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SAVE $25: As of Jan. 30, get two $50 Uber gift cards at Costco for $74.99. This deal is only available for Costco members.

Opens in a new window Credit: Costco Two $50 Uber Gift Cards $74.99 at Costco
$100.00 Save $25.01 Get Deal

If you're a Costco member who also happens to use Uber, this deal was practically made for you — or someone you know, at the very least. For anyone who uses Uber often or wants to gift Uber access to friends or family for less, you'll want to head on over to the retailer to take advantage of this limited-time deal.

As of Jan. 30, you can get two $50 Uber gift cards for $74.99. That's $5 off their normal Costco member price of $79.99 (and $25 off their total value). These are digital gift cards and the limit is two per member. You must be a Costco member to take advantage of the deal.

Uber gift cards can be used as currency on the Uber app. All you need to do is apply the gift card and you can use it the same as cash to schedule and set up rides. You can also use the money on Uber Eats, so you can have food from all sorts of local restaurants delivered to your door.

With these gift cards, the funds won't expire, though as Costco notes, you may be required to add a secondary method of payment for some accounts. Otherwise, you just need to go to your Uber menu, hit the "Wallet" option, and use the "Add funds" button to redeem your card.

You'll want to jump on this deal quickly, because it's only here until Feb. 23 or while supplies last.

The European Union is considering banning video game console sales to Russia, aiming to prevent the army from using the controllers to fly drones in Ukraine. 

On Monday, the European Council renewed economic sanctions on Russia in response to its continued invasion of Ukraine, extending them for six months until the end of July. Russia significantly escalated the countries' ongoing conflict in 2022 when it launched a full-scale military assault on Ukraine. The invasion is currently still ongoing, with Russian president Vladimir Putin refusing to recognise Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

"We really need to keep up the economic pressure on Russia [to stop the war] while also giving military support to Ukraine," Kaja Kallas, Vice-President of the European Commission, said on Tuesday. "To strengthen Ukraine, so that the stronger they are on the battlefield, the stronger they are also behind the negotiation table."

SEE ALSO: EU faces legal action from Tesla, BMW over tariffs on Chinese-made EVs

Though some EU sanctions against Russia have been in place since the war began in 2014, they have multiplied significantly since the 2022 invasion of Ukraine. They currently cover a wide range of areas, including restrictions on trade, energy, technology, transport, and even luxury goods.

Now, that list may soon be extended to video game consoles and controllers.

"We are really looking into all types of things that really help Russia to wage this war – to put them on the sanctions list," said Kallas. "Even elements like the consoles for the video games, because apparently these are the ones that they operate the drones with. So, really being creative."

It's unclear exactly how video game consoles themselves might be used to operate drones. Some reports have suggested that Russia's military has been reappropriating components from household electronics for use in weapons, though there is scant evidence that such practices are widespread.

However, video game controllers have long been used to operate electronics in non-recreational settings, steering everything from flying drones, to bomb disposal robots, to submarine masts. The ill-fated Titan submersible which imploded in 2023 was infamously controlled by a Logitech G F710 controller.

Even so, how much of an impact an EU ban on selling Russians video game consoles might have remains uncertain. Microsoft, Sony, and Nintendo have already suspended sales in Russia since March 2022, cutting off the nation's supply of Xbox, PlayStation, and Switch consoles in response to the invasion of Ukraine. Logitech also exited the Russian market in August that same year.

As such, a ban will likely be of more immediate consequence to the third-party console vendors in the EU. It also seems more likely to send a message than significantly slow Russia's military efforts, as the country has increasingly relied upon China as a trade partner due to such long running and wide-ranging sanctions.

Last year, Putin ordered Russia's government to look into developing its own domestic video game consoles. Unfortunately for Russian gamers, reports indicate that the two machines currently in development are underwhelming in comparison to the current-gen consoles they're hoping to replace.

TL;DR: Check out this Dropbox alternative you can access for life. Get 10TB of Internxt Cloud Storage for £196.77 (reg. £2,408.75) when you use the code STORAGE at checkout.

Opens in a new window Credit: Internxt Internxt Cloud Storage Lifetime Subscription: 10TB Plan £196.77 at the Mashable Shop
£2,408.75 Save £2,211.98 Use code 'STORAGE' Get Deal

If you're tired of getting emails from Dropbox and Google to purchase more storage and upgrade to an expensive monthly plan, you're not alone. Thankfully, one-time payments for a lifetime of service still exist in some corners of the internet.

