unpacked event, rumored to take place on Feb. 25.

To be fair to Samsung, a high price is not a huge surprise, nor is it entirely unreasonable considering the going price for other, theoretically inferior foldable devices. Last year's Galaxy Z Fold 7, which is a similar device that only has one crease and a smaller internal display, started at $1,999. It's not completely out of this world to see a phone with a new form factor and presumably even more expensive tech inside of it start at a higher price point than that. In addition, Korean publications have reported that Samsung is actually losing money on sales of the TriFold.

Still, $2,900 is a lot of money for a smartphone, no matter how much context you throw at it. We can't say yet if the benefits of the new form factor outweigh the downside of paying that much for it, but hopefully people who do spent that amount of money on the TriFold are happy with their decision.

SEE ALSO: Samsung Galaxy Z TriFold hands-on: I'm excited, but it's got quirks

OnlyFans baits and switches customers with false promises, lawsuit claims

Tue, 01/27/2026 - 13:58

A class-action lawsuit filed yesterday in California alleges that adult creator platform OnlyFans engages in "bait-and-switch" practices that mislead customers. The platform offers monthly subscriptions providing "full access" to creators' content, when in reality, most content is locked behind further paywalls.

When OnlyFans customers click "subscribe" to a creator's paid subscription, they're met with a pop-up promising "Full access to this user's content" and "Direct message with this user" (along with being able to cancel at any time). For free subscriptions, the page simply refreshes when a fan clicks "subscribe."

Credit: Screenshot: OnlyFans SEE ALSO: How I make six figures on OnlyFans without taking my clothes off

This complaint claims, however, that "millions of Fans have bought subscriptions only to discover that, behind OnlyFans's paywalls, Creators' exclusive content remains inaccessible." Rather, many creators only post teasers for content not included with the subscription, asking for subsequent payments to view. The suit also alleges that "the sole 'benefit' of many subscriptions is the privilege of being spammed with offers to buy access to content that OnlyFans initially promised."

"In essence, OnlyFans promises a buffet, but provides only a menu," the complaint states.

Specifically, this suit — with over 100 class members — alleges that OnlyFans violated the California consumer protection law, the Consumers Legal Remedies Act, which prohibits deceptive tactics like false advertising, and Section 5 of the Federal Trade Commission Act, a similar statute.

The plaintiff, Los Angeles resident David Gardner, says he paid to subscribe to two OnlyFans creators he found on X, only to see non-explicit "teaser" content. He also received mass direct messaging soliciting further purchases.

The complaint states that Gardner "would like to subscribe to different Creators in the future, but cannot rely on OnlyFans's representations in choosing whether to do so."

Mashable has reached out to OnlyFans for comment.

OnlyFans has been sued several times over the years. In December, a federal judge dismissed a suit claiming that the platform and management agencies were running "chatter scams" that essentially tricked customers into believing they were talking directly to creators.

Amazon has curated its top 100 Valentines Day gifts. Here are our 10 favorites from the list.

Tue, 01/27/2026 - 13:56

Looking at Amazon for a Valentine's Day gift is both comforting and overwhelming. On one hand, there are so many cute ideas to choose from that'll ship really fast. But on the other hand, there are so... many... cute ideas to choose from. Luckily, Amazon has narrowed down your options to its top 100 Valentine's Day gift ideas for 2026.

Amazon's Valentine's Day gift guide features a wide range of gifts for her, gifts for him, gifts that'll be universally well-received by whoever, really. Many items match the recommendations we picked for our own gift guides.

From that massive list, we've handpicked our 10 favorite gift ideas that we already know are beloved across the internet:

