Mashable

Instagram's professional dashboard is getting an update.

If you have a professional Instagram account — if you're a creator, an actor, a writer, a business, or any of the other dozens of options to choose from — your account looks a bit different than a typical Instagram account. You can have a little hyperlinked tag under your name on your profile, you can see analytics about your grid and story posts, and there's heightened performance tracking and other tools.

On Tuesday, the social media platform announced that professional users will also have access to a "best practices" section on their dashboard, which is intended to aid creators in engagement, reach, monetization, and optimization. According to Meta's blog post, users will have access not only to general tips but also personalized help "to give you a sense of how your account is performing."

SEE ALSO: 9 travel influencers on Instagram to help plan your next adventure

"Though anyone can be a creator, succeeding as one takes effort, time, and the right information," Instagram Creators wrote in a blog post. "That’s why we’re excited to introduce best practices, our new in-app destination that guides you with best practices, personalized tips, and educational reels to help you understand how to grow your audience and strengthen your content on Instagram."

If you're a creator, you can access the new tool by navigating to your profile and clicking "professional dashboard" at the top of the page (under your bio but above "edit profile" and "share profile"). You might not have it immediately, but it should update when you update your app. The professional dashboard is only available on the Instagram app.

Best practices include five main topic areas: creation, engagement, reach, monetization, and guidelines. I have a professional dashboard, and my creation section includes tips like "make creating reels part of your routine," "check your timing," and "try trending audio." My engagement section includes tips like "focus on deeper engagement" and "reply to comments within a couple of days." Under the reach section, I was implored to "understand how people see your content" and to "track long-term follower growth." I was reminded that I am "able to monetize" and was encouraged to "learn the ways to earn" under the monetization tab. The guidelines section told me I was "following our guidelines" and reminded me to keep doing that. Under the tips in each of the sections, there's a series of Reels that show how creators use the tools.

"We want to make sure creators have the resources they need to succeed on Instagram, so we’ll keep updating best practices to make sure it has our latest guidance," Meta wrote in its blog post about the update.

While this is only available for creator accounts with a professional dashboard, we have good news: anyone can have that. Click the three dots or dashes in the top right corner of your profile, navigate to settings and privacy, click account type and tools, and switch to a professional account.

Best Amazon Basics Deals Best Amazon Basics Deal Amazon Basics Cooling Gel-Infused Memory Foam Mattress $286.52 at Amazon (Save $87.10) Get Deal Best Amazon Basics Keyboard Deal Amazon Basics Digital 88-Key Keyboard $163.59 at Amazon (Save $28.90) Get Deal Best Amazon Basics Smart Bulb Deal Amazon Basics Smart A19 LED Light Bulb 4-Pack $29.69 at Amazon (Save $12.30) Get Deal

Just like your favorite retailer has its own store brand, Amazon has its Amazon Basics line. There are a wide variety of different goodies you can snatch up, all Amazon branded, at great prices. And while these items are typically always lower-priced than their big-name counterparts, they're even more attractive buys when they're on sale. With Prime Day coming up, now's the best time to shop Amazon Basics, especially since we've found some particularly great deals to choose from right now. You'll see there are tons of great Amazon Basics discounts up for grabs right now, and you'll want to shop them before they're gone.

You'd be surprised to see what you can get from the selection of Amazon Basics on offer, especially since we've scoured the storefront to share some of the best discounts right now. Included right now in the deals are heavy-hitters like a very affordable mattress and a 4-pack of smart bulbs, perfect for giving some spooky ambiance to your home for your Halloween parties.

Below, find our picks for the best Amazon Basics deals right now.

Best Amazon Basics deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Basics Cooling Gel-Infused Memory Foam Mattress $261.29 at Amazon
$373.62 Save $112.33 Get Deal Why we like it

Looking for a new place to rest your head? Grab this mattress from Amazon, which'll have you sleeping soundly thanks to its significant discount. This queen-size bed is a medium-firm mattress with memory foam and cooling gel to keep you from running hot all night. It has three layers of hypoallergenic foam as well as a middle airflow channel to help keep your body temperature regulated at night. Lastly, it has a quilted top to keep it soft and touchable even without a top sheet. Moving in to a new place, or not sure how long you'll be staying somewhere? Or maybe your budget is just tight. You can get this bed for less than $300, and you can rest assured it'll help you get a good night's sleep for the foreseeable, or at least until you want to shell out for a nicer option.

Best Amazon Basics keyboard deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Basics Digital 88-Key Keyboard $163.59 at Amazon
$192.49 Save $28.90 Get Deal Why we like it

If you've ever considered buying a keyboard or a piano but couldn't lock in a purchase, this Amazon Basics option is a great pick. It might be an unorthodox one when it comes to things you should stock up on for your home, but the fact that it's on sale makes it worth checking out. It's a full-sized 88-key keyboard with a sustain pedal and power supply, complete with an amplifier, speaker, and mixing port. It also has a number of special functions to help you learn how to play as well as make some multifaceted music straight from the keyboard, as well as over 140 tones to choose from. Make your own music with its built-in memory to record and play back your tunes, too. Whether you're a beginner getting started with piano or an expert who wants a home instrument to work with, this Basics option is a good buy.

Best Amazon Basics smart bulb deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Basics Smart A19 LED Light Bulb 4-Pack $29.69 at Amazon
$41.99 Save $12.30 Get Deal Why we like it

This 4-pack of smart bulbs is the perfect addition to your smart home. They're controllable via your voice or the Alexa app, so you'll have full control over them whenever you want to tweak your home lighting. Turn them on and off, create schedules for when they'll operate, and change colors with 16 presets that you can choose the brightness off from 5% to 100% brightness. Create lights in the Alexa app to control multiple lights at once, and set up routines so you can have your lights on even when you aren't home to deter bad actors. They're dimmable as well, so you can tap a button and change the mood of a room instantly. You get enough in this pack to totally transform one or two locations in your home, and savings like this make it worth snagging these bulbs for a smart hub starter pack.

SAVE $129.99: The bundled Amazon Echo Show 5 and Blink Outdoor 4 camera are on sale for Prime members for just $59.99. That's a 68% discount off the normal bundle price of $189.98.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Echo Show 5 + Blink Outdoor 4 $59.99 at Amazon
$189.98 Save $129.99 Prime-member exclusive deal Get Deal

Amazon is bringing out all the generous gifts in October for Prime members. Not only will Oct. 8 mark the official start of the Prime Day Big Deals event, the retailer is already dropping sales that are exclusive to Prime members. If you're part of the club and are looking for some smart home tech, there's a sweet deal in store for you today.

As of Oct. 1, Prime members can get the Amazon Echo Show 5 with a Blink Outdoor 4 camera for just $59.99, down from the normal bundle price of $189.98. Not only is this a 68% discount, it's just $10 more than buying the Echo Show 5 alone while it's currently on sale for $49.99.

If you're not already a Prime member, check out the benefits before Oct. 8 when the retailer launches the Prime Big Deal Days event which will have plenty more Prime-member exclusive deals. The membership costs $14.99 per month, or you can save over $40 by going for the $139 annual membership.

The Echo Show 5 and the Blink Outdoor 4 camera is an unstoppable duo if you'd like to check on who just rang the doorbell, what the dog is up to in the backyard, or if the kids are playing nicely in the front lawn. The Blink Outdoor 4 is a weather-proof camera system that's wireless, giving you an extra eye on your home or yard.