Thanks to Internxt, you can get a whole 10TB of secure cloud storage space for life for one flat payment of £196.77. This deal is available through 2 February, just remember to use the discount code STORAGE when you checkout at the Mashable Shop.

Internxt is a private cloud service suite designed to protect your digital privacy. Providing complete security, uncompromising privacy, and honest transparency, all Internxt services are 100% open-source and end-to-end encrypted, which means only you have the ability to access your files. This offers peace of mind that your data is secure and private.

This storage solution allows you to store, share, and send files and photos on the cloud from any device and operating system. Whether you use Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, or iOS, Internxt has you covered with desktop and mobile apps, plus a web app for browsers.

Easily sync your files and photos on all platforms, even Linux. Access your files from the desktop app, web browser app, and iOS/Android app with an intuitive interface that makes cloud storage easy and user-friendly. Plus, this lifetime subscription includes updates.

Please note this deal is only available to new users and, after you make your purchase, the code you receive must be redeemed within 30 days.

Through 2 February, get this lifetime subscription to an Internxt Cloud Storage 10TB Plan on sale for £196.77, a 92% discount from the usual £2,408.75 price.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

TL;DR: Live stream FCSB vs. Manchester United for free on ServusTV. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

Manchester United have been far from convincing in the Premier League, but they've done pretty well in the Europa League this season. They are still unbeaten, and are looking good to finish the group stage in the top eight spots of the standings.

But before the knockout rounds, Manchester United travel to Bucharest to play FCSB.

If you want to watch FCSB vs. Manchester United for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is FCSB vs. Manchester United?

FCSB vs. Manchester United kicks off at 8 p.m. GMT on Jan. 30. This fixture takes place at the National Arena.

How to watch FCSB vs. Manchester United for free

FCSB vs. Manchester United is available to live stream for free on ServusTV.

ServusTV is geo-restricted to Austria, but anyone can access this free streaming platform with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in Austria, meaning you can bypass geo-restrictions to access ServusTV from anywhere in the world.

Unblock ServusTV by following these simple steps:

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

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

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

4. Visit ServusTV

5. Stream FCSB vs. Manchester United in the Europa League for free

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

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but they do tend to provide free-trial periods or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can gain access to ServusTV without committing with your cash. This is not a long-term solution, but it gives you plenty of time to stream FCSB vs. Manchester United before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for ServusTV?

ExpressVPN is the best choice for streaming live sport on ServusTV, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries including Austria

• 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 eight simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

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

Stream FCSB vs. Manchester United for free with ExpressVPN.

This content originally appeared on Mashable for a US audience and has been adapted for the UK audience.

One of the great things about this Bluetooth-connected world is that you can take your tunes anywhere: the beach, the pool, the garden, the park. Hell, even the shower. Just connect your smart device to a portable Bluetooth speaker and start streaming. But taking a speaker anywhere means you need extra protection. You need something waterproof to withstand the weather and the perils of poolside partying.

Indeed, a waterproof Bluetooth speaker gives you the freedom to go wherever you like and not worry about it getting soaked. Some portable outdoor speakers even float in the water. But there are dozens of different Bluetooth speakers out there. It's hard to pick one based on your budget and needs.

The good news is that we've done the work for you and researched the very best waterproof Bluetooth speakers. But here's some useful information before you take the plunge.

How do Bluetooth speakers work?

When you want to take your tunes outside, you don't want to worry about wires or an external power source. Fortunately, you don't have to with Bluetooth. Just wirelessly pair your smartphone with a speaker, then pull up your music-streaming app and hit play. Depending on the battery life of your speaker, you're set for easy, uninterrupted listening for hours and hours. Another advantage to Bluetooth speakers is that you can often hook up two or more together for a bigger stereo sound.

Is water-resistant and waterproof the same thing?

Not all waterproofing is created equal. Pay close attention to the device’s IP rating, which is the measurement of how waterproof — or merely water-resistant — it is. And if an IP rating isn’t clearly stated, move on to something more trustworthy. These ratings can be confusing, so we’ll explain everything below. The main thing to know is that water resistance is not the same as being waterproof — not even close.

What is a waterproof rating?