1. A massage gun Opens in a new window Credit: TheraBody TheraGun Relief $159.99 at Amazon
TheraBody's gentlest massage gun provides percussive massage therapy for body tension and muscle soreness — whenever they want it, without leaving the house. Also available in black, gray, and navy. Shop Now 2. A buildable Lego bouquet Lego Botanicals Pretty Pink Flower Bouquet (10342) $59.95 at Walmart
Lego Botanicals bouquets have been a fan favorite gift of Mashable readers for years. As an alternative to the classic set of a dozen roses, this lighthearted bouquet includes pink roses, orchids, and a waterlily. Shop Now at Walmart Shop Now at Amazon 3. The Kindle Paperwhite (with a pink case) Amazon Kindle Paperwhite (16GB) $134.99 at Amazon
$159.99 Save $25 The Kindle Paperwhite has a 12-week battery life and zippy page turning, making it a unanimous pick for the best Kindle. It's a great gift for a bonafide bookworm or someone who just needs something to do on the plane. Shop Now at Amazon 4. The heart-shaped cast iron cocette Opens in a new window Credit: Le Creuset Le Creuset Heart Cocette $174.95 at Amazon
Any of Le Creuset's enameled cast iron is a rite of passage for anyone who likes to cook. If they're also big on all things cutesy, the heart-shaped cocette is a must-have for V-Day. Also available in four other shades. Shop Now 5. Bose QuietComfort noise-canceling earbuds (in pink) Opens in a new window Credit: Bose Bose QuietComfort Earbuds $179
After testing a ton of pairs, the Bose QC are also the noise-cancelling earbuds we'd recommend to anyone. They're still comfy after several hours and the case itself can charge wirelessly. Also available in black, white, ice blue, and twilight blue. Shop Now 6. A compact Keurig (in berry) Keurig K-Express $89.99 at Amazon
$109.99 Save $20 That coffee that you were going to take to them in bed? You can make it on their new berry-colored Keurig K-Express. This compact model requires little counter space and has a unique Strong Brew setting. Also available in five other shades. Shop Now at Amazon 7. A wireless Xbox controller (in red) Opens in a new window Credit: Microsoft Xbox Wireless Controller $76 at Amazon
Yes, the Pulse Cipher shade of the staple wireless Xbox controller is automatically a Valentine's Day gift just because it's red. Even if the Xbox-er you know already has one, it's nice to have a backup while the other is charging. Shop Now 8. The Dyson Airwrap i.d. Opens in a new window Credit: Dyson Dyson Airwrap i.d. $649 at Amazon
The Bluetooth-connected version of the iconic Dyson Airwrap customizes the optimal styling routine based on its user's hair type, length, and desired look. Six attachments come in the box, including a round volumizing brush, mini hair dryer, or curl diffuser. Shop Now 9. The Echo Pop Amazon Echo Pop $39.99 at Amazon
Make their life easier with an Echo Pop. Amazon's mini smart speaker can play Spotify, set timers, and offer hands-free help with daily inquiries they'd otherwise have to Google, from recipe conversions to weather to answers to random questions. Shop Now at Amazon Shop Now at Amazon 10. A color-changing Bluetooth lamp Govee RGBIC Smart Table Lamp 2 $64.99 at Amazon
$79.99 Save $15 Don't underestimate the power of mood lighting this Valentine's Day. This touch lamp from Govee is the perfect addition to a nightstand or desk. Use the app to choose from 64 color scenes and set an automatic on and off schedule. Shop Now at Amazon

If you want to peruse more specific categories, Amazon's full Valentine's Day Shop is broken down into curated sections like top 100 self-care gifts, top gifts under a certain price, or personalized or handmade gifts.

TikTok in the USA so far: Outages and outrage

Tue, 01/27/2026 - 13:09

We're just a few days into TikTok's new U.S. ownership and, thus far, users are skeptical. And, to be fair, it has been a relatively uneasy start.

In case you missed it, TikTok's new U.S. ownership group — a venture stocked with supporters of President Donald Trump — took power about a week ago. It's been rocky since. Here's what you need to know.

TikTok's outage issue

Shortly after switching ownership, TikTok went down, which wasn't taken as a great sign. The platform crashed over the weekend, the company citing a power outage at a U.S. data center as the culprit.

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"We're working with our data center partner to stabilize our service," the company said in a statement. "We're sorry for this disruption and hope to resolve it soon."

The outage was resolved, but that wasn't the end of complaints from users.

User complaints and worries about blocked speech

Since TikTok's new ownership group was finalized, folks have been worried about the platform blocking speech, perhaps because a Trump ally took power. And users this week began complaining that some posts seemed to be blocked or shadowbanned. Folks suggested that posts about ICE were either being suppressed or would not post. Pop star Billie Eilish, for instance, posted an Instagram story saying, "tiktok is silencing people btw" that showed her brother Finneas' anti-ICE post garnering hardly any engagement. Hacks actress Meg Stalter said she was unable to upload an anti-ICE post to TikTok at all. These claims echoed similar complaints from other users. Some folks also claimed that messages with the word "Epstein" produced an error message, which CNBC reported it was able to recreate.

View this post on Instagram

It is difficult to confirm whether users' content is being blocked or shadowbanned, but TikTok has said that it is not doing so.