Connect the Blink Outdoor 4 to your Echo Show 5 and with live view, you'll be able to see the camera's view from the Echo Show. You can also arm and disarm the system with the Echo Show, either with manual controls or through voice.

When not using the Echo Show 5 to tune into the security camera, you can stream your favorite music, video call a friend, or tune into your favorite shows on Prime Video.

If you've been considering either the Echo Show 8 or the Blink Outdoor 4, it makes sense to grab today's deal instead which bundles the two together at a massive 68% discount for Prime members.

What's your favourite season? Mine's the 'Lover Girl' era.

Don't worry, this dating trend isn't a catchy buzzword to describe bad behaviour. Rather refreshingly, it describes people who proudly call themselves romantic, those who are embracing their soppy side — something that's historically been regarded as a bit cringe, or something we should hide.

The Lover Girl dating trend is about tossing aside that boring cynicism and disdain. Get in, girlies, we're embracing our love of romance and we don't care if you don't think we're cool.

We're in great company, too. Sixty percent of UK women surveyed by Bumble identify as Lover Girls and are "celebrating romance with renewed enthusiasm," according to the dating app. Fifty-seven percent of those surveyed would proudly call themselves romantic at heart, with 51 percent embracing qualities like thoughtfulness and passion in their quest for love. Old-school romantic gestures are also having a moment, with 42 percent loving unexpected gifts, 42 percent enjoying forehead kisses, and 38 percent liking handwritten love notes.

What does Lover Girl-ishness look like in the dating realm? Well, it starts with knowing what you want and being intentional about finding it. Forty-seven percent of single folks say they're clearer about their dating goals, and 40 percent are focusing on quality over quantity when it comes to dates.

SEE ALSO: The curse of the neverending flirtationship

As someone who can quote Pride and Prejudice (the 2005 period drama film directed by Joe Wright) word for word, I have been in my Lover Girl era for longer than I can remember. Did I just binge-watch Netflix's Nobody Wants This and re-add Adam Brody to my list of fictional boyfriends? Yes, yes I did (let's be honest, Seth Cohen was already on that list). I am looking for Emily Henry-level romance, but the reality of the dating scene hasn't quite matched up to the fictional romantic heroes I've been lusting after.

It's worth noting that romance hasn't always been celebrated. Historically, people have looked down upon rom-com movies and romantic literature, with some people patronisingly referring to these genres as "chick lit" or regarding them as artistically inferior. I don't need to spell out why devaluing art that's typically made for and by women is deeply misogynistic, but if you would like to read more about this particular side effect of existing in a patriarchy, then here's a piece I wrote about romcom snobbery. Romantic fiction is also having a major moment thanks to TikTok — specifically BookTok and their love for all things spicy.

In any case, I'm glad we're all going public about our love of romance — something we've typically been made to feel a bit embarrassed or cringey about. As Bumble's sex and relationship expert, Dr. Caroline West, says, "It's historically been a bit 'uncool' to admit that you are romantic — but this shouldn't be the case, so now is the time to drop being 'coy' and embrace a season for Lovers." 

"Being confident and intentional when you date can be a really attractive quality. Bumble's research suggests that we're embracing our emotions this year, with over a third of people being more intentional about getting what they want when it comes to romance and dating," adds West.

This is one dating trend that requires mass adoption, in my view. If everyone can embrace just even the smallest crumb of romance, then we can finally bridge the gap between fiction and reality. Everyone needs to step into their romantic hero/heroine light.

On Monday, tens of thousands of Americans were hit hard by a widespread Verizon outage, leaving the network offline for several hours. While the issue has since been resolved, the frustration lingers for healthcare workers, students, and countless others who rely on their cell service.

The big question now: what caused it?

According to telecom experts that spoke with CNN, these outages are usually tied to one of three culprits: overloaded networks in urban hubs, botched software updates (like what happened to AT&T), or technical glitches. But while these blanket explanations cover some bases, they don’t pinpoint what exactly went wrong this time.

It's not the first time this year that phone users have experienced a major outage. AT&T experienced a similar meltdown in February.

Let’s be abundantly clear: as of this writing, there’s still no official word on what caused the Verizon outage. The FCC has launched an investigation, but Verizon has remained mostly silent, offering only a brief apology acknowledging the disruption and stating that the issue is being resolved.

So, while the network appears to be back online, the exact cause of the crash remains a mystery for now.

Mashable has reached out to Verizon’s communications team for a comment, but they have yet to respond.

This is a developing story. It will be updated as more details become available.

An air purifier adds an extra layer of protection to your indoor space, giving a better safeguard when it comes to dust, allergens, and viruses. If you're hoping to grab one this fall, check out these deals Amazon is offering ahead of October Prime Day.

Best air purifier deals during early Prime Day sales Best overall deal Blue Air Blue Pure 211i Max $189.99 at Amazon (save $160 with Prime membership) Get Deal Best air purifier with a modern design Coway Airmega AP-1512HH Mighty $155.07 at Amazon (save $84.92) Get Deal Best air purifier for pet owners Shark HP102PET $129.99 at Amazon (save $68.01) Get Deal

Getting some fresh air can make a world of difference, but not all air is worthy of inhaling. Some of it contains irritating allergens, dust, or even viruses that can mean you might spend the next week on the couch sniffling. Using an air purifier in your home can help cut down on some of those nasty microscopic elements you'd rather not inhale.

While Amazon's Prime Day Big Deal event doesn't kick off until next week, we're already seeing great discounts on air purifiers from top brands that use HEPA filtration like Coway, Shark, and Blueair. Here are some of the best air purifier deals to shop the week of Oct. 1.

Best overall deal Opens in a new window Credit: Blue Air Our pick: Blueair Blue Pure 211i Max $189.99 at Amazon
$349.99 Save $160.00 Prime member exclusive deal Get Deal Why we like it

Filtering an impressive 3,048 square feet, the Blueair Blue Pure 211i Max can be ideal if you're hoping for fresh air in your living room, dining room, and kitchen. With HEPA filtration, the Blue Air removes 99.97% of potentially irritating air particles like dust, pet dander, pollen, and viruses. The large square footage of the Blueair 211i Max could make it ideal for families looking to cut down on winter colds and flus.

While the Blueair Blue Pure 211i Max usually costs $349.99, Amazon has it discounted for Prime members to just $189.99. If you're not already a Prime member, today is a good day to consider the $14.99 per month membership since we expect to see more Prime-exclusive deals during the Amazon Prime Big Deal Days even that starts on Oct. 8.

Best air purifier with a modern design Opens in a new window Credit: Coway Our pick: Coway Airmega AP-1512HH Mighty $155.07 at Amazon
$239.99 Save $84.92 Get Deal Why we like it

If you're looking for an air purifier that doesn't interfere with the overall decor of your room, the Coway Airmega AP-1512HH Mighty could be the best option. Its overall design goes for a more minimalist look, but it doesn't skimp on functionality. In a 361 square foot room, the Coway Mighty changes the air four times, thanks to its three-stage filtration system. LED lights indicate how clean or dirty the air is, so you'll always have a sense of your indoor air quality.

Thanks to Amazon's early October Prime Day sale price, you can get cleaner indoor air for just $155.07, instead of the list price at Coway of $239.99.

Best air purifier for pet owners Opens in a new window Credit: Shark Our pick: Shark HP102PET $129.99 at Amazon
$198.00 Save $68.01 Get Deal Why we like it

Allergic to pets but still own them? Or maybe your partner is sensitive to cat hair but still comes over daily? In any case, pet owners have a great deal today at Amazon on the Shark HP102PET air purifier which is on sale for $129.99, which is a 34% discount off the normal price of $198.