A water-resistant speaker will typically be rated IPX5 or lower, meaning it can certainly survive the odd splash or sprinkle. But if you're looking for a speaker to stand up to the elements (and accidents), look for ratings of IPX6 or IPX7. This means a device will survive a good soaking or even complete submersion, respectively.

However, if you're looking for a Bluetooth speaker that's truly outdoorsy and weatherproof, opt for an IP67 rating. The device will be able to withstand being submerged in a metre of water for up to 30 minutes, as well as being dustproof, dirtproof, and sandproof. You can confidently take your IP67 speaker to sandy beaches or dusty campsites without worrying about wet or windy conditions.

What is a good battery life for a Bluetooth speaker?

If you’re just heading out for the day, six to 12 hours would probably be just fine. But if you’re going away for a weekend, or you don’t want to worry about charging often — even when you’re at home — opt for a speaker that offers up to 24 hours of uninterrupted audio bliss.

Do Bluetooth speakers sound good?

Obviously, you want your waterproof speakers to sound good — that's literally why you're spending your hard-earned cash on them. Typically, the higher the price of the device, the more crisp the audio and more thumping the bass. However, we do like a few budget options that offer surprisingly impressive sound quality, so don't automatically think that you can't get something great if money is tight.

What is the best waterproof Bluetooth speaker?

To help you make a decision, we’re sharing our top picks for the best waterproof Bluetooth speakers around. We've lined up something for every occasion — and every budget — including devices from top brands like Ultimate Ears, JBL, and Bose.

These are the best waterproof Bluetooth speakers in 2025.

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.

Tweet may have been deleted

Each puzzle features 16 words and each grouping of words is split into four categories. These sets could comprise of anything from book titles, software, country names, etc. Even though multiple words will seem like they fit together, there's only one correct answer.

If a player gets all four words in a set correct, those words are removed from the board. Guess wrong and it counts as a mistake—players get up to four mistakes until the game ends.

Tweet may have been deleted

Players can also rearrange and shuffle the board to make spotting connections easier. Additionally, each group is color-coded with yellow being the easiest, followed by green, blue, and purple. Like Wordle, you can share the results with your friends on social media.

SEE ALSO: NYT's The Mini crossword answers for January 30 Here's a hint for today's Connections categories

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

• Yellow: A certain je ne sais quoi

• Green: Food for the game

• Blue: Won't shut up

• Purple: Not exactly European capitals

Featured Video For You Connections: How to play and how to win Here are today's Connections categories

Need a little extra help? Today's connections fall into the following categories:

• Yellow: Intangible Quality

• Green: Game Day Fare

• Blue: Keep Going on About, With "On"

• Purple: Starting with European Capitals

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 #599 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• Intangible Quality: AIR, AURA, HALO, VIBE

• Game Day Fare: BEER, DIP, PIZZA, WINGS

• Keep Going on About, With "On": DWELL, HARP, INSIST, LINGER

• Starting with European Capitals: BERNIE, PARISH, RIGATONI, ROMEO

Don't feel down if you didn't manage to guess it this time. There will be new Connections for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we'll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for January 30

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.

Oh hey there! If you're here, it must be time for Wordle. As always, we're serving up our daily hints and tips to help you figure out today's answer.

If you just want to be told today's word, you can jump to the bottom of this article for 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 today: Hints and answers for January 30 Where did Wordle come from?

Originally created by engineer Josh Wardle as a gift for his partner, Wordle rapidly spread to become an international phenomenon, with thousands of people around the globe playing every day. Alternate Wordle versions created by fans also sprang up, including battle royale Squabble, music identification game Heardle, and variations like Dordle and Quordle that make you guess multiple words at once. 

Wordle eventually became so popular that it was purchased by the New York Times, and TikTok creators even livestream themselves playing.

What's the best Wordle starting word?

The best Wordle starting word is the one that speaks to you. But if you prefer to be strategic in your approach, we have a few ideas to help you pick a word that might help you find the solution faster. One tip is to select a word that includes at least two different vowels, plus some common consonants like S, T, R, or N.

What happened to the Wordle archive?

The entire archive of past Wordle puzzles was originally available for anyone to enjoy whenever they felt like it, but it was later taken down, with the website's creator stating it was done at the request of the New York Times. However, the New York Times then rolled out its own Wordle Archive, available only to NYT Games subscribers.