TikTok told CNN that the issues were glitches related to the power outage and that the problems were "unrelated to last week’s news." The company also told CNBC that users should not be blocked from messaging the word "Epstein" and that it was investigating the issue, among the other issues.

TikTok did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Mashable but it did point to previous public statements regarding the outage and its effects.

"We've made significant progress in recovering our U.S. infrastructure with our U.S. data center partner," it posted on Tuesday. "However, the U.S. user experience may still have some technical issues, including when posting new content. We're committed to bringing TikTok back to its full capacity as soon as possible."

All in all, it has been quite a rocky start for the new TikTok ownership group — time will tell if things get a bit steadier.

Google puts AI Mode conversations directly in AI Overviews in Search

Tue, 01/27/2026 - 12:51

AI Mode is in your AI Overviews now on Google Search.

On Tuesday, Google announced that it was rolling out a new feature to Google Search on mobile that adds the ability for users to ask follow-up questions directly within AI Overviews and continue to carry on conversations about the topic in AI Mode.

Google originally shared that they were testing the feature last month.

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"People come to Search for an incredibly wide range of questions – sometimes to find information quickly, like a sports score or the weather, where a simple result is all you need," Google said in its announcement. "But for complex questions or tasks where you need to explore a topic deeply, you should be able to seamlessly tap into a powerful conversational AI experience."

SEE ALSO: Google AI overviews: Confident when wrong, yet more visible than ever

AI Overviews are the AI-generated summaries at the top of many search results pages. They answer a user's query without the user having to leave the Google Search page, which has led to a "traffic apocalypse" that's crushing many news websites, whose content often powers AI overviews. Yet, as Mashable reporting has shown, Google AI Overviews continues to make basic factual mistakes.

Mobile users will now be able to click the "See More" tab at the bottom of the AI Overview and access a text input bar where they can take their conversation to AI mode and continue to dive deeper into their query based on the initial results.

In addition to this, Google also announced that its latest and most powerful AI model, Gemini 3, will now be the default model for AI Overviews globally.

Google continues to roll out new AI features across its products as it makes moves to dethrone OpenAI as the de facto AI leader. These new search-related features also help Google further assert itself as the search engine giant, as OpenAI starts to make gains in that area.

Disclosure: Ziff Davis, Mashable’s parent company, in April 2025 filed a lawsuit against OpenAI, alleging it infringed Ziff Davis copyrights in training and operating its AI systems.

The Disney+ and Hulu bundle just dipped to just $9.99/month — heres how to cash in on the savings

Tue, 01/27/2026 - 12:39

SAVE $3: Until Feb. 17, new and returning subscribers are eligible to get the first month of the Disney+ and Hulu streaming bundle on sale for $9.99. That's a savings of $3 compared to the standard bundle price of $12.99 per month.

Opens in a new window Credit: Hulu / Disney+ Disney+ and Hulu bundle (with ads, first month of membership) $9.99
$12.99 Save $3   Get Deal

In case you're searching for an escape from real life, you might consider diving into a show that has hundreds of episode to keep you busy. But with the price of streaming services increasing all the time, it's a struggle to find a streaming deal. Lucky for us, there's actually a sale right now on a worthy bundle.

Through Feb. 17, sign up for the Disney+ and Hulu streaming bundle to get your first month for only $9.99, marked down from the normal bundle price of $12.99 per month. That savings of $3 means you're getting a 58% discount. It's also a nice deal compared to the price of the two services separately which works out to $11.99 per month.

SEE ALSO: How to watch the 2026 Winter Olympics online for free

Signing up for this bundle gives you access to millions of hours of entertainment, and winter is the perfect time to rewatch Disney movies or catch up on shows you missed in the last few years. Keep in mind this deal is valid for new and returning subscribers and it does include ads.

While saving $3 isn't a fantastic deal, we're excited to see any streaming deal these days. Before Feb. 17, sign on to get tons of entertainment from Hulu and Disney+ while also saving a bit of money. It's an easy win-win.

Add this 65-inch TCL 4K QLED TV to your living room for its lowest price yet

Tue, 01/27/2026 - 12:19

SAVE $200.01: As of Jan. 27, get the TCL 65-Inch Class T7 Series for $499.97 at Amazon, down from its usual price of $699.99. That's a discount of 29% and the lowest price we've seen.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon TCL 65-Inch Class T7 Series $499.97 at Amazon
$699.99 Save $200.02   Get Deal

The days of too-expensive TVs are over. If you're ready to add a new display to your living room, now's the time to do it. You can get a decidedly large TV for your living room or wherever else you want to put it for a much lower price than in previous years. In fact, with this particular deal we've found at Amazon, you can get it for the lowest price we've seen, period.

