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TL;DR: Get major assistance with your coding thanks to Microsoft Visual Studio Professional 2026, on sale now for just $29.97 (reg. $499.99) through tonight, Oct. 11, at 11:59 p.m. PT.
Opens in a new window Credit: Microsoft Microsoft Visual Studio Professional 2026 $29.97Sometimes, writing code isn’t the hard part — it’s tracking all the little issues that pop up along the way. Microsoft Visual Studio Professional 2026 can make life a little easier for developers with AI-powered tools that help you write, understand, and troubleshoot code more efficiently.
Right now, you can secure your own lifetime license to Microsoft Visual Studio Professional 2026 for just $29.97 through tonight, Oct. 11, at 11:59 p.m. PT.
Even the most experienced developers could use another set of eyes once in a while. Microsoft Visual Studio Professional 2026 equips you with AI-powered features that make coding a whole lot easier by shaving time off your development process.
Whether you’re building a website or an app, let this professional-grade development tool help you tackle it. It’s a 64-bit IDE that can handle large solutions and complex workloads. You can even design cross-platform mobile and desktop apps and build across languages. Microsoft Visual Studio Professional 2026 also integrates with Azure, GitHub, and other DevOps workflows.
Take advantage of features like IntelliCode, which helps you type less and code more by providing a list of the next-best suggestions. This makes coding faster and more accurate. There’s also CodeLens to show you recent changes, authors, tests, and history right in the editor, so you can check it while staying in your code.
If you’re collaborating with others, Microsoft Visual Studio lets you do it without cloning repos or installing all dependencies. It can also speed up your team’s editing and debugging cycles with personalized sessions, access controls, and custom editor settings.
Make coding easier with Microsoft Visual Studio Professional 2026, on sale now for just $29.97 through tonight, Oct. 11, at 11:59 p.m. PT.
StackSocial prices subject to change.
TL;DR: Host an unlimited number of websites and enjoy lifetime web hosting with this lifetime subscription to Hostdeal Unlimited Plan, on sale now for just $119.97 (reg. $1,800) through tonight, Oct. 11, at 11:59 p.m. PT.
Opens in a new window Credit: Light Speed Technologies Hostdeal Unlimited Plan: Lifetime Subscription $119.97Between our apps, streaming services, cloud storage costs, and all the other things charging us month after month, the last thing we all need is another recurring bill just to keep our websites online. Hostdeal Unlimited Plan aims to change that, offering an easy way to pay once and enjoy unlimited hosting, storage, and more.
Right now, you can unlock a lifetime subscription to Hostdeal Unlimited Plan for just $119.97 through tonight, Oct. 11, at 11:59 p.m. PT.
It’s pretty surprising how often you need to create websites nowadays. But it’s even more surprising how much it can cost, with recurring charges for your domain names and hosting duties. Hostdeal Unlimited Plan offers a better option — pay once and take advantage of a lifetime of free domains, SSL certificates, daily backups, and even a one-click installer for over 400 apps.
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Launch, manage, and grow as many projects as you need forever, while only paying once. The Hostdeal Unlimited Plan is designed for high-volume website management and offers enterprise-grade security and fast performance. Host as many personal, business, or client websites as your projects require, with unlimited bandwidth to handle growing traffic.
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StackSocial prices subject to change.
TL;DR: The Apple iPhone 18 Pro is $1,000 off with T-Mobile. To claim this offer, switch and bring your number or trade in an eligible phone in any condition on an Experience Beyond plan.
Opens in a new window Credit: Apple T-Mobile: Apple iPhone 18 Pro for $1,000 off Shop NowWe keep close tabs on all the best deals on smartphones. T-Mobile is usually one of the first places we look, because they generally offer free deals on new handsets like the Motorola Razr+, Google Pixel 11, and of course, the iPhone.
For a period of time, T-Mobile was offering the iPhone 17 and iPhone 18 Pro for free. We were pretty crushed when we saw that T-Mobile had dropped this promotion. That was until we saw the alternative. The free deal might have gone, but they are still offering a huge discount on the latest iPhone.
For a limited time, the Apple iPhone 18 Pro is $1,000 off with T-Mobile. To qualify for this offer, switch and bring your number or trade in an eligible phone in any condition on an Experience Beyond plan.
T-Mobile spreads your savings across 36 monthly bill credits, effectively locking you into a three-year agreement. If you cancel or switch carriers early, you will owe the remaining balance immediately. You will also need to cover state sales tax on the phone’s full retail value upfront, plus a standard $35 device connection fee per line at checkout.
If you plan on staying with T-Mobile anyway, it is still one of the best ways to score a top-tier phone without taking a massive hit to your bank account.
Get the Apple iPhone 18 Pro for $1,000 off this weekend with T-Mobile.
TL;DR: Secure your content with this 1TB Koofr Cloud Storage lifetime subscription for just $129.99 (reg. $810) with code KOOFR through tonight, Oct. 11, at 11:59 p.m. PT.
Opens in a new window Credit: Koofr Koofr Cloud Storage: Lifetime Subscription (1TB) $129.99Your storage needs aren’t exactly getting smaller. Instead of just letting your devices fill up, there’s now a more permanent solution. Koofr Cloud Storage lets you own your storage space outright. And right now, a 1TB Koofr Cloud Storage lifetime subscription can be yours for just $129.99 until tonight, Oct. 11, at 11:59 p.m. PT with code KOOFR.
We’re all carrying around a camera via smartphones in our pockets, which means we can capture precious moments at any time. The only drawback? That means we’re constantly accumulating data, and that content has to go somewhere. If you need more space and you’re sick of the monthly fees, there’s now Koofr Cloud Storage.
Koofr Cloud Storage lets you pay once and secure 1TB of cloud storage space for life. It’s equipped with a user-friendly interface that makes it easy to navigate. And if you have your content stored on other services like Dropbox, Google Drive, Amazon Drive, or OneDrive, it’s easy to transfer it to Koofr.
Aside from offering a more affordable solution, Koofr Cloud Storage keeps your content secure. You’ll have end-to-end encryption, so it can’t be accessed by anyone — not even Koofr itself.
When you need your files, you can easily access them via a computer, smartphone, or WebDAV. You can also take advantage of features like advanced renaming options, link appearance customization, and a duplicate finder.
Curious how much you can store with 1TB? It’s enough space for 250,000 12MP photos, 500 hours of video, or 6.5 million PDF files.
Lock in a 1TB Koofr Cloud Storage lifetime subscription for just $129.99 with code KOOFR through tonight, Oct. 11, at 11:59 p.m. PT.
StackSocial prices subject to change.
TL;DR: Watch Sassuolo vs. Milan in Serie A for free on SportyNet. Access this free live stream from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.
Serie A returns this weekend, with top Italian teams back in action after a break for the Nations League.
AC Milan are looking to make it six games unbeaten in league competition when they visit Sassuolo. With Milan positioned just two points from the top of the league, a win here would be crucial — though Sassuolo could surprise Milan and pull themselves out of a run of average performances.