Designed to capture and filter pet hair and dander, the Shark air purifier is capable of cleaning the air in rooms up to 500 square feet in size. The pet odor carbon filter can also help with keeping your space smelling fresh and clean. The purifier uses Shark's NanoSeal system to capture 99.98% of particles. This model weighs just six pounds, so you can easily move it from the living room into the bedroom come nighttime.

The Google Pixel 9 basically just came out, but it's already time to talk about the next one.

No, not the Pixel 10. That has to wait for another year or so. Instead, Android Headlines acquired and published leaked renders of the Pixel 9a via OnLeaks. In the photos, you can see a pretty radically redesigned Pixel phone, different from both the Pixel 9 and the Pixel 8a that preceded it last year.

SEE ALSO: iPhone 16 vs. Google Pixel 9: What are the differences?

The main thing to note is that, if the leaks are accurate, Google is removing the camera bar that's made Pixels easily identifiable over the past few years. The Pixel 9 already started this process by turning it into more of a floating camera box than a full horizontal bar, but on Pixel 9a, there appears to be nothing of the sort. There are two camera lenses stacked horizontally in a regular-looking camera setup.

Android Headlines also pointed out the rather large bezel around the screen, which isn't exactly a surprise for a budget phone. It's impossible to say what kinds of specs or features the Pixel 9a will have based on these renders alone. The Pixel 8a was impressively close to the Pixel 8 for a much lower price, so expect Google to try and reach that again with the Pixel 9a.

It'll just look different in the process.

With all the horror choices out there, it's hard to decide what to watch. Here are our 5 horror recommendations for this spooky season.

SAVE $85: As of October 1, get the noise-cancelling Amazon Echo Buds with wireless charging case for just $34.99 at Amazon. That's a discount of 71% and the lowest price we've seen.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Echo Buds $34.99 at Amazon
$119.99 Save $85.00 Shop Now

If you have trouble focusing or just want to be able to hear your favorite audio-centric content better, you need a pair of noise-cancelling earbuds. Not only can they help to block out the world when you don't want distractions, but they can enhance what you do want to hear. And there's a great pair you can get on sale for their lowest price ever right now thanks to this early Prime Day deal.

As of October 1, get the Amazon Echo Buds for just $34.99. That's $85 off their original price of $119.99 and a discount of 71%. This discount applies to both the Black and Glacier White colorways, both of which come with a wired charging case. This is the all-time low price we've tracked for these buds.

SEE ALSO: Prime Big Deal Days is coming and early deals are rolling in on headphones and speakers — but we're holding out for more

If ANC is important to you, you can hardly find a better price on earbuds. They're light and compact, with an attractive and ergonomic ear shape. Plus, they're IPX4 sweat-resistant, making them perfect for wearing to the gym or keeping in your bag for just about any occasion, whether that's listening to your favorite tunes on your commute or hanging out at home. You can use their customizable Audio Personalization options to help focus on your content, while also being able to swap between two connected devices.

Connect your buds via the Alexa app for voice control and use them for making calls or controlling your smart home. They can charge up quickly when they're out of juice as well, with a 15-minute charge session netting you about five more hours of listening time.

The holidays are coming up, so grab a pair or two to give as gifts, or stock up for yourself. This is too good of a price not to.

Check out the best Amazon deals of the day as of Oct. 1: OUR TOP PICK Amazon Echo Buds (2023) $24.99 at Amazon (save $25) Get Deal BEST KINDLE DEAL Kindle Paperwhite Kids $114.99 at Amazon (save $55) Get Deal BEST HOME DEAL Coway Airmega Mighty AP-1512HH air purifier $155.07 at Amazon (save $84.92) Get Deal

We're exactly a week away from October Prime Day, which means Amazon is dropping deals on all sorts of gadgets and gizmos — particularly its own. If you prefer to shop early, we've rounded up three of the best deals you can grab at the mega retailer on Oct. 1. We'll be keeping our eyes peeled all week and rounding up the best deals to add to your cart in the days leading up to the event.

Here are our top picks for the best Amazon deals of the day on Oct. 1. If these deals don't speak to you, check back tomorrow for all new picks. Also, be sure to follow along with all of our Prime Day content as the shopping extravaganza nears.

Our top pick Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Echo Amazon Echo Buds (2023) $24.99 at Amazon
$49.99 Save $25.00 Get Deal

Completely redesigned from the original Echo Buds, the 2023 version offers a more budget-friendly approach. As Mashable reviewer SaVanna Shoemaker noted, "For the price, the Echo Buds are a solid pair of wireless earbuds." While they don't offer noise cancellation or have the most comfortable fit on the market, the new Echo Buds sound great, last up to 20 hours with the charging case, are simple to use, and seamlessly pair with other Alexa devices. Plus, the price is hard to beat — especially ahead of Prime Day. They usually cost $49.99, but you can grab a pair for just $24.99 a week before the big savings event. That's 50% off and matches the record-low from July's Prime Day.

Opens in a new window Credit: Kindle Kindle Paperwhite Kids $114.99 at Amazon
$169.99 Save $55.00 Get Deal

After a Kindle deal drought, there's finally a light at the end of the tunnel. As of Oct. 1, you can grab the Kindle Paperwhite Kids at Amazon for just $114.99 instead of the usual $169.99. That's 32% in savings and just $5 shy of its all-time low price. A boosted version of the basic Kindle Kids (which we love as a budget option), the Paperwhite Kids adds some key features like a larger display, longer battery life, double the storage, IPX8 waterproofing, and an adjustable warm light to cut down on blue light. As our reviewer noted, "It’s a piece of kids’ tech that even the most anti-screen relatives at your next family get-together won’t be able to grumble about." Plus, with a year of Kindle Kids+ included, your kiddo will get access to a preloaded library of age-appropriate books, games, videos, and apps.

Opens in a new window Credit: Coway Coway Airmega Mighty AP-1512HH air purifier $155.07 at Amazon
$239.99 Save $84.92 Get Deal

Is it just me, or is the air we breathe getting universally worse? Breathe cleaner by adding the Coway Airmega Mighty air purifier to your home. This model can clean 99. 97 percent of particles 0. 3 microns in the air in a room up to 361 square feet. The pollution sensor will let you know your indoor air quality in real time, and a colored LED lets you know just how clean (or dirty) your indoor air is at any given time. It also features three fan speeds, a timer, and an Eco mode to save energy. It's regularly $239.99 at the Coway website, which means the savings at Amazon are actually more impressive than the list price lets on. As of Oct. 1, snag the air purifier for only $155.07 and save about 35%.

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

Copilot, Microsoft's AI companion, got some big updates today, including advanced voice and vision capabilities.

These new enhancements bring it more in line with other AI chatbots like Google Gemini and OpenAI’s ChatGPT (though it’s worth noting that the latter underpins Copilot). Some may even argue that the new-and-improved Copilot now outshines the aforementioned AI tools — but that's up to you to decide.

Curious about the new utilities that Microsoft introduced for Copilot? Stick around.

SEE ALSO: Microsoft Copilot can now help with Excel formulas, make PowerPoints, and more 1. Copilot Voice

Similar to the recently announced Gemini Live update and ChatGPT Advanced Voice Mode, Microsoft has debuted Copilot Voice, which allows users to have smooth, engaging verbal conversations with Copilot.