As of Jan. 27, get the TCL 65-Inch Class T7 Series for $499.97 at Amazon, down from its usual price of $699.99. That's a discount of 29% and the lowest price we've seen.

SEE ALSO: The 65-inch TCL Class S5 4K TV just dipped to under $370 at Amazon — upgrade before February sporting events

If you're ready to introduce a large display with a realistic picture to your setup, this 4K Ultra HD QLED TV is what you're looking for. It boasts high realism as well as plenty of vivid hues and darker shade, using nearly the entirety of the DCI-P3 color space for a rich and satisfying image.

It's bright, colorful, and responsive on top of offering a 144Hz panel refresh rate to give you the smoothest viewing experience possible. That goes for whatever you happen to be doing, whether you're gaming, watching your favorite shows, or checking out some movies. It also has a TCL AIPQ Pro processor to optimize color, contrast, and clarity all its own for the best picture possible.

This deal won't last long, so make sure to pick it up while it's still available at this price.

Snag a pair of Apple AirPods Pro 3 for their lowest price yet

Tue, 01/27/2026 - 11:54

SAVE $50: As of Jan. 27, get the Apple AirPods Pro 3 for $199 at Amazon, down from their usual price of $249. That's a discount of 20% and the lowest price we've seen.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Apple AirPods Pro 3 $199 at Amazon
$249 Save $50   Get Deal

When it comes to headphones, you've got plenty of choices out there. If you prefer earbuds to their over-the-ear cousins, however, there's one brand that stands tall over the rest: AirPods. And if you've been waiting to get a pair to upgrade your kit, you should head to Amazon now to pick up the Apple AirPods Pro 3 for the lowest price we've seen.

As of Jan. 27, get the Apple AirPods Pro 3 for $199 at Amazon, down from their usual price of $249. That's a discount of 20% and the lowest price we've seen.

SEE ALSO: Score $120 off Apple AirPods Max in Best Buy's 48-hour flash sale

Mashable reviewer Adam Doud called the AirPods Pro 3 "one of the best products of the year" in his review. They offer "phenomenal noise cancellation" as well as easy and seamless iPhone integration, and "premium sound", all within a tiny little package. Plus, they have active noise cancellation (ANC) as well as transparency mode and more. They're a refined version of the previous model, and well worth adding to your audio arsenal.

That makes them a great option for not just listening to music, but hanging out on calls with its even sound profile. Doud referred to this bump in quality as a "remarkable upgrade", which you'll undoubtedly appreciate whether you're coming from the previous AirPods or trying them for the first time.

Since they're up for grabs at the lowest price we've seen, now is the time to get a pair if you're interested, so jump on them while you can.

Clearing snow doesnt need to be hard — this trending roof rake is under $160 at Amazon

Tue, 01/27/2026 - 11:22

SAVE $60: The Avalanche! AVA750 roof rake is $156.95 at Amazon.

Opens in a new window Credit: Avalanche! Avalanche! AVA750 $156.95 at Amazon
  Shop Now

Winter storm Fern did a number on us. Snow, ice, power outages, and tons of flight cancellations occurred because of the storm. And plenty of us are still dealing with the aftermath. The kids might be thrilled school is canceled, but those of us who have to adult might be getting a bit concerned about the snow on the roof. If that's a familiar fear, check out this solution that's on sale at Amazon.

As of Jan. 27, the Avalanche! AVA750 roof rake is $156.95 at Amazon. We've all seen the epic videos online of massive amounts of snow sliding off a roof. They look cool, sure, but image that happening when you're not expecting it. Not ideal. Instead, remove the snow yourself with safety and ease in mind thanks to the Avalanche! AVA750 roof rake.

SEE ALSO: Get dinner on the table faster with the Ninja Foodi Smart XL for its lowest price yet

Designed for asphalt shingle roofs, the rake allows you to push a slick surface slide between the roof and the snow, giving it a nice chute to slide down gracefully, with no surprises. The fiberglass handle of the rake is lightweight and has four sections that make for a 15.5-foot pole, so you can stay firmly planted on the ground.

The plastic slide measures 17 inches wide and 12 feet long, so you'll be able to clear the roof quickly and can perhaps head over to a neighbors house who could use help with snow removal, too.

To help deal with snow accumulation from the weekend winter storm or prepare for future storms, snag the Avalanche! AVA750 at Amazon.