If you're interested in watching Sassuolo vs. Milan in Serie A from anywhere in the world, we've got all the information you need.
When is Sassuolo vs. Milan?Sassuolo vs. Milan in Serie A kicks off at 12 p.m. ET on Oct. 11. This fixture takes place at the Mapei Stadium.
How to watch Sassuolo vs. Milan for freeSassuolo vs. Milan in Serie A is available to live stream for free on SportyNet.
SportyNet is geo-restricted to Brazil, but anyone can secure access with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in Brazil, meaning you can live stream Sassuolo vs. Milan for free from anywhere in the world.
Live stream Sassuolo vs. Milan for free by following these simple steps:
Sign up for a streaming-friendly VPN (we recommend ExpressVPN)
Download the app to your device of choice
Open up the app and connect to a server in Brazil
Visit SportyNet
Watch Sassuolo vs. Milan for free from anywhere in the world
The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but they do tend to offer generous money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can watch Sassuolo vs. Milan without committing your cash. This is obviously not a long-term strategy, but it gives you enough time to stream this fixture (plus additional Premier League action) before recovering your investment.
What is the best VPN for Serie A?ExpressVPN is the best choice for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport on SportyNet, for a number of reasons:
Servers in 105 countries, including Brazil
Easy-to-use app available on all major devices, including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more
Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure
Fast connection speeds free from throttling
Up to 10 simultaneous connections
30-day money-back guarantee
A two-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $68.40 and includes an extra four months for free — 81% off for a limited time. This plan includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and usually offers a generous 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.99.
Live stream Sassuolo vs. Milan for free from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.
If you like playing daily word games like Wordle, then Hurdle is a great game to add to your routine.
There are five rounds to the game. The first round sees you trying to guess the word, with correct, misplaced, and incorrect letters shown in each guess. If you guess the correct answer, it'll take you to the next hurdle, providing the answer to the last hurdle as your first guess. This can give you several clues or none, depending on the words. For the final hurdle, every correct answer from previous hurdles is shown, with correct and misplaced letters clearly shown.
An important note is that the number of times a letter is highlighted from previous guesses does necessarily indicate the number of times that letter appears in the final hurdle.
Want more tech and digital culture news delivered to your inbox daily or sent straight to your device? Sign up for Mashable's Top Stories newsletter or get Mashable push alerts today.
If you find yourself stuck at any step of today's Hurdle, don't worry! We have you covered.
SEE ALSO: Hurdle: Everything you need to know to find the answers Hurdle Word 1 hintPerfume scent.
Hurdle Word 1 answerMUSKY
Hurdle Word 2 hintInterior.
SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for October 11, 2026 Hurdle Word 2 AnswerINNER
Hurdle Word 3 hintWindy.
SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for October 11, 2026 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Meanings for each word for Oct. 11, 2026 Hurdle Word 3 answerGUSTY
Hurdle Word 4 hintBlasting.
Hurdle Word 4 answerBLARE
Final Hurdle hintClumsy.
SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Games available on Mashable Hurdle Word 5 answerKLUTZ
If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.
TL;DR: Live stream Philadelphia Eagles vs. Jacksonville Jaguars for free on Channel 5. Access this free livestream from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.
The NFL is in London for the second week running, as the Philadelphia Eagles and Jacksonville Jaguars prepare for a Week 5 clash across the Pond.
Last week's London game saw the Washington Commanders brought down to earth with a decisive loss to the Indianapolis Colts. The big question for this week's game is whether the Jaguars will make it three wins in a row, which would make three losses in a row for the Eagles.
If you want to watch Eagles vs. Jaguars in the NFL for free from anywhere in the world, here's all the information you need.
When is Eagles vs. Jaguars?Philadelphia Eagles vs. Jacksonville Jaguars starts at 9.30 a.m. ET on Oct. 11. This fixture takes place at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
How to watch Eagles vs. Jaguars for freeEagles vs. Jaguars in the NFL is available to live stream for free on Channel 5.
Channel 5 is geo-restricted to the UK only, but anyone can secure access with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in the UK, meaning you can live stream Eagles vs. Jaguars for free from anywhere in the world.
Access free live streams of the NFL by following these simple steps:
Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (we recommend ExpressVPN)
Download the app to your device of choice
Open up the app and connect to a server in the UK
Visit Channel 5
Watch Eagles vs. Jaguars for free from anywhere in the world
The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but they do tend to offer generous money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can watch Eagles vs. Jaguars without committing your cash. This is obviously not a long-term strategy, but it gives you enough time to stream this fixture (plus more NFL action) before recovering your investment.
What is the best VPN for the NFL?ExpressVPN is the best service for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream the NFL, for a number of reasons:
Servers in 105 countries, including the UK
Easy-to-use app available on all major devices, including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more
Strict no-logging policy so your data is always secure
Fast connection speeds free from throttling
Up to 10 simultaneous connections
30-day money-back guarantee
A two-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $68.40 and includes an extra four months for free — 81% off for a limited time. This plan includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and usually offers a generous 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.99.
Live stream Philadelphia Eagles vs. Jacksonville Jaguars for free from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.
A new lunar cycle has begun. After yesterday's New Moon, the Moon is starting to slowly come back into view, with a thin crescent gradually becoming visible on the right side.
What is today's Moon phase?As of Sunday, Oct. 11, NASA's Daily Moon Guide tracker tells us the Moon is in the Waxing Crescent phase, with 1% of its surface visible.
When is the next Full Moon?The next Full Moon will take place on October 25 or 26, depending on your timezone.
What are Moon phases?The Moon completes an orbit around Earth in roughly 29.5 days. During that time, its position changes relative to the Earth and Sun, altering how much of the Moon's illuminated surface is visible to us. This produces the familiar lunar phases, beginning with a thin crescent and progressing through the quarter phases before reaching a Full Moon. The sequence then repeats as the Moon continues its orbit. According to NASA, the phase visible from Earth is determined by the Moon's changing position in relation to both Earth and the Sun.
The eight phases are:
New Moon - The Moon is between Earth and the sun, so the side we see is dark (in other words, it's invisible to the eye).
Waxing Crescent - A small sliver of light appears on the right side (Northern Hemisphere).
First Quarter - Half of the Moon is lit on the right side. It looks like a half-Moon.
Waxing Gibbous - More than half is lit up, but it's not quite full yet.
Full Moon - The whole face of the Moon is illuminated and fully visible.
Waning Gibbous - The Moon starts losing light on the right side. (Northern Hemisphere)
Third Quarter (or Last Quarter) - Another half-Moon, but now the left side is lit.
Waning Crescent - A thin sliver of light remains on the left side before going dark again.
Welcome to your guide to Pips, the latest game in the New York Times catalog.
Released in August 2025, Pips puts a unique spin on dominoes, creating a fun single-player experience that could become your next daily gaming habit.