Credit: Microsoft

Just like Gemini Live and ChatGPT Advanced Voice Mode, you'll have the ability to interrupt Copilot Voice. Plus, there will be four voices you can choose from.

In an early demo Microsoft shared with Mashable, Copilot Voice spoke with filler words and disfluencies like “ums” and “likes.” The voice had a slightly metallic tone, but it’s too early to determine if this will carry over once it rolls out to customers.

2. Copilot Vision

As you browse the web, Microsoft revealed that the upgraded Copilot can now “see what you see and hear what you hear."

Copilot Vision demo with Rotten Tomatoes Credit: Microsoft

While most of the popular AI chatbots can handle text and images, Copilot Vision's edge is that it can interact with you while observing your browsing activity.

In other words, Copilot Vision can process text and images on your screen in real time, ready to jump in with answers to your questions, suggest next moves, and keep things running smoothly without interrupting your workflow.

One use case for Copilot Vision would be scrolling through Rotten Tomatoes and scratching your head on which film you should watch. With Copilot's help (again, it can see what you're doing), you can ask it which movie you should indulge in.

Credit: Microsoft

Tapping into Copilot Voice, the AI chatbot can respond to you verbally by saying, for example, "Oh wow, there are lots of colorful posters and different genres on the Rotten Tomatoes homepage. Anything catching your eye?"

After telling it that you have a desire to watch a comedy, Copilot Voice can chime in with funny movies that it has spotted on the page. You can even ask it for reviews.

And don’t worry — Microsoft says it's serious about privacy and security. Your sessions are opt-in only, and once they’re done, your data is wiped clean. No training, no tracking — just real-time help.

3. Think Deeper

With the new Think Deeper feature, Copilot can now tackle more complicated questions and deliver detailed, step-by-step answers.

Copilot on Windows 11 Credit: Microsoft

However, it takes longer to respond because it’s carefully weighing all the options before replying. Think Deeper is ideal for those tricky, everyday decisions — like whether you should move to a new city or which car fits your lifestyle best. It’s still in the experimental phase over at Copilot Labs, so Microsoft is counting on user feedback to help refine and improve this new skill.

In addition to these three features, Microsoft is introducing Copilot Daily, a new perk that lets users get a daily digest — a summary of news and weather — all read in their favorite Copilot Voice.

Microsoft said that it will only pull from authorized sources, including content from Hearst Magazine, Reuters, Axel Springer, and Financial Times. The Redmond-based tech giant says it plans to add more over time.

Copilot Daily demo provided by Microsoft Credit: Microsoft

Finally, Microsoft is making it easier for users to access Copilot in Microsoft Edge — just type "@copilot" into the address bar.

The updated Copilot is coming today to iOS and Android users, as well as the Copilot web experience at copilot.microsoft.com and the Copilot Windows app.

Microsoft Copilot $0.00 at Microsoft
Get Deal

Microsoft is rolling out the new Windows 11 2024 update today — and it's arguably the most highly anticipated version of the OS this year.

Why?

Among a slew of other new features, it's expected to come with the new-and-improved (and controversial) Recall feature that attracted scrutiny from security experts.

However, as we reported on Friday, the Redmond-based tech giant announced new privacy-focused protocols to ease concerns about the up-and-coming AI-powered feature.

Curious about what Microsoft has up its sleeves with the new Windows 11 2024 update (also known as Windows 11 24H2)? Stick around.

SEE ALSO: Microsoft says 'Recall' will now be opt-in Windows 11 2024 update: 5 new features

As mentioned, one major feature coming to the next big update is Recall. For the uninitiated, Recall is an AI-powered feature that keep tabs on your PC activities by consistently taking screenshots.

Recall with timeline feature Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

It's designed to help the forgetful among us rediscover lost webpages, or anything else we've done in our past, using a timeline scrubber and/or AI-powered natural language search.

On Friday, Microsoft quieted concerns about security by announcing that Recall will be secured with Windows Hello (a security feature that lets you access Recall with fingerprint ID, facial recognition, and other credentials). Plus, Microsoft promised encryption, the option to disable and uninstall, and more.

Click-to-do

Click-to-do, after hitting the Windows Key and clicking your trackpad or mouse, places an an interactive overlay on top of your PC screen.

Click-to-do in action Credit: Microsoft

This will give you easy access to the following:

• Visual Search with Bing (Microsoft's answer to Google Lens)

• Background blur

• Object removal in Photos

• Background removal in Paint

This list is non-exhaustive, though, so there's more to explore. Click-to-do will also help users with text-related functions, including rewriting, summarizing, and explaining in-line text.

New-and-improved Windows Search

Windows Search has gotten smarter. According to Microsoft, you no longer need to worry about remembering file names. You can simply type what's on your mind and Windows 11 will do its best to find the file for you.

Example of Windows Search using 'farm to table dining with fresh pasta' prompt Credit: Microsoft

For example, if you have some pictures of you having a blast at a July 4th gathering, you can type "BBQ party," and Windows 11 will find what you're looking for.

This new-and-improved search functionality will come to File Explorer first before expanding to Windows Search and Settings.

'Super Resolution' in Photos app

Have you ever looked an a low-resolution photo and thought, "Gee, I wish I could just make this look sharper and clearer?"

Credit: Microsoft

Well, with the new Super Resolution feature in the Photos app, you can do just that. Thanks to on-device AI, Super Resolution can upscale your photos up to 4K in seconds — and you don't need to spend a dime to make it happen.

Generative Fill and Erase in Paint

In late June, we showed off how Microsoft Paint now lets you use text prompts to help you create stunning AI-generated masterpieces in the rudimentary graphics program.

Using Paint's Co-creator on a Surface device Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

With the Windows 11 2024 update, Microsoft has improved the model that underpins Paint to deliver faster results. Plus, with new generative fill and erase tools, the Microsoft boasts that you can now use an adjustable brush to remove "unwanted or distracting elements" in your image. You can also add new elements exactly where you want them.

Other new features include Energy Saver (extends battery life even when your PC is plugged in), improved hearing aid support with Bluetooth LE Audio, and Wi-Fi 7 compatibility.

This update, also called Windows 11 24H2, will start rolling out today. Windows Insiders will get to experience the features first before a wider rollout in November.

To be among the first to experience the new features, navigate to Settings > Windows Update and turn on "Get the latest updates as soon as they're available." (Eligible devices must be running Windows 11 version 22H2 or 23H2.)

It's also worth noting that you'll need a Copilot PC+, like Microsoft Surface Laptop 7 and HP OmniBook X, to enjoy these new features.

Opens in a new window Credit: Joe Maldonado / Mashable Microsoft Surface Laptop 7 $1,269.00 at Amazon
Get Deal

Sex in cinema is back, baby. 2024 has been a banging year at the movies thanks to steamy fare like Rose Glass's neo-noir thriller Love Lies Bleeding, Luca Guadagnino's love-triangle drama Challengers, Sean Baker's sex-worker-centered comedy Anora, and last, but certainly not least Halina Reijn's May-December drama Babygirl.

Written and directed by Bodies Bodies Bodies helmer Reijn, Babygirl has earned dynamic buzz out of its Venice Film Festival premiere, from which Nicole Kidman was awarded the Volpi Cup for her riveting performance as the female lead. As she has in daring productions like Eyes Wide Shut, The Paperboy, and Big Little Lies, Kidman rejects her polished persona as a megawatt star (and AMC advocate), embracing a messy journey of sex and danger.