This robot snow blower is trending — and yes, you can buy one

Tue, 01/27/2026 - 11:18

Welcome to snow season. Tons of states in the U.S. got significant accumulation thanks to winter storm Fern. For some folks, the snow is a welcomed sight, offering a fun opportunity to head outside or stay indoors for some serious Lego building. But for others, dealing with snow accumulation is a huge pain. Anyone who has to get the car out of the driveway or walk out the front door might not love running into a foot of snow.

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In viral videos that are sweeping our social channels, people have found a unique solution to dealing with snow that doesn't involve shoveling. It's a robot snow blower, specifically the Yarbo Snow Blower Robot. Serving as the only robot snow blower on the market, the Yarbo takes center stage in viral videos that show it working snowy magic.

It comes with a premium price, but for those who deal with constant winter snow clogging up the driveway or walkway, it could be well worth the investment.

Where to buy the Yarbo Snow Blower Robot Yarbo Snow Blower Robot $4,999 at Amazon Shop Now Yarbo Snow Blower Robot $4,999 at Best Buy Shop Now Yarbo Snow Blower Robot $4,999 at Yarbo Shop Now Yarbo 4-in-1 Modular Robot (Lawn Mower, Snow Blower and Leaf Blower) $6,999 at Amazon Shop Now

When it comes to getting rid of snow, the Yarbo is at your service. With throwing ranges from six to 40 feet, the Yarbo can handle snow as deep as 12 inches. It works in a similar way as a robot vacuum, mapping your driveway, yard, or walkway. You can also set zones and schedules, or let the Yarbo automatically detect storms and take off all on its own. That means the Yarbo can take off to clear the driveway in the middle of the night, without you even knowing the snow has begun.

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With a single charge, the Yarbo can clear about 6,000 square feet of snow, and it's capable of operating in temps as low as -13 degrees Fahrenheit. When the snow-gobbling robot gets down to 20% battery, it'll automatically return home to recharge. With about 90 minutes of recharging, it'll be back at 80% battery power.

The stats get even more impressive when we factor in that the Yarbo can even handle plowing on gravel and on slopes as steep as 36%. Plus, it's capable of handling wet and packed snow.

It turns out, the Yarbo Snow Blower has been around for a few years. At CES in 2024, Yarbo introduced the snow-plowing robot as the latest attachment to what Yarbo calls the Yarbo Core. This robot can server as a lawn mower, leaf blower, and a snow blower, depending on which attachment you use. Snag all three and you'll be set for every season.

Sure, dropping $5,000 on a snow-blowing robot isn't gonna be for everyone, but if you live in an area that deals with non-stop snow for months at a time, it could be well worth the investment.

Claude apps: How Anthropic will integrate Slack, Canva, and more

Tue, 01/27/2026 - 11:12

Last year, ChatGPT got the ability to perform tasks in connected third-party apps. Not to be outdone, Anthropic's Claude chatbot just got a similar feature this week.

Announced in a blog post on Monday, Claude now has the capability to interface directly with a handful of connected enterprise-focused apps. These include Slack, Canva, Box, Asana, and more. The blog post and accompanying video demonstrations do a good enough job of showing off how it all works, but since the feature is out now for paid Claude users, you can also get in there and start testing it out yourself.

SEE ALSO: Anthropic used mostly AI to build Claude Cowork tool

For instance, with Slack, you can have Claude draft messages using context derived from previous messages in your inbox, and review and re-format them to your liking before hitting send. Canva allows for the creation of presentation outlines and real-time design work, while Asana will turn your chats with Claude into projects that the rest of your team can see and execute on.

As stated previously, this is similar to something OpenAI embraced last year. However, many of the apps ChatGPT started with were not necessarily focused on professional work. They included things like Spotify and Instacart, not Slack and Asana. This gives Claude a more distinct flavor in the war between AI chatbots, if nothing else.

Daredevil: Born Again Season 2 trailer reunites Matt Murdock and Jessica Jones

Tue, 01/27/2026 - 11:03

Daredevil: Born Again brought Matt Murdock (Charlie Cox) back into the MCU with a vengeance, along with a whole host of familiar faces from his first Netflix outing.

Original Daredevil baddie Wilson Fisk (Vincent D'Onofrio), aka Kingpin, continued to prove a formidable opponent, especially given his newfound power as mayor of New York City. Later in the season, Matt allied himself with former Daredevil staples like Karen Page (Deborah Ann Woll) and Frank Castle/Punisher (Jon Bernthal).