Currently, if you're stuck, the game only offers to reveal the entire puzzle, forcing you to move on to the next difficulty level and start over. However, we have you covered! Below are piecemeal answers that will serve as hints so that you can find your way through each difficulty level.
How to play PipsIf you've ever played dominoes, you'll have a passing familiarity with how Pips is played. As we've shared in our previous hints stories for Pips, the tiles, like dominoes, are placed vertically or horizontally and connect with each other. The main difference between a traditional game of dominoes and Pips is the color-coded conditions you have to address. The touching tiles don't necessarily have to match.
SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for October 11, 2026The conditions you have to meet are specific to the color-coded spaces. For example, if it provides a single number, every side of a tile in that space must add up to the number provided. It is possible — and common — for only half a tile to be within a color-coded space.
Here are common examples you'll run into across the difficulty levels:
Number: All the pips in this space must add up to the number.
Equal: Every domino half in this space must be the same number of pips.
Not Equal: Every domino half in this space must have a completely different number of pips.
Less than: Every domino half in this space must add up to less than the number.
Greater than: Every domino half in this space must add up to more than the number.
If an area does not have any color coding, it means there are no conditions on the portions of dominoes within those spaces.
SEE ALSO: NYT Strands hints, answers for October 11, 2026 Easy difficulty hints, answers for October 11 PipsEqual (2): Everything in this space must be equal to 2. The answer is 2-2, placed horizontally; 2-4, placed vertically.
Equal (4): Everything in this space must be equal to 4. The answer is 3-4, placed horizontally; 2-4, placed vertically; 4-6, placed horizontally.
Greater Than (4): Everything in this space must be greater than 4. The answer is 4-6, placed horizontally.
Number (7): Everything in this space must add up to 7. The answer is 3-4, placed horizontally; 4-0, placed horizontally.
Less Than (2): Everything in this space must be less than 2. The answer is 4-0, placed horizontally.
Medium difficulty hints, answers for October 11 PipsLess Than (2): Everything in this space must be less than 2. The answer is 1-0, placed vertically.
Number (6): Everything in this space must add up to 6. The answer is 2-4, placed horizontally; 2-2, placed vertically.
Equal (2): Everything in this space must be equal to 2. The answer is 2-4, placed horizontally; 2-0, placed horizontally.
Number (2): Everything in this space must add up to 2. The answer is 2-0, placed horizontally; 2-2, placed vertically.
Number (4): Everything in this space must add up to 4. The answer is 1-0, placed vertically; 4-3, placed vertically.
Less Than (2): Everything in this space must be less than 2. The answer is 0-5, placed horizontally.
Greater Than (7): Everything in this space must be greater than 7. The answer is 0-5 placed horizontally; 1-5, placed vertically.
Number (5): Everything in this space must add up to 5. The answer is 5-2, placed vertically.
Greater Than (1): Everything in this space must be greater than 1. The answer is 6-1, placed vertically.
Greater Than (4): Everything in this space must be greater than 4. The answer is 5-5, placed vertically.
Number (6): Everything in this space must add up to 6. The answer is 5-2, placed vertically; 4-4, placed vertically.
Greater Than (4): Everything in this space must be greater than 4. The answer is 5-5, placed vertically.
Less Than (5): Everything in this space must be less than 5. The answer is 4-4, placed vertically.
Number (10): Everything in this space must add up to 10. The answer is 4-5, placed horizontally; 6-0, placed horizontally.
Number (5): Everything in this space must add up to 5. The answer is 3-2, placed vertically.
Equal (0): Everything in this space must be equal to 0. The answer is 6-0, placed horizontally; 0-0, placed vertically.
Number (3): Everything in this space must add up to 3. The answer is 3-1, placed vertically.
Number (4): Everything in this space must add up to 4. The answer is 4-0, placed vertically.
Number (2): Everything in this space must add up to 2. The answer is 6-2, placed horizontally; 4-0, placed vertically.
Number (4): Everything in this space must add up to 4. The answer is 4-2, placed vertically.
Number (3): Everything in this space must add up to 3. The answer is 3-6, placed vertically.
Number (8): Everything in this space must add up to 8. The answer is 4-2, placed vertically; 3-6, placed vertically.
Equal (2): Everything in this space must be equal to 2. The answer is 2-2, placed horizontally.
If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.
Today's Connections: Sports Edition will be easier for who watch football.
As we've shared in previous hints stories, this is a version of the popular New York Times word game that seeks to test the knowledge of sports fans.
Like the original Connections, the game is all about finding the "common threads between words." And just like Wordle, Connections resets after midnight, and each new set of words gets trickier and trickier — so we've served up some hints and tips to get you over the hurdle.
If you just want to be told today's puzzle, you can jump to the end of this article for the latest Connections solution. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.
SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable What is Connections: Sports Edition?The NYT's latest daily word game has launched in association with The Athletic, the New York Times property that provides the publication's sports coverage. The sports Connections can be played on both web browsers and mobile devices and require players to group four words that share something in common.
This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.Each puzzle features 16 words, and each grouping of words is split into four categories. These sets could comprise anything from book titles, software, country names, etc. Even though multiple words will seem like they fit together, there's only one correct answer.
If a player gets all four words in a set correct, those words are removed from the board. Guess wrong and it counts as a mistake — players get up to four mistakes before the game ends.
This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.Players can also rearrange and shuffle the board to make spotting connections easier. Additionally, each group is color-coded with yellow being the easiest, followed by green, blue, and purple. Like Wordle, you can share the results with your friends on social media.
SEE ALSO: Wordle-obsessed? These are the best word games to play IRL. Here's a hint for today's Connections: Sports Edition categoriesWant a hint about the categories without being told the categories? Then give these a try:
Yellow: Relinquish
Green: Oklahoma sports
Blue: Haliburton's arc
Purple: Sounds like an NFL team
Need a little extra help? Today's connections fall into the following categories:
Yellow: Gives Up
Green: Oklahoma Teams
Blue: Tyrese Haliburton Teams
Purple: NFL Teams, With The Second Letter Changed
Looking for Wordle today? Here's the answer to today's Wordle.
Ready for the answers? This is your last chance to turn back and solve today's puzzle before we reveal the solutions.
Drumroll, please!
The solution to today's Connections: Sports Edition #748 is...
What is the answer to Connections: Sports Edition today?Gives Up: ALLOWS, CONCEDES, SURRENDERS, YIELDS
Oklahoma Teams: COWBOYS, GOLDEN HURRICANE, SOONERS, THUNDER
Tyrese Haliburton Teams: CYCLONES, KINGS, PACERS, USA
NFL Teams, With The Second Letter Changed: BOARS, BULLS, GRANTS, RIMS
Don't feel down if you didn't manage to guess it this time. There will be new sports Connections for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we'll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints.
Are you also playing NYT Strands? See hints and answers for today's Strands.
If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.
Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to yesterday's Connections.
Looking for spoiler-free NYT Connections hints or just wondering why Connections is trending today? We've got what you need to understand the clues for today's puzzle without spoiling any of the answers.