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

Yet Babygirl stands out among these other sexy films and series by keeping the playfulness of fucking fiercely at the center of its wilfully problematic romance. In that, even the seediest sequence has a bit of sweetness ground in. 

Babygirl genderswaps a common May-December dynamic.  Director Halina Reijn and Nicole Kidman. Credit: A24

At first blush, Babygirl's premise sounds almost tediously familiar: A high-powered CEO's family and job are threatened, thanks to a torrid affair with a lusty young intern.

Except Reijn genderswaps these roles, so the mighty CEO isn't a snarling Michael Douglas type; she's played by a crisp, cool Kidman. And rather than a curvy nymph swanning into their new workplace in a snug pencil skirt, Triangle of Sadness' Harris Dickinson strolls in with a blazer and a bored expression. And just like that, the expectations of this erotic tale are thrown off-kilter. 

Romy Mathis (Kidman) seems to have it all: a posh Hamptons home, a luxury Manhattan apartment, a handsome, doting husband (Antonio Banderas), two lovely teen daughters Isabel (Esther McGregor) and Nora (Vaughan Reilly), and a high-power job, where she's not only respected but also a role model for women in male-dominated fields. However, deep down Romy desires to be disrespected, debased, and made to beg. It's a wish so dark she can't even share it with her long-time partner. So when this beautiful and blasé hunk talks to her as casually as he might a barista, she's uncomfortably aroused. And he knows it. 

Samuel (Harris) is a new take on the problematic Lolita trope: a young person (typically a girl, often a minor) who is portrayed as sexually precocious and self-aware way beyond their years. Early on, he can sense that what Romy is missing in her life is a place where she can play at being submissive. Tough but tender, Samuel is ready to be her dominant, expecting her to grovel on a dirty hotel room floor or drink a tall glass of milk just because he said so. Romy's desire is one often associated with male execs, especially in BDSM circles. The genderswapping of this May-December dom-sub relationship (the opposite of say Steven Shainberg's office-set BDSM rom-com The Secretary), makes for a thrillingly transgressive narrative.

SEE ALSO: A beginner's guide to understanding Dom/sub dynamics

Romy and Samuel's relationship is undeniably hot, thanks to the intense chemistry between Kidman and Harris. Yet it's an onscreen romance that might well make its audience squirm, because of the power dynamics, the age difference, the non-conforming gender roles, and the kinky sex. This relationship is deeply fucked up even before Romy suggests their safe word be "Jacob" — the name of her husband. And all of this works toward a lusty and liberating message that sex should be about aching emotional honesty and fun discoveries. 

Babygirl revels in sexual experimentation and consent.  Nicole Kidman and Harris Dickinson in "Babygirl." Credit: A24

BDSM gets a bad wrap in the media, often because it's mischaracterized as abusive or bullying. Reijn and her cast embrace a version of Dom/sub sex where consent is not just essential but also exciting. In a husky voice, Samuel tells Romy to do certain things. She might blush or refuse him, and he'll urge her tell him why. It's not pressuring, it's communication. Notably, the kind of dialogue — awkward and exhilarating — that she can't manage to open with her sweet husband. 

Far from the "zipless fucks" dreamed of by Erica Jong or idealized in erotic thrillers of the '90s, Babygirl uses these moments of clumsy conversation and fumbling foreplay not only to ground their sexual fantasy in a more realistic setting, but also, because there's a freedom to seeing the process here. We see the pair's chosen cheap hotel room as a sexual sandbox, where both feel liberated as playmates. The power dynamic is in effect, but pleasure is the goal both seek to find together. And perhaps because it's Kidman in the lead, Babygirl urges its audience to take themselves less seriously in the bedroom, and be a bit like Romy and Samuel. 

Nicole Kidman delivers a hot-blooded and vulnerable performance that could make her an Oscars frontrunner.  Antonio Banderas and Nicole Kidman in "Babygirl." Credit: A24

Some will likely balk at or criticize Kidman for taking such a sexually raw role. (She faced similar critiques over The Paperboy.) As Romy, Kidman is given a level of power few women in the world will ever have. And so there’s a knowing discomfort in watching her surrender that power to some reverent dude in a necktie. As the stakes of this drama heighten through the possibility of Romy losing her job or her husband or the respect of her assistant (Talk to Me's Sophie Wilde) and daughters, there are plenty of reasons to judge this relationship. Yet within those scenes, Kidman lets loose a version of this character who is so radiantly human, so beautifully flawed, full of yearning and shame, that she is comprehendible. Even as we know, she’s making "bad choices," we might be a relieved to watch someone dare to do that. By living vicariously through Babygirl's dizzying highs and gut-churning lows, you might feel inspired to embrace the truth of yourself as Romy does over the course of this movie. 

Kidman thoughtfully knocks herself off of the high pedestal of glamour girl movie stardom to give us this gift. While the scenes of sexual discovery can feel downright juvenile with their laughter and awkward conversations around consent and kink, Babygirl has a profound maturity in its psychological understanding and empathy for unconventional desires. 

As to the Oscars, Kidman’s win in Venice suggests she’s in good standing this award season. Sexual liberation and unapologetic nudity certainly didn’t hurt Emma Stone last year in the best actress race so she won for Poor Things. However, Kidman's age might prove a challenge. Even as there is a rise in May-December romances featuring an older woman and younger man (including Kidman's summer release A Family Affair), there can be a backlash against older women lusting for a younger man, as we’ve seen in the mixed reception of The Idea of You, a rom-com about a middle-aged single mom hooking up with a 20-something boyband member.

Kidman is helped, however, by being surrounded by strong performances. Harris is finely tuned at the cross-section of lusty fantasy and irksome reality, playing a character who maintains a sultry mystique, justified by his place in Romy’s conflicted perspective. Banderas warmly portrays a loving partner/father, edging the fun of the affair with the pain of his inevitable discovery of it. Wilde withers as a keen assistant. McGregor brings a free-spirited Gen Z sense of sexual liberation as Romy’s queer daughter with a love triangle of her own, while Reilly succinctly captures the sweet innocence of a child that might well be shattered by the cracking of her mother’s all-mighty facade. 

Altogether, the cast makes Babygirl a stunner, landing silly moments as well as sexy ones. Emotionally naked, unapologetically provocative, and defiantly playful, Reijn's film joyfully explores the complicated ties that bind. Amid stiff competition, she delivers one of the sexiest, most thrilling films of the year. 

Babygirl was reviewed out of its North American premiere at the 2024 Toronto International Film Festival. A24 will release the movie in theaters Dec. 25.

Netflix released its trailer for Anna Kendrick's directorial debut, "Woman of the Hour," and it's harrowing. Watch.

"Bodies Bodies Bodies" director Halina Reijn's A24 erotic thriller "Babygirl" sees Nicole Kidman in the lead. Watch the trailer.

Today is a huge day for Chromebooks, particular the Chromebook Plus family. For the uninitiated, Chromebook Plus laptops support the most advanced AI features from Google Gemini.

When Google showed off a gaggle of new Chromebook Plus models in May, it boasted that, with the help of Gemini Advanced, it could help you write, generate graphics, brainstorm, write code, and more.

Now, Google is releasing two new Chromebook Plus laptops — and introducing even more new Gemini features that the owners of these models will get to enjoy.

SEE ALSO: Everything Google announced at its big Chromebook showcase Samsung Galaxy Chromebook Plus

Samsung Galaxy Chromebook Plus is the "thinnest and lightest Chromebook Plus" the ChromeOS team has ever rolled out to market.