Is Wordle getting harder?

It might feel like Wordle is getting harder, but it actually isn't any more difficult than when it first began. You can turn on Wordle's Hard Mode if you're after more of a challenge, though.

SEE ALSO: NYT's The Mini crossword answers for January 30, 2025 Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

An untrue statement.

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

The are no reoccurring letters.

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

Today's Wordle starts with the letter F.

SEE ALSO: Wordle-obsessed? These are the best word games to play IRL. 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...

FALSE.

Don't feel down if you didn't manage to guess it this time. There will be a new Wordle for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we'll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints.

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

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for January 30

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

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

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

Connections: Sports Edition is a new version of the popular New York Times word game that seeks to test the knowledge of sports fans.

Like the original Connections, the game is all about finding the "common threads between words." And just like Wordle, Connections resets after midnight and each new set of words gets trickier and trickier—so we've served up some hints and tips to get you over the hurdle.

If you just want to be told today's puzzle, you can jump to the end of this article for 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. Connections can be played on both web browsers and mobile devices and require players to group four words that share something in common.

Tweet may have been deleted

Each puzzle features 16 words and each grouping of words is split into four categories. These sets could comprise of anything from book titles, software, country names, etc. Even though multiple words will seem like they fit together, there's only one correct answer.

If a player gets all four words in a set correct, those words are removed from the board. Guess wrong and it counts as a mistake—players get up to four mistakes until the game ends.

Tweet may have been deleted

Players can also rearrange and shuffle the board to make spotting connections easier. Additionally, each group is color-coded with yellow being the easiest, followed by green, blue, and purple. Like Wordle, you can share the results with your friends on social media.

Here's a hint for today's Connections Sports Edition categories

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

• Yellow: Games you might play while enjoying an adult beverage

• Green: Events related to track

• Blue: Sports with a court or table divider

• Purple: Hole-y

Featured Video For You Connections: How to play and how to win Here are today's Connections Sports Edition categories

Need a little extra help? Today's connections fall into the following categories:

• Yellow: Bar games

• Green: Decathlon events

• Blue: Net sports

• Purple: Things with holes

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 #129 is...

What is the answer to Connections Sports Edition today

• Bar games - DARTS, POOL, POP-A-SHOT, SHUFFLEBOARD

• Decathlon events - 100 METERS, LONG JUMP, POLE VAULT, SHOT PUT

• Net sports - BADMINTON, PING PONG, TENNIS, VOLLEYBALL

• Things with holes - BAD DEFENSE, BOWLING BALL, GOLF COURSE, WIFFLE BALL

Don't feel down if you didn't manage to guess it this time. There will be new Connections for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we'll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints.

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

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.

If you're reading this, you're looking for a little help playing Strands, the New York Times' elevated word-search game.

Strands requires the player to perform a twist on the classic word search. Words can be made from linked letters — up, down, left, right, or diagonal, but words can also change direction, resulting in quirky shapes and patterns. Every single letter in the grid will be part of an answer. There's always a theme linking every solution, along with the "spangram," a special, word or phrase that sums up that day's theme, and spans the entire grid horizontally or vertically.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable

By providing an opaque hint and not providing the word list, Strands creates a brain-teasing game that takes a little longer to play than its other games, like Wordle and Connections.

If you're feeling stuck or just don't have 10 or more minutes to figure out today's puzzle, we've got all the NYT Strands hints for today's puzzle you need to progress at your preferred pace.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for January 30 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for January 30 NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: Stopping by woods on a snowy evening

These words are parts of a poem by a famous author.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

Words are imagery and descriptions from the poem with the same title as the theme.

NYT Strands spangram hint: Is it vertical or horizontal?

Today's NYT Strands spangram is horizontal.

NYT Strands spangram answer today

Today's spangram is FrostPoem.

Featured Video For You Strands 101: How to win NYT’s latest word game NYT Strands word list for January 30

• Sleep

• Dark

• Lovely

• Deep

• Shake

• Bells

• Lake

• Frozen

• FrostPoem

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.

President Trump had sued Meta and other tech firms in 2021, arguing that he had been wrongfully censored by them. Meta also reported revenue and profit growth for the fourth quarter.