Of course, Mashable has also provided daily hints and answers for Connections, Wordle, and Strands for years, so we can help you if that's also what you need.
While we are focused more on meanings than hints in this story, sometimes learning that many of the words have completely unrelated meanings is a clue in and of itself. Connections frequently includes clues that involve words within words and other visual clues.
SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for October 11, 2026 Cable meaningAn insulated set of wires or fibers used to carry electricity.
Electricity meaningThe set of physical phenomena caused by the presence and motion of matter that has an electric charge.
Internet meaningA global system of interconnected computer networks that lets devices around the world communicate and share information with each other.
Phone meaningAn electronic device that converts sound (your voice) into electrical or radio signals, allowing you to talk to someone in another location.
Gloves meaningA fitted piece of handwear that covers the hand and wrist, featuring separate sheaths or compartments for each finger and the thumb.
Ice scraper meaningA handheld tool with a flat plastic or metal blade used to remove frost, ice and snow from car windows.
Map meaningA visual or graphic representation of an area, typically drawn to scale on a flat surface.
Registration meaningThe process of entering names, data or details into a formal register or database.
Apply meaningTo use a skill, knowledge, rule or method in a real-world situation.
Harness meaningTo direct and use power effectively
Utilize meaningTo put something into service.
Want more tech and digital culture news delivered to your inbox daily or sent straight to your device? Sign up for Mashable's Top Stories newsletter or get Mashable push alerts today.
Wield meaningTo hold and use a physical weapon or tool, or to exercise abstract power, authority or influence.
Employ meaningTo hire someone for work or to put something into service
Patrick meaningA name signifying a member of the ruling, elite class in ancient Rome.
Peruse meaningTo read carefully or in detail.
Syntactic meaningRelating to, involving or conforming to the rules of syntax.
Have you learned the meanings and still want the things? Check out the hints and answers for today's NYT Connections puzzle.
Are you also playing NYT Strands? Get all the Strands hints you need for today's puzzle.
Meet The Mashable 101: Our list of the content creators shaping the internet today
If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.
Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to yesterday's Connections.
The NYT Connections puzzle today is not too difficult if you're resourceful.
Connections is the one of the most popular New York Times word games that's captured the public's attention. The game is all about finding the "common threads between words." And just like Wordle, Connections resets after midnight and each new set of words gets trickier and trickier—so we've served up some hints and tips to get you over the hurdle.
If you just want to be told today's puzzle, you can jump to the end of this article for today's Connections solution. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.
SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable What is Connections?The NYT's latest daily word game has become a social media hit. The Times credits associate puzzle editor Wyna Liu with helping to create the new word game and bringing it to the publications' Games section. Connections can be played on both web browsers and mobile devices and require players to group four words that share something in common.
This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.Each puzzle features 16 words and each grouping of words is split into four categories. These sets could comprise of anything from book titles, software, country names, etc. Even though multiple words will seem like they fit together, there's only one correct answer.
If a player gets all four words in a set correct, those words are removed from the board. Guess wrong and it counts as a mistake—players get up to four mistakes until the game ends.
This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.Players can also rearrange and shuffle the board to make spotting connections easier. Additionally, each group is color-coded with yellow being the easiest, followed by green, blue, and purple. Like Wordle, you can share the results with your friends on social media.
SEE ALSO: NYT Pips hints, answers for October 11, 2026 Here's a hint for today's Connections categoriesWant a hint about the categories without being told the categories? Then give these a try:
Yellow: Leverage
Green: Expenses
Blue: Car necessities
Purple: Scheme
Want more tech and digital culture news delivered to your inbox daily or sent straight to your device? Sign up for Mashable's Top Stories newsletter or get Mashable push alerts today.
Here are today's Connections categoriesNeed a little extra help? Today's connections fall into the following categories:
Yellow: Put to use
Green: Monthly bills
Blue: Things you might find in a glove compartment
Purple: Ending in gambits
Ready for the answers? This is your last chance to turn back and solve today's puzzle before we reveal the solutions.
Drumroll, please!
The solution to today's Connections #1217 is...
What is the answer to Connections todayPut to use: APPLY, HARNESS, UTILIZE, WIELD
Monthly bills: CABLE, ELECTRICITY, INTERNET, PHONE
Things you might find in a glove compartment: GLOVES, ICE SCRAPER, MAP, REGISTRATION
Ending in gambits: EMPLOY, PATRICK, PERUSE, SYNTACTIC
Looking for Wordle today? Here's the answer to today's Wordle.
Are you also playing NYT Strands? Get all the Strands hints you need for today's puzzle.
Meet The Mashable 101: Our list of the content creators shaping the internet today
If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.
Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to yesterday's Connections.
Today's NYT Strands hints will be easy if you're old school.
Strands, the New York Times' elevated word-search game, requires the player to perform a twist on the classic word search. Words can be made from linked letters — up, down, left, right, or diagonal, but words can also change direction, resulting in quirky shapes and patterns. Every single letter in the grid will be part of an answer. There's always a theme linking every solution, along with the "spangram," a special, word or phrase that sums up that day's theme, and spans the entire grid horizontally or vertically.
SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on MashableBy providing an opaque hint and not providing the word list, Strands creates a brain-teasing game that takes a little longer to play than its other games, like Wordle and Connections.
If you're feeling stuck or just don't have 10 or more minutes to figure out today's puzzle, we've got all the NYT Strands hints for today's puzzle you need to progress at your preferred pace.
SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for October 11, 2026 NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: They don't make 'em like they used toThe words are related to obsolete things.
Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explainedThese words describe things that are outdated.
NYT Strands spangram hint: Is it vertical or horizontal?Today's NYT Strands spangram is vertical.
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NYT Strands spangram answer todayToday's spangram is Old Fashioned.
NYT Strands word list for October 11Telegram
Pager
Inkwell
Old Fashioned
Icebox
Typewriter
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Looking for other daily online games? Mashable's Games page has more hints, and if you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now!
Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.
Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to yesterday's Strands.
Today's Wordle answer should be easy to solve if you have a big reveal.
If you just want to be told today's word, you can jump to the bottom of this article for today's Wordle solution revealed. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.
SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for October 11, 2026 Where did Wordle come from?Originally created by engineer Josh Wardle as a gift for his partner, Wordle rapidly spread to become an international phenomenon, with thousands of people around the globe playing every day. Alternate Wordle versions created by fans also sprang up, including battle royale Squabble, music identification game Heardle, and variations like Dordle and Quordle that make you guess multiple words at once.
Wordle eventually became so popular that it was purchased by the New York Times, and TikTok creators even livestream themselves playing.
What's the best Wordle starting word?The best Wordle starting word is the one that speaks to you. But if you prefer to be strategic in your approach, we have a few ideas to help you pick a word that might help you find the solution faster. One tip is to select a word that includes at least two different vowels, plus some common consonants like S, T, R, or N.