Credit: Joe Maldonado / Mashable

As someone who got a chance to get some hands-on experience with the Galaxy Chromebook Plus, I can confirm that it is razor thin. I don't even know how they managed to pack any internals inside.

However, as far as its heft, I've held plenty other 16-inch laptops that are far lighter. Still, it's not bad with a weight of 2.6 pounds.

Speaking of specs, it comes with the following:

• Intel Core 3 100U processor

• 8GB of RAM

• 256GB of storage

• 15.6-inch, OLED screen

Samsung Galaxy Chromebook Plus reportedly lasts 13 hours on a charge, but we'll be the judge of that once we put it through our own in-house testing.

It costs $699.

Refreshed Lenovo Chromebook Duet

OK, I am actually excited about this one. I distinctly remember when the first iteration of the Lenovo Chromebook Duet darn-near flew off the shelves when Chromebooks were hot during the height of the pandemic.

Credit: Joe Maldonado / Mashable

It's one of the best-selling Chromebooks in recent years, according to Google. When I reviewed the first-generation Lenovo Chromebook Duet back in the day, I was blown away by its 13-hour battery life and clicky keyboard.

Spinning off from the Chromebook Duet's success, Lenovo launched the Lenovo Duet 5 Chromebook in 2022.

Now, we've got a refreshed Lenovo Chromebook Duet, which is a tablet that comes with a keyboard and kickstand that can transform into a miniature laptop. I can't wait to test it to see if it has the same pizazz as its predecessor.

It comes with the following specs:

• MediaTek Kompanio 838 processor

• Up to 8GB of RAM

• 128GB of storage

• 10.95-inch, 1920 x 1200-pixel display

And it's only $349.

New Gemini features for Chromebook Plus laptops

Chromebook Plus laptops, including the aforementioned Samsung Galaxy Chromebook Plus, will have the ability to access the following new Gemini-based features.

Credit: Google

• Get through content faster with "Help me read." This feature lets you quickly summarize PDFs, articles, or websites with a simple right-click. Want more details? You can ask follow-up questions to dive deeper. Starting next year, you’ll even be able to highlight specific sentences or paragraphs for further clarification.

• Break language barriers with Live Translate. Whether you’re on a Zoom call or watching a YouTube livestream, Live Translate instantly provides AI-powered captions in over 100 languages.

• Effortlessly capture thoughts and audio with the Recorder app. With Google AI, the Recorder app not only transcribes audio, but also identifies and labels different speakers. It even provides a summary of the recording, making reviewing a breeze.

• Polish your video calls with studio-grade features. Look and sound your best with AI-powered mic improvements and appearance tweaks. The studio-style mic enhances clarity while cutting background noise, and appearance settings adjust your lighting and brightness automatically.

New Gemini features for all Chromebooks

Starting in October, all Chromebooks will come with Gemini built right into the shelf. In other words, you don't need to open the Chrome browser to chat with Gemini.

This way, the AI chatbot is just a click away. Another eye-catching feature coming to all Chromebooks? You'll have the ability to pin important files to your Chromebook shelf. This is ideal if you have any documents that you frequently access. Instead of searching for them all the time, you can have them within easy reach on your Chromebook shelf.

The new Gemini features, on both Chromebook Plus and regular Chromebooks, are expected to roll out via updates throughout October.

A purchase of a Chromebook, by the way, comes with three months of Google One AI Premium.

Google Chromebooks Get Deal

This Tuesday, Google continues its investment in AI with the announcement of even more Gemini-powered features coming to Chromebooks. Back in May, Google launched a slew of new Chromebooks with its generative AI tools.

With the latest announcement, Google is debuting two new Chromebooks, including a Samsung Chromebook Plus that comes in a sleek, thin package.

New Chromebooks

This launch brings an expansion of features across all Chromebooks. Now, all models will incorporate Chat with Gemini, but Chromebook Plus models are getting even more. New tools include Help me read, Live Translate, and a Quick Insert key.

Lenovo Chromebook Duet 11-inch Credit: Google

With an 11-inch screen, the Lenovo Chromebook Duet focuses on portability. The compact size, the same as the smallest iPad Air model, is easy to throw in any back. Plus, it's a 2-in-1 style laptop. The kickstand and detachable keyboard allows you to use it as a tablet. It's compatible with USI 2.0 styluses, but unfortunately, it doesn't come with a pen. It has 8GB RAM and 128GB SSD. Like other tablets, it includes two cameras, a front-facing camera of 5MP and a back-facing camera of 8MP.

It costs $349 and will be available in October 2024.

Samsung Galaxy Chromebook Plus Credit: Samsung

This launch also debuts Samsung's first Chromebook Plus. Like the Lenovo, it emphasizes portability, measuring 11.8 mm in thickness and weighing just 2.58 pounds despite its 15.6-inch screen. It has 8GB RAM with 256GB SSD as well as an Intel Core 3 100U processor. Outfit with all of the new Gemini features announced at this launch, it's a promising debut in the Chromebook line-up.

While we haven't gotten our hands on the Samsung Galaxy Chromebook Plus, it's hard not to compare it to the Apple MacBook Air 15-inch model, which starts with 8GB of RAM and 256GB SSD, just like Samsung's Chromebook Plus. However, Samsung's is even lighter, measuring about .8 pounds less and 4mm slimmer. Despite their similar stature, that says nothing of how the two compare in processing — something we'll just have to measure ourselves.

The Samsung Galaxy Chromebook will be available in October 2024 and costs $699 — $600 less than the MacBook Air (M3) 15-inch laptop.

New Chromebook Plus features

The new Samsung Galaxy Chromebook Plus highlights the latest features Google is unveiling, however, all Chromebook Plus models will eventually see the latest updates. All of these features will be available through automatic updates coming later in October. Here's are the new features to expect:

• Quick Insert key: Now included on keyboards, you'll find the Quick Insert Key, which launches a menu of shortcuts like Help me write, emojis and GIFs, recently visited links, and Google Drive integrations. The Quick Insert key is coming to the Samsung Galaxy Chromebook Plus to start, but will eventually be available on all Chromebook Plus models next year. Users on standard Chromebooks can use the keyboard shortcut (Launcher Key + F) to access the same menu.

• Help me read: Google's Help me write composes emails and more to help you sound more eloquent and now the Help me read tool, summarizes anything you need to read, including PDFs and websites. To access the Help me read tool, just give the mouse a right click, and you'll receive a bulleted summary of the most important takeaways.

• Recorder app: This AI-powered tool automatically creates transcriptions on Google Meet, Zoom, and more. It automatically detects different speakers while capturing the audio.

• Built-in video call features: To make all your digital meetings better, two new features boost your mic and video quality. A studio-style mic reduces background noise to deliver clearer audio. Plus appearance effects adjust brightness and lighting for an enhanced look. Essentially, it makes you look like you have a professional ring light look without actually having one.

• Live Translate: Using AI, Google now automatically produces like translations for whatever you're doing, whether it be video calls, files, YouTube videos, or livestreams. It's currently available in over 100 languages.

New features on all Chromebooks

• Chat with Gemini: To access Gemini chat, you no longer need to open up the browser, as it comes pinned to the Chromebook shelf.

• Google One AI Premium plan at no cost for three months: This plans provides access to Gemini advanced. Chromebook Plus purchases come with 12 months of the plan.

• Welcome Recap: When you log back into your Chromebook, the Welcome Recap tells you exactly where you left off and provides suggestions on meetings you need to join and sites you were last browsing.