SEE ALSO: 'Wonder Man' review: All hail the MCU's latest bromance

Daredevil: Born Again Season 2 continues the ride down memory lane, re-introducing Krysten Ritter as super-strong private investigator Jessica Jones. Jessica Jones was the lead of the Netflix series of the same name, but she also crossed paths with Matt in Netflix's The Defenders, which united New York-based heroes Daredevil, Jessica Jones, Luke Cage (Mike Colter), and Danny Rand (Finn Jones). Now that Daredevil: Born Again will be reuniting half of the Defenders, what are the odds we'll see the other half back in some capacity in the future?

The trailer for Daredevil: Born Again Season 2 sees Jessica Jones back in action as if she'd never left. She's sassing Matt and throwing goons around like they weigh nothing. I'm not going to lie, it's great to have her back.

While the return of Jessica Jones is something to celebrate, the rest of the Daredevil: Born Again trailer is pretty bleak. Fisk still holds New York in his iron grip, and Matt is dealing with some new demons. Plus, the trailer introduces Matthew Lillard as the mysterious Mr. Charles — will he be an ally or an enemy to Matt?

Daredevil: Born Again Season 2 premieres March 24 at 9 p.m. ET on Disney+.

Get dinner on the table faster with the Ninja Foodi Smart XL for its lowest price yet

Tue, 01/27/2026 - 10:36

SAVE $150: As of Jan. 27, get the Ninja Foodi Smart XL for $149.99 at Amazon, down from its usual price of $299.99. That's a discount of 50% and the lowest price we've seen.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Ninja Foodi Smart XL $149.99 at Amazon
$299.99 Save $150   Get Deal

If you love grilled food, you probably love going out in the backyard and whipping up tasty meals. You can't really do that right now in winter, so if you're reminiscing about all the times last summer you cooked tasty grilled food, it might be time to get something that you can make similar flavors with while staying indoors; a 6-in-1 device that not only air fries but grills as well. And it's on sale with the best deal we've seen.

As of Jan. 27, get the Ninja Foodi Smart XL for $149.99 at Amazon, down from its usual price of $299.99. That's $150 off and a discount of 50%. It's also the lowest price we've seen.

SEE ALSO: The Ninja Crispi is a glass-bottom air fryer, and it's $40 off at Amazon

The Ninja Foodi Smart XL grill, air fry, roast, bake, broil, dehydrate, and air crisp. It's the perfect option for cooking a delicious meal and getting it out on the table, with some seriously tasty meats and more ready in as little as 30 minutes. If you're pressed for time, it's a fantastic option.

But it's not just good at meats—you can prep just about anything else you may need in the Ninja Foodi grill. That includes sides, veggies, sandwiches, and even dessert if you so choose. It's simple to clean, and it comes with niceties like an air fryer basket, cleaning brush, and thermometer to make things even easier.

Whether you're eating alone or feeding a huge family, you can't go wrong with this grill, especially at the lowest price we've seen. Grab it now for toasty cooking while the weather outside is frightful.

Pornhub will soon be blocked for UK users — unless they take one step

Tue, 01/27/2026 - 10:15

Pornhub's parent company, Aylo, announced today that it is restricting the porn site in the UK come Feb. 2. Any adult who has already verified their age will still be able to use that site after that date, but no one else will.

The decision comes around six months after the enaction of the Online Safety Act, the UK's age-verification law. When the law went into effect, Pornhub announced it would comply with the law due to working with a regulator (Ofcom, UK's Office of Communication) and less intrusive methods of age assurance.

SEE ALSO: How to unblock Pornhub for free

Over time, however, Aylo identified failures with the Online Safety Act, namely non-compliant porn sites. There's also the ability to circumvent the law by the use of VPNs. Meanwhile, Pornhub's traffic has taken a nosedive in the territory, announcing in October it has dropped by 77 percent.

Now, Aylo announced that it'll restrict Pornhub and its other free sites (like RedTube and YouPorn) as of Feb. 2. If UK visitors haven't verified their age on the sites by then, the sites will be blocked. Users will instead see a written message (similar to what users in France see). For its paid sites, users will still be able to use them because credit card information is seen as a form of age assurance.

In a press conference today, Aylo representatives advocated for device-level filters, which block all websites registered as RTA, or "Restricted to Adults." Aylo has pushed this solution to keep minors of its sites for years, and free speech experts Mashable has spoken to regarding age-verification laws have also discussed them.

Back in November, Aylo sent letters to Apple, Google, and Microsoft urging them to enable these filters.

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