What happened to the Wordle archive?The entire archive of past Wordle puzzles was originally available for anyone to enjoy whenever they felt like it, but it was later taken down, with the website's creator stating it was done at the request of the New York Times. However, the New York Times then rolled out its own Wordle Archive, available only to NYT Games subscribers.
Is Wordle getting harder?It might feel like Wordle is getting harder, but it actually isn't any more difficult than when it first began. You can turn on Wordle's Hard Mode if you're after more of a challenge, though.
Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:Uncover.
Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?There are no recurring letters.
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Today's Wordle is a 5-letter word that starts with...Today's Wordle starts with the letter U.
The Wordle answer today is...Get your last guesses in now, because it's your final chance to solve today's Wordle before we reveal the solution.
Drumroll please!
The solution to today's Wordle is...
UNCAP
Don't feel down if you didn't manage to guess it this time. There will be a new Wordle for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we'll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints.
Are you also playing NYT Strands? See hints and answers for today's Strands.
Reporting by Chance Townsend, Caitlin Welsh, Sam Haysom, Amanda Yeo, Shannon Connellan, Cecily Mauran, Mike Pearl, and Adam Rosenberg contributed to this article.
Meet The Mashable 101: Our list of the content creators shaping the internet today
If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.
Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to yesterday's Wordle.
Walmart is on the defensive after a bombshell Groundwork Collaborative report that it has patented technology to personalize prices. According to the Oct. 5 report, "The Walmart Watchtower," several patent applications describe the data Walmart can collect about its users, from songs on your playlist to your credit report.
Dynamic pricing is the practice of changing prices in a 24-hour period depending on conditions like the weather, and it's something that some policymakers are fighting against. Surveillance pricing, which is similar, uses customer behavior and characteristics to price the same products differently.
SEE ALSO: Claude sent phony tip about an unsolved murder to Philadelphia police"Combined with the miles-long list of personal data it collects on shoppers, outlined in its most recent privacy notice, these patents show Walmart building detailed consumer profiles — and the infrastructure to deepen them — seemingly so it can price people, not products," the report states.
The report goes on to allege that Walmart plans on charging more depending on who a customer is and what they need, such as charging new parents more for baby products. Another example is adjusting prices based on items in one's cart, like charging more for mayo if someone is already buying tuna.
The report also discusses Walmart's in-house AI shopping assistant, "Sparky," and claims that customers who use it spend more than those who don't (and that Walmart executives brag about this).
The report is written by Groundwork's president and CEO, Lindsay Owens, and its vice president of policy, advocacy, and research, Elizabeth Pancotti.
Walmart's executive vice president of corporate affairs, Dan Bartlett, responded to the report the same day with an open letter on X (and on Walmart's website) specifically to Owens. He denied Groundwork's accusations, saying the report repeatedly mischaracterizes Walmart's pricing practices and use of technology. Walmart won't pursue dynamic pricing and has committed not to, he said.
"Your comments about Sparky also draw unfounded conclusions. We do not use AI to upcharge our customers," he added.
Owens then responded to the "baseless attacks" on Oct. 5 with a new statement. She said, "The confusion around Walmart's pricing practices is of its own making. Walmart says one thing in its damage-control letters to customers, another to its investors behind closed doors, and a different thing entirely to the United States Patent and Trademark Office."
She said she released a new analysis of Walmart patents so Americans can decide for themselves. She also voices concerns about Spark's capabilities and safeguards, particularly following the Hugging Face incident.
Groundwork Collaborative was also part of the Dec. 2025 Consumer Reports investigation about Instacart's price tests, which it claimed upped customers' grocery bills. Instacart ended the tests after a public outcry from both customers and politicians.
Today's Connections: Sports Edition will be easier for who watch Texas football.
As we've shared in previous hints stories, this is a version of the popular New York Times word game that seeks to test the knowledge of sports fans.
Like the original Connections, the game is all about finding the "common threads between words." And just like Wordle, Connections resets after midnight, and each new set of words gets trickier and trickier — so we've served up some hints and tips to get you over the hurdle.
If you just want to be told today's puzzle, you can jump to the end of this article for the latest Connections solution. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.
SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable What is Connections: Sports Edition?The NYT's latest daily word game has launched in association with The Athletic, the New York Times property that provides the publication's sports coverage. The sports Connections can be played on both web browsers and mobile devices and require players to group four words that share something in common.
This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.Each puzzle features 16 words, and each grouping of words is split into four categories. These sets could comprise anything from book titles, software, country names, etc. Even though multiple words will seem like they fit together, there's only one correct answer.
If a player gets all four words in a set correct, those words are removed from the board. Guess wrong and it counts as a mistake — players get up to four mistakes before the game ends.
This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.Players can also rearrange and shuffle the board to make spotting connections easier. Additionally, each group is color-coded with yellow being the easiest, followed by green, blue, and purple. Like Wordle, you can share the results with your friends on social media.
SEE ALSO: Wordle-obsessed? These are the best word games to play IRL. Here's a hint for today's Connections: Sports Edition categoriesWant a hint about the categories without being told the categories? Then give these a try:
Yellow: MLB abbreviations
Green: Frontcourt basketball
Blue: Texas football
Purple: Involves a ball
Need a little extra help? Today's connections fall into the following categories:
Yellow: MLB Teams, On Scoreboards
Green: Terms for a Frontcourt Basketball Player
Blue: A Texas College Athlete
Purple: Ball___
Looking for Wordle today? Here's the answer to today's Wordle.
Ready for the answers? This is your last chance to turn back and solve today's puzzle before we reveal the solutions.
Drumroll, please!
The solution to today's Connections: Sports Edition #747 is...
What is the answer to Connections: Sports Edition today?MLB Teams, On Scoreboards: MIA, MIL, SEA, TEX
Terms for a Frontcourt Basketball Player: BIG, CENTER, FORWARD, POST
A Texas College Athlete: AGGIE, LONGHORN, MUSTANG, OWL
Ball___: HOG, MARKER, SECURITY, STATE
Don't feel down if you didn't manage to guess it this time. There will be new sports Connections for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we'll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints.
Are you also playing NYT Strands? See hints and answers for today's Strands.
If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.
Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to yesterday's Connections.
Welcome to your guide to Pips, the latest game in the New York Times catalog.
Released in August 2025, Pips puts a unique spin on dominoes, creating a fun single-player experience that could become your next daily gaming habit.
Currently, if you're stuck, the game only offers to reveal the entire puzzle, forcing you to move on to the next difficulty level and start over. However, we have you covered! Below are piecemeal answers that will serve as hints so that you can find your way through each difficulty level.
How to play PipsIf you've ever played dominoes, you'll have a passing familiarity with how Pips is played. As we've shared in our previous hints stories for Pips, the tiles, like dominoes, are placed vertically or horizontally and connect with each other. The main difference between a traditional game of dominoes and Pips is the color-coded conditions you have to address. The touching tiles don't necessarily have to match.
SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for October 10, 2026The conditions you have to meet are specific to the color-coded spaces. For example, if it provides a single number, every side of a tile in that space must add up to the number provided. It is possible — and common — for only half a tile to be within a color-coded space.