• Focus mode: Essentially a more advanced 'Do Not Disturb', Focus mode blocks out notifications and lets you create the perfect environment to get work done. You can choose a set amount of time for your study time and even play soundscapes and white noise.

Cooler temps are creeping in, and it’s time to start rocking your warm wool sweaters, beanies, and boots. But you know what else is begging for a full-on fall transformation? Your home. 

It’s amazing how a few new pieces of furniture and some cast-iron cookware from Walmart can cozy up the vibe of your entire space. You’ve been road-tripping and pool-dipping all summer. Let’s make over your space for spicy chili nights and fall streaming — and nab some killer deals.

Scientists say they've finally found a world orbiting Barnard's star, the closest single star to the sun.

This rocky planet, discovered with the European Southern Observatory's Very Large Telescope in Chile, is smaller than Earth, and flies around its tiny cool star every three days. Barnard's star is six light-years away from us, in the constellation Ophiuchus. The only closer stars are the trio that make up the Alpha Centauri system. 

Anyone have déjà vu? Yes, exoplanet hunters have thought before they'd found worlds around this particular star — a popular sci-fi setting — and their discoverers seemed pretty darn sure of their data, too. 

But this one is the real deal, a new research team says. Honest. 

"The discovery of this planet, along with other previous discoveries such as Proxima b and d, shows that our cosmic backyard is full of low-mass planets," said Alejandro Suárez Mascareño, a coauthor of the paper published in the journal Astronomy & Astrophysics today. 

SEE ALSO: Scientists haven't found a rocky exoplanet with air. But now they have a plan. A confirmed exoplanet orbits Barnard's star every three days. Credit: ESO / M. Kornmesser illustration

Despite its close proximity to our solar system, Barnard's star is too faint to see with the naked eye. A simple eight-inch amateur telescope should be able to spot it in deep space, though. 

This special star, a target of exoplanet searches for over a century, has a long history of false positive planet detections. Six years ago, an international team of researchers thought they had found a planet three times larger than Earth, just outside the so-called habitable zone, in the Barnard's star system. The authors of that paper, published in the journal Nature, characterized the world as frozen and circling its red dwarf host star every 233 days.

That potential discovery, using the radial velocity method, relied on 771 observations over two decades. Though at the time it was considered an unconfirmed candidate, the lead scientist had said in a statement then that he was "99% confident that the planet is there," though the team would continue to observe the star to rule out other "possible, but improbable" explanations. 

Tweet may have been deleted

The radial velocity technique looks for subtle changes in the frequency of starlight as seen from Earth. The gravitational tug of an orbiting planet is thought to cause little wobbles in the light measurements. But sometimes astronomers can be fooled: What might appear to be a planetary signal could in fact be little spots on the surface of the star, causing a false detection. 

Since the 2018 super-Earth candidate was proposed, other astronomers' follow-up studies have formally refuted its existence, including this most recent one. In 2021, a team led by astronomer Jack Rubin conducted nearly 120 new observations with an instrument on the Hobby-Eberly Telescope in Texas and found the mistaken signal was associated with the star's 145-day rotation period. 

The clue that there was a misinterpretation came from the fact that the strongest signal coincided with a period when stellar activity was also strong. In 2022, another team found that the planetary signal was unlikely. 

But that wasn't the first time the star had tricked astronomers into thinking it had planets. Astronomer Peter van de Kamp thought he had discovered two gas giant planets around Barnard’s star, the first as long ago as the 1960s. Some astronomers say he may have died believing he was the first to ever locate exoplanets. His findings were invalidated in later years.

Unlike the previous bloopers, the newly discovered planetary signal — suggesting a world half the mass of Venus — is the first exoplanet to be confirmed in the Barnard's star system with at least two other telescopes. Other verifying observations came from the Roque de los Muchachos and Calar Alto observatories in Spain and the La Silla Observatory in Chile. Astronomers estimate the planet to be about 20 times closer to its star than Mercury is to the sun, with a surface temperature of about 250 degrees Fahrenheit. 

Barnard's star is only six light-years away from the sun. Credit: IEEC / Science-Wave – Guillem Ramisa infographic

The bad news: Even if the star were about 2,500 degrees cooler than the sun, the planet would still be too hot for liquid water to exist on its surface, and not likely to be habitable, said lead author Jonay González Hernández. But the good news is that the team has found three other planet candidates near the star — and perhaps one of those, if confirmed, could be Earth-like. 

The previously suspected exoplanets were dubbed "Barnard b" until they were ruled out through the complicated and nuanced process of discovering new worlds trillions of miles away.

So, in the famous words of the To Tell the Truth game show, will the real Barnard b please stand up? 

There's a certain kind of person you don't want to be Too Online. I'd be uneasy, for instance, if my brain surgeon had a vast meme collection — put down the phone, pick up the scalpel.

Politicians, however, are in a more complicated position. In 2024, it's impossible to run an effective campaign while ignoring the internet, especially since millions of Gen Zers will be eligible to vote for the first time in this election. But it's easy for campaigns to cross the rubicon from effectively using the internet to being Too Online. There is the risk of confusing online noise for meaningful outreach, fringe concerns for real issues, and engagement as good press.

I'd argue that the pendulum has swung too far. Today's presidential campaigns are Too Online, and it's to the point where real-life issues might get lost in the noise of memes and digital posturing.

This isn't to say both campaigns are the same; they're not. However, both candidates have leaned heavily into online spaces, albeit very differently. Kamala Harris' campaign has embraced popular internet trends like "Brat Summer" and viral TikTok sounds like Chappell Roan's "Femininomenon" to court young voters. Donald Trump's camp, on the other hand, has veered into race-baiting edgelord memes, such as baseless claims about Haitian immigrants eating pets, framing it as a crucial election issue for his base.

The difference remains stark: Harris risks coming across as cringe-worthy or overly focused on online voters, while Trump pushes dangerous, often fabricated ideas to rile up his fervent supporters.

Campaigning in the Meme Age

So, how are these campaigns "too online"? First, let's acknowledge that it's likely not actually the candidates themselves. Trump famously doesn't use a computer — his phone is seemingly just a machine for posting tweets or updates on Truth Social — and I doubt Harris or her running mate Tim Walz are scrolling all that much. JD Vance might be knee-deep in forums, but who knows? Still, it's clear that their campaigns are focused on online culture.

SEE ALSO: Tortured no longer: Taylor Swift endorses Kamala Harris after presidential debate

Walz, a 60-year-old Midwest football coach, verbally described the Abe Simpson "old man yells at cloud" meme when asked to review Trump's debate performance. Over on the @KamalaHQ social media accounts, Harris' campaign leaned into Brat and coconut tree memes; it even dunked on the Trump campaign with a popular Real Housewives of Salt Lake City audio on TikTok. (The @KamalaHQ TikTok account is run by five Gen Z staffers.) Some of this is necessary. The world is, after all, an online world.

"Candidates can really set the agenda [on social media] and make sure that people are talking about the things that they want people to pick up on," said Dr. Caroline Leicht, a researcher at the University of Southampton who studies media and political communication with a focus on social media.

Leicht added: "With social media, there are these opinion leaders who then take over the conversation and spread the message further. So it's really free advertising in a way."