Here are common examples you'll run into across the difficulty levels:
Number: All the pips in this space must add up to the number.
Equal: Every domino half in this space must be the same number of pips.
Not Equal: Every domino half in this space must have a completely different number of pips.
Less than: Every domino half in this space must add up to less than the number.
Greater than: Every domino half in this space must add up to more than the number.
If an area does not have any color coding, it means there are no conditions on the portions of dominoes within those spaces.
SEE ALSO: NYT Strands hints, answers for October 10, 2026 Easy difficulty hints, answers for October 10 PipsNumber (1): Everything in this space must add up to 1. The answer is 1-6, placed vertically.
Number (10): Everything in this space must add up to 10. The answer is 1-6 placed vertically; 4-4, placed vertically.
Equal (0): Everything in this space must be equal to 0. The answer is 2-0, placed vertically; 0-5, placed vertically.
Greater Than (2): Everything in this space must be greater than 2. The answer is 4-4, placed vertically.
Number (10): Everything in this space must add up to 10. The answer is 0-5, placed vertically; 5-6, placed horizontally.
Greater Than (1): Everything in this space must be greater than 1. The answer is 5-6, placed horizontally.
Medium difficulty hints, answers for October 10 PipsGreater Than (9): Everything in this space must be greater than 9. The answer is 5-6, placed horizontally; 4-1, placed vertically.
Equal (3): Everything in this orange space must be equal to 3. The answer is 3-3, placed horizontally.
Equal (1): Everything in this orange space must be equal to 1. The answer is 4-1, placed vertically; 1-2, placed vertically.
Less Than (3): Everything in this space must be less than 3. The answer is 2-5, placed horizontally.
Greater Than (9): Everything in this space must be greater than 9. The answer is 4-6, placed horizontally.
Number (9): Everything in this space must add up to 9. The answer is 2-5, placed horizontally; 4-4, placed horizontally.
Number (6): Everything in this space must add up to 6. The answer is 1-2, placed vertically; 4-4, placed horizontally.
Hard difficulty hints, answers for October 10 PipsNumber (3): Everything in this space must add up to 3. The answer is 3-4, placed vertically.
Number (3): Everything in this space must add up to 3. The answer is 3-0, placed horizontally.
Number (0): Everything in this space must add up to 0. The answer is 3-0, placed horizontally.
Number (4): Everything in this space must add up to 4. The answer is 4-0, placed vertically.
Number (4): Everything in this space must add up to 4. The answer is 4-2, placed vertically.
Number (4): Everything in this space must add up to 4. The answer is 3-4, placed vertically.
Number (2): Everything in this space must add up to 2. The answer is 2-1, placed horizontally.
Number (1): Everything in this space must add up to 1. The answer is 2-1, placed horizontally.
Number (0): Everything in this space must add up to 0. The answer is 4-0, placed vertically.
Number (0): Everything in this space must add up to 0. The answer is 0-2, placed vertically.
Number (2): Everything in this space must add up to 2. The answer is 4-2, placed vertically.
Number (0): Everything in this space must add up to 0. The answer is 0-1, placed horizontally.
Number (1): Everything in this space must add up to 1. The answer is 0-1, placed horizontally.
Number (1): Everything in this space must add up to 1. The answer is 1-3, placed horizontally.
Number (3): Everything in this space must add up to 3. The answer is 1-3, placed horizontally.
Number (2): Everything in this space must add up to 2. The answer is 0-2, placed vertically.
Number (5): Everything in this space must add up to 5. The answer is 5-4, placed vertically.
Number (5): Everything in this space must add up to 5. The answer is 5-3, placed horizontally.
Number (3): Everything in this space must add up to 3. The answer is 5-3, placed horizontally.
Number (3): Everything in this space must add up to 3. The answer is 3-2, placed vertically.
Number (6): Everything in this space must add up to 6. The answer is 6-3, placed horizontally.
Number (3): Everything in this space must add up to 3. The answer is 6-3, placed horizontally.
Number (4): Everything in this space must add up to 4. The answer is 5-4, placed vertically.
Number (1): Everything in this space must add up to 1. The answer is 1-4, placed vertically.
Number (0): Everything in this space must add up to 0. The answer is 0-5, placed vertically.
Number (2): Everything in this space must add up to 2. The answer is 3-2, placed vertically.
Number (2): Everything in this space must add up to 2. The answer is 2-5, placed horizontally.
Number (5): Everything in this space must add up to 5. The answer is 2-5, placed horizontally.
Number (4): Everything in this space must add up to 4. The answer is 1-4, placed vertically.
Number (5): Everything in this space must add up to 5. The answer is 0-5, placed vertically.
Number (1): Everything in this space must add up to 1. The answer is 1-5, placed horizontally.
Number (5): Everything in this space must add up to 5. The answer is 1-5, placed horizontally.
If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.
Claude Haiku 4.5 sent the Philadelphia Police Department (PPD) a false homicide tip, Anthropic and the PPD announced.
In an Oct. 9 blog post about Anthropic investigating unintended model actions, the company described the incident and several others in which different Claude models performed actions they weren't asked to perform.
SEE ALSO: Anthropic IPO docs reportedly reveal over $40 billion in losses last yearIn this case, Claude Haiku 4.5 was tasked with generating and performing example tasks on randomly-selected webpages. The model landed on a PPD tip form about an unsolved homicide. The model was instructed not to log in, create accounts, enter personal data, make purchases, or "submit anything destructive," according to the post — but the list of don'ts didn't include submitting forms.
So, Claude filled out the tip form:
I may have information regarding this case. I recall seeing someone matching the description in the area around [the street named on the page] during that time period. Please contact me if this information is relevant.
Claude didn't fill in the name or contact fields, nor did he provide a description of the imaginary suspect.
The PPD provided more details in a statement shared with 6abc Philadelphia. Claude submitted the form to PhillyUnsolvedMurders.com on July 18. The tip went to spam and was never acted upon. Anthropic discovered the incident on Sept. 28 and notified PPD on Oct. 7.
The statement went on to say that PPD has a vetting process for tips, including a human review, before any follow-ups. "Those PPD safeguards limited the impact of this incident," PPD stated. "They do not diminish the seriousness of an AI system presenting fabricated information as though it came from a person with knowledge of a homicide."
"Unsolved cases involve real victims, grieving families, and investigators working to secure answers," the statement went on. "Technology companies must take all appropriate steps necessary to prevent their systems from submitting false information to law enforcement."
Other rogue actions described in the blog post included exploiting software flaws, circumventing restrictions to access gated data, and using URL shortening services. In the post, Anthropic insisted these behaviors were "significantly less severe" than in previous incidents, and the real-world impact was minimal.
Up until Oct. 3, Los Angeles-based lingerie brand Cantiq had over 100,000 followers on Instagram. Designer and owner Chelsea Hughes told Mashable that Instagram was its number one source of traffic and revenue — the lifeblood of the gender- and size-inclusive brand.
Then, seemingly without warning, Instagram owner Meta banned the account, and Hughes' personal Facebook was also suspended. The account was restored on Oct. 9, but not before personal strife from Hughes and public scrutiny, including Mashable reaching out to Meta about the incident.
"I can't even get into…the Meta Business Manager app," Hughes told Mashable on a phone call while the account was down. "I can't access anything. So ten years of work down the drain."
SEE ALSO: Instagram put a warning on Florence Pugh's 'Cornell 7' post. Why?Hughes believed this was the work of discriminatory AI. In March, Meta announced plans to enforce its content guidelines with advanced AI models.
"If you are a 3X and you're wearing the same bra as another person in an extra small, that AI will scan and say that that 3X person is showing more skin just because they have a larger body," she said. "It is not about them being more sexual. It is not about them selling sex or anything like that. It's just based on the fact that there are more square inches on their skin than on a smaller size, and that's just not fair."
Cantiq is one of many businesses facing these takedowns. In the last few months, numerous gay bars and nightclubs in Los Angeles and Austin have also reported that Meta has removed their business accounts.
Thick Enterprises, which platforms, showcases, and trains dancers in larger bodies, also had their Instagram account removed recently. It was restored around the same time as Cantiq's account. Chantal, its co-owner and experiential director (who declined to give her last name), told Mashable while the account was down that she believed this was "a targeted puritanical culling of fat and queer spaces."
"The fact that it has happened in these last two months, you're like, oh yeah, this is definitely queer erasure. This is fatphobia. This is taking marginalized groups and labeling them as sexual deviants, and that's incredibly dangerous," Chantal said.
On Oct. 9, Meta told Mashable via email that it enforces its policies regardless of the account holders or the type of content they post, and linked to its sexual solicitation and sexually explicit language policy outlining the types of content that can lead to enforcement. (Both Hughes and Chantal said they work to keep their content compliant with Meta's policies.)
"It has felt like 1984"LGBTQ accounts, accounts of sex workers, sex educators, reproductive activists, and the like have made similar claims over the years: Instagram banned them despite following its community guidelines. There have also been many accusations of shadowbanning, or not being seen in Instagram's Search or Explore pages. (Instagram has denied that shadowbanning exists.)
Now, it seems that Meta's bans are coming for LGBTQ and plus-sized-focused businesses.
Nonprofit Repro Uncensored (RU) gathers reports of Meta banning accounts, and it's getting these reports pretty constantly at this point, its executive director, Martha Dimitratou, told Mashable over the phone. Between March and Oct. 2026, RU recorded approximately 905 cases of digital censorship globally, she said, including 135 in the U.S. In Aug. and Sept. alone, RU received 275 reports worldwide, including 60 in the U.S.
Supporting marginalized and progressive accounts isn't a priority of big tech, especially in this political climate, Dimitratou added.
"Meta is fully aware of this problem and yet it continues, over and over, to suspend LGBTQ accounts that are not in violation of its policies," a GLAAD spokesperson told Mashable over email. "Rather than committing to solving the systemic problem, and ensuring its AI moderation systems are not flagging LGBTQ language and resources as violative, the company restores an account only after a public outcry."
This is what happened to Precinct, a bar in Los Angeles. Its Instagram account was restored after its general manager, Jeremy Lucido, and others urged Precinct's patrons to contact Meta.
View this post on Instagram"We have been targeted, and we've been left with very few real resources or ways to get help," Lucido told Mashable over email.
Platforms like Meta have created a system where businesses like Precinct depend on social media to reach their customers and community, but when something goes wrong, they're repeatedly shut out of the channels they rely on to operate, he continued.
"Meta's users, creators, and advertisers are entitled to have the company's products function safely and fairly. They deserve an explanation and implementation of an actual solution. Meta must fix this problem, now."
Hughes told Mashable that, before the ban, several words in Cantiq's bio were flagged — but that the only words in the bio were "queer," "body positive," and the size range of Cantiq's clothes (6X to XS). She requested a review of this, and a few days later, the account was gone.
"I'm banned from the platform with no recourse, no specifics. Just, 'You violated our community standards, and now you're banned,'" she said prior to the account restoration. Since she couldn't repeal the decision because whenever she tried to log into her account, she received an error message, she asked followers on her personal account to contact Meta, and also reported the incident to RU. She even paid for the highest level of verification on her personal account to get enhanced support.
Chantal, meanwhile, woke up on Aug. 27 to find the @thickenterprises account had been banned on Instagram. The night before, the account had no posting or feature restrictions.
Instagram apparently stated that a poster for a show on Aug. 14, nearly two weeks earlier, was "soliciting sex and posting nudity." But no one was nude; Chantal made sure no posts violated Meta's community guidelines, and the decision to change the business's name from Thick Strip to Thick Enterprises was partly due to efforts to adhere to them. (Chantal said it had been called Thick Strip since 2018, and it was never an issue until 2026.)
The accounts of several Thick Enterprises dancers were also removed, Chantal told Mashable. Like Hughes, she believes this is due to discriminatory AI.
"It's our belief that the AI moderation system is reading these larger bodies as being nude because we have more skin," she said. "This algorithmic bias is baked into this coding, and we believe it because our peers who are smaller in this industry don't seem to be facing this disproportional enforcement of these community guidelines."
Chantal also said that everything she posts will be labeled "body positive" — even if that's not what the content is about. "I'll post a photo of me at the beach, or a photo of me in a pretty outfit, and I'll say I'm a business owner, or I went to a concert, or summer joy, and every single post will mention body positivity."
She believes Meta's AI content moderation oscillates between reading bigger bodies as "body positivity" or vulgarity.
"I have felt surveilled," she said. "It has felt very 1984."
The impact of Meta's content moderationOn Oct. 1, Meta's Oversight Board (an independent body that reviews the company's content enforcement decisions) announced that it's conducting new research to provide guidelines on how to use AI content moderation "in a way that respects free expression, reduces harm and adheres to recognized human rights standards."
While the Oversight Board initially welcomed AI use in content moderation in March, it noted the well-known risks associated with LLMs, such as inherent biases and hallucinations, as well as their struggle to handle nuances of communication, such as sarcasm, humor, and coded language.
These businesses are facing the human impact of these pitfalls.
Before Cantiq's account was restored, Hughes said this "might be the final nail in our coffin," given the economy and the fact that lingerie isn't recession-proof.
"One of the main ways we've been able to survive this storm that a lot of people are going through is because of our popularity on Instagram." She had to think of her five employees and their livelihoods, too.
Lucido of Precinct said that as the process becomes automated, getting an actual person to look at a problem feels nearly impossible. When accounts are removed — without explanation or human support — it results in missed promotions, disrupted communication, and potentially lost business.
"An apology after the fact doesn’t undo that," he said. "We need reliable human support, clear explanations, and accountability when these systems repeatedly fail our community."