Harris' campaign, in particular, has capitalized on this free advertising. A spokesperson told Semafor that their online strategy aims to "meet voters where they are." After President Joe Biden dropped out of the race in July, Harris saw a spike in online interest. The memes worked — but maybe they learned the wrong lesson. The excitement mattered more than the memes. Voters welcomed a fresh face on the ticket, and memes followed naturally. You can't force a meme. Over-prioritizing an online presence risks becoming a distraction, emphasizing engagement that doesn't necessarily translate to votes. Focusing too much on crafting viral content or having the most polished online presence could be a damaging fool's errand. Let's not forget Hillary Clinton's attempt to connect with young voters in 2020. Her use of the phrase "Pokémon Go to the polls" got a lot of attention online, but none of it was positive. The phrase was endlessly memed and mocked.

To be fair, the Harris campaign has said its hope is to capitalize on trends, not create them.

"We're leveraging organic viral trends and online energy for V.P. Harris's presidential bid to do two big, and election-winning things: bring the conversation about the stakes of this election to the places a lot of our voters are getting their news from and two, transfer the enthusiasm we're seeing online to grow our grass-roots supporter network,” Seth Schuster, a spokesman for the Harris campaign, told the New York Times in August.

SEE ALSO: The Trump campaign's take on Tim Walz's coaching days proves they don't know football

But spend enough time online, and it will poison your brain in some way. I say this as a professional Too Online person. It's literally my job. But have you ever tried to explain a new meme to someone? You end up sounding fully detached from reality because, well, you are. It's like the Jesse/Walt meme from Breaking Bad — yes, I'm using a meme to describe being Too Online, I see the irony — and someone really does need to ask you what the fuck are you talking about?

Tweet may have been deleted

The campaigns must realize that most people aren't as online as they are. Do you know who works on campaigns? People who spend all day online. Spending all day online is an easy way to get fooled into thinking it matters more than it does.

Pew data showed that 44 percent of people between the ages of 18-49 say they go online "almost constantly," but this could be anything from Googling to emailing to, yes, posting memes. That number drops steeply with older folks. Just 22 percent of those between the ages of 50-64 say they were that online. The number craters to 8 percent of those 65 and older. Do you know who votes? Older people. The type of folks who might actually care that Harris did three interviews with influencers before a mainstream TV sit-down. (Though, of course, she has courted older voters, too, with moves like her interview with Oprah, a Baby Boomer icon.) Fifty-five percent of the electorate was 50 or older in the last presidential election. Meanwhile, 67 percent of folks between the ages of 18-49 didn't vote — and that is a much better turnout than in non-presidential elections.

In other words, the most online folks aren't reliable voters. The people seeing your campaign's memes might not cast a ballot. Or, worse, the memes could turn them off because they might not appear genuine.

That's how you get the Harris campaign sending out a Dril tweet and then Dril — perhaps the most influential Twitter poster of our time — immediately hating it in a very public, very direct way that wasn't a good look at all for the VP. He called out some of the worst alleged atrocities from Israeli soldiers. The war in Gaza is a major issue for young voters — who often are not aligned with the current administration's support for Israel — and especially among those who are Very Online. If the campaign is going to engage with young voters who are super online, then you're inviting criticism on what's proven to be a third-rail issue for politicians.

Tweet may have been deleted

Or, less seriously, being super online risks the Harris campaign looking cringe to younger voters or out-of-touch with others. It's how you get a bungled, embarrassing CNN segment trying to explain the whole Brat thing, which is more on CNN but also a super awkward thing for a campaign courting CNN viewers. I'd rather Harris' platform or speeches get that airtime instead of a chartreuse meme. Remember what I said about trying to explain a meme out loud? The Harris campaign and its need to win the meme wars is flirting with that reality.

Even some of the creators who support Harris want to see more emphasis on substantive policy talk. Elizabeth Booker Houston, a millennial TikTokker who attended the DNC in August, told TIME, "People want policy, and they do want to talk about the details of things, right? Not everything can be sugar — you’re going to get a tummy ache."

"They're eating the dogs!"

Trump and Vance, well, that's entirely different. They've immersed themselves in the anger-fueled, rightwing online ecosystem. If the Harris campaign relies too heavily on memes, then the Trump campaign is being dragged down by them.

They're seemingly following the path of Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis' campaign, which mistook the rightwing's online grievance culture for a sizable voting bloc. Most notably, Trump's baseless, race-baiting claims about Haitian immigrants eating dogs and cats in Springfield, Ohio, have been an utter disaster. As BBC reported, the rumor was started by a self-described social media influencer at a city meeting, took off on Facebook, and then spiraled into a national talking point — without a shred of evidence or truth.

Tweet may have been deleted

It makes sense that the Trump campaign might lean on Facebook memes, even as Meta itself shifts away from current events and politics. Republican voters tend to be older, as do Facebook users. Sprout Social data found that 51 percent of Facebook users were at least 40 years old. More than 60 percent of TikTok users, meanwhile, were under 40. Pew data showed, meanwhile, that Facebook is the only social media platform used more by Republicans than Democrats. (It's also the world's largest social media network.) The divide is clear.

SEE ALSO: Donald Trump posts AI image to attack Kamala Harris

Trump, however, ran with the Facebook rumor on the national debate stage, screaming, "They're eating the dogs!" — something everyday voters would have to find ridiculous. What began as a meme soon became another meme, with some mocking Trump and Vance and others supporting them. The audio even started trending on TikTok. With time, everywhere you looked online, people were posting about eating dogs and cats. Is this really what's going to win over the vanishingly few undecided voters? Vance seemed to think so, even asking folks to "keep the cat memes flowing."

The kicker? Vance even admitted it's probably made up. "If I have to create stories so that the American media actually pays attention to the suffering of the American people, then that's what I'm going to do," he said in an interview with CNN. In other words, it's just shitposting...but, you know, as an effort to get access to the nuclear codes.

Tweet may have been deleted

But the Trump campaign really does seem to think shitposting is a winning strategy. They've rolled out what NPR dubbed a tour of "dude influencers." Trump has talked with some of the pre-eminent right-leaning and rightwing online bros, like Logan Paul, Tucker Carlson, and Adin Ross. These are the sorts of folks that right-leaning young men might find controversially funny or interesting. In short, it's a press tour for male shitposters.

A need for balance

Clearly, a digital presence matters — 2016 showed us that. What was 2016 if not a referendum on the internet's power, with Trump seemingly tweeting his way into the White House? It makes some sense, then, that the Harris campaign recently spent $200 million on digital ad-buys, which was a record amount. But there's a line between effective online engagement and over-reliance. Maybe we don’t need Tim Walz narrating memes aloud, and we definitely don’t need any more rightwing cat memes.

As Dr. Leicht notes, "There is a very difficult balance to find, and I don't think there's a one-size-fits-all solution."

For most voters, a campaign's memes won't change their vote. Even young voters won't likely cast a vote based on online presence. Polls show they care about economic issues — like most voters — and mostly don't support sending military aid to Israel or the overturning of Roe v. Wade. Posting online matters for attention purposes, but from there, campaigns need to have something tangible to offer.

Focusing too much on memes also opens the door for errors — like becoming the next "Pokémon Go to the polls" moment. There's a fine line between being savvy and losing sight of what's really important to constituents. The Harris campaign risks falling into the latter category with its meme obsession, while the Trump campaign has gone too far down the rabbit hole of internet conspiracies.

Perhaps I’m biased, being so entrenched in the online world. I'm always logged on, and it makes me think they're always logged on. But I'd argue it takes one to know one, and it’s safe to say these campaigns have become Too Online. They've started confusing the digital world with the real one.

It's time to log off a little — touch grass, if you will — or, more importantly, go knock on more doors.