Meanwhile, big brands like Kardashian-owned Skims seem to be allowed to post whatever they want. In 2025, Mashable reported that Skims was able to post about pubic hair underwear while smaller creators get banned for showing less sexual content.
"Not only is it discriminatory towards the plus-size community and the queer community, but it's also just discriminatory to small businesses in general," Hughes said, "and we're the ones that need them the most."
Chantal said the deletions have made her feel like she's doing something wrong by existing as an adult and empowering others, but she knows in her heart of hearts it's not illegal nor wrong.
"It's been a battle inside of me…feeling this pressure to bow to our digital overlords and the way that they want to run the internet. Do I do that for the sake of still existing on this platform, or do I stay authentic to how we are?" she asked.
But seeing other businesses' and people's accounts removed made her realize it's not her fault. "We're all just victims," she said.
Brad Bird makes the case that animation can be for adults with Ray Gunn. The big-budget film noir comes not from Pixar, where Bird helmed such hits as The Incredibles and Ratatouille, but from Netflix, which won the Best Animated Feature Oscar last winter for KPop Demon Hunters.
To be clear, Bird's latest isn't inappropriate for kids. Like Who Framed Roger Rabbit?, this animated movie with a film noir core could play to children and grown-ups alike. But it'll be older audience members who can best appreciate the influences Bird is bringing into play in Ray Gunn.
SEE ALSO: Wake Up, Oscars: Animation isn't just for kids What's Ray Gunn about? Credit: NetflixThe film, written by Bird and Matthew Robbins, is named for Raymond "Ray" Gunn (voiced by Sam Rockwell), a former police officer who has quit the force to start his own private investigation firm. But the going is tough, in part because Ray is a shamus so determined to do the right thing that he rejects dirty money.
This high-mindedness is not great news for his partner, an alien named Eye-Ra (Tom Waits). For one thing, if Ray's not making money, neither is Eye-Ra. For another, these sleuths live in a futuristic urban landscape where aliens are treated like second-class citizens. So, Eye-Ra's options aren't as plentiful as his human partner's.
Bird swiftly establishes the hierarchy of Ray Gunn's world with a near wordless introduction, where Eye-Ra slips into an office building with a cleaning crew entirely made up of unusual-looking creatures. Sure, some aliens can get ahead, like a badass businesswoman voiced with raspy and passionate aplomb by Kathryn Hunter. But even in her brief role, she speaks to the social pressure to cover her ample limbs to appease the humans. Elsewhere, aliens get ahead through organized crime, mirroring the mafia's history in the U.S.
Into this stratified city, with its underbelly of gambling and violence, pop star Venus Nova (Scarlett Johansson) is a shining light. With her long blonde hair, whiskey-smooth voice, and undisputed beauty, she's got everything it takes to be a star. But she's also got a reputation for self-sabotage, the kind that makes tabloid publishers salivate. So, when her management needs someone to keep an eye on Venus ahead of the debut of her new album, they call on Ray Gunn (and Eye-Ra). However, romance, betrayal, and a bit of murder make this supposedly easy job a very hard day at work.
But don't fret, parents. Bird is careful to keep the violence offscreen or comical, so the darkness of the film noir genre won't leave your kiddos with nightmares.
Ray Gunn is visually enthralling, with a great cast. Credit: NetflixWith The Incredibles and Tomorrowland, Bird showed his love of retro-futurism. That's on full display in Ray Gunn, where yellow cabs and glossy convertibles hover through the air in a sky-high city that's like The Jetsons meets Chinatown. The design of his characters is varied and refreshing. For the humans, the slick noir style of the 1940s gets a colorful re-imagining through animation; structured suits, silky gowns, and impossibly coiffed hairdos all look resplendent. Alongside that, Bird curls this concept into sci-fi with a bevy of intriguing aliens.
In this world, Rockwell is smartly cast. He's an Academy Award–winning actor known for wild, live-action films like Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri; Confessions of a Dangerous Mind; and Good Luck, Have Fun, Don't Die. Yet as dynamic as he is on camera, Rockwell is just as strong doing voice work, as he's shown in the animated Bad Guys movies.
Here, the comic sharpness of his delivery is well-employed to keep Ray from coming off too stiff. Rather than channeling noir legend Humphrey Bogart, Rockwell leans closer to Ryan Gosling in The Nice Guys. Ray is serious about justice and doing the right thing, but he's also a bit of a clown. (This is most thrillingly explored in a sequence involving a teleportation gun with some light Cronenberg slapstick as a result.) There are shades of Galaxy Quest in his turn, though Ray will never lose his cool as zanily as Guy, a background actor certain he's doomed to be a real-life red-shirt, did.
Opposite Rockwell, Waits proves a perfect foil. His low, ragged tone, forged from decades of acting and singing, brings the world-weariness that's expected of a noir detective. But Waits brings a cutting sense of humor to his exceptionally dry punchline deliveries. Together, they are a terrifically paired odd couple. The pairings in Ray Gunn are less successful when Johansson comes into the mix.
Ray Gunn gets frustratingly predictable.Kids who've never seen a film noir might not see the clichés coming. However, grown-ups will likely be able to predict the movie's big twists pretty early on. Part of it is that in his homage to this genre, Bird is perhaps too loyal to its tropes. So, reveals for a string of secrets across the second and third act lose their impact as they feel like inevitabilities. But kids who liked KPop Demon Hunters might be drawn in by the colorful aesthetic and Johansson's pop star, even if her songs aren't as up, up, upbeat.
There are also some spoilers laced into the voice casting, as some actors are so easy to identify that a double role is not as hidden as Ray Gunn seems to think. Elsewhere, a character actor who's regularly played a baddie in Disney movies is hard to miss when he pops up in a bit part, tipping a climactic reveal.
Still, even when I was certain I'd cracked the case ahead of its titular detective, I was enjoying the ride of Bird's Ray Gunn. However, the casting of Johansson feels a fateful misstep. Sure, the American actress has loaned her voice to a slew of movies, including Sing, Isle of Dogs, The Jungle Book, Her, and The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie. However, Johansson doesn't match Rockwell or Waits when it comes to voice work.
Within Ray Gunn, she's called upon to be both the streetwise dame and the femme fatale, with a flourish of pop star glamor that feels more Lady Gaga than Barbara Stanwyck. Even with her signature rasp, Johansson doesn't plumb the depths of the noir character she's given. Her voice is always pretty, whether playful or furious. But there's a lack of texture or perhaps uninhibitedness that makes Venus feel a shallow echo of the noir dames who've come before.
By contrast, You're The Worst's Kether Donohue has a much smaller role in Ray Gunn. Yet her voice work — which can also be heard in Star Trek: Lower Decks — stands out. She has moxie, bringing an instant definition to her character. Johansson, as the female lead, falls short of this. Despite a script and animators who aim to mold Venus into a complicated character, Johansson's performance feels too stiff to make her really come alive.
Overall, however, Ray Gunn is a compelling mash-up of influences that make for a terrifically fun movie sure to entertain kids and parents alike.
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