Unitree first announced its latest humanoid robot, the G1 back in May of 2024 and has recently released a video showing off some of its new capabilities in what they’re calling an “agile upgrade.” In the video released by Unitree, the G1 seems to navigate tougher inclines and jog over rougher terrain than in the past.

A Complete Unknown production designer François Audouy reveals how he was able to successfully make Hoboken and Jersey City, NJ look like New York's West Village from the 1960s.

A Complete Unknown was released in theaters Dec. 25.

The tech giant’s revenue was up 12 percent to $69.6 billion, but investors are showing their nerves after a long boom for tech stocks.

The electric car company run by Elon Musk is facing increasing competition, but investors have focused mostly on the prospects for Tesla’s self-driving technology.

DeepSeek is causing havoc throughout the AI industry. U.S.-based tech companies that have heavily invested in AI saw their stocks take a tumble this week after the China-based startup released a new AI model on par with OpenAI's latest model, yet much cheaper to train — plus, DeepSeek made it free and open source.

Now, OpenAI and Microsoft are hitting back at DeepSeek. The companies claim they have evidence that the Chinese company trained their AI model by using data it had lifted from OpenAI.

OpenAI claimed to the Financial Times that it had evidence DeepSeek trained its AI by using OpenAI's models. According to Bloomberg, Microsoft also believes that an OpenAI developer account it believes is connected to DeepSeek stole large amounts of data late last year. Microsoft is a major investor in OpenAI, providing the company with billions of dollars in resources.

OpenAI's Sam Altman previously said that the company spent more than $100 million to train GPT-4. DeepSeek says it trained its latest model DeepSeek-Ri with less than $6 million.

In an interview with Fox News, President Trump's AI and crypto czar David Sacks backed those claims, saying, "There’s substantial evidence that what DeepSeek did here is distilled the knowledge out of OpenAI's models."

Sacks said that it's "possible" that DeepSeek engaged in IP theft.

As multiple outlets have pointed out, there is a sense of irony in the situation that OpenAI has found itself in with DeepSeek.

OpenAI itself has been largely criticized for training its AI models off of, well, anything it could suck up on the internet. Many YouTube creators were shocked to find out that OpenAI used their content without consent in order to create its products.

YouTuber Marques Brownlee, for example, pointed out recently how OpenAI's video generation model, Sora, created a desk with a plant, just like the plant visible in his own videos, when he requested a tech review video be generated. 

Based on OpenAI's statement to Bloomberg, the company is likely to take action in an attempt to protect their IP.

“As the leading builder of AI, we engage in countermeasures to protect our IP, including a careful process for which frontier capabilities to include in released models, and believe as we go forward that it is critically important that we are working closely with the U.S. government to best protect the most capable models from efforts by adversaries and competitors to take U.S. technology," OpenAI said.

Will content creators be able to follow suit and use the same argument to protect their IP from OpenAI? We'll see how this unfolds.

OpenAI alleged Wednesday that DeepSeek — its newly ascendant Chinese competitor in the AI space — might have used a process called distillation to incorporate OpenAI's abilities to train its model. Basically, OpenAI openly wondered if DeepSeek stole data from them.

It's unclear if that's actually the case, but it's certainly made headlines. And folks online loved it because OpenAI built its whole business by scraping the entirety of the internet to train its model. Lawsuits have alleged ChatGPT rips copyrighted information verbatim.

SEE ALSO: What DeepSeek knows about you — and why it matters

Naturally, this sort of irony led to the internet making jokes at OpenAI's expense. The schadenfreude was strong.

OpenAI: China stole our tech!! Luddites: Oh weird how'd you make your tech in the first place OpenAI: 😡

— Erin Fogg (@criminalerin.bsky.social) January 27, 2025 at 9:22 AM

oooohhh improperly obtained data you say?

[image or embed]

— Mike Drucker (@mikedrucker.bsky.social) January 29, 2025 at 9:57 AM

Seeing openAI complaining that their work has been stolen is objectively hilarious.

— JayIsPainting (@jayispainting.earthskyart.ca) January 29, 2025 at 10:00 AM

OpenAI scraped the internet and copyrighted material, and now it’s suddenly concerned about plagiarism ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

[image or embed]

— Tom Warren (@tomwarren.co.uk) January 29, 2025 at 2:24 AM

I'm so sorry I can't stop laughing. OpenAI, the company built on stealing literally the entire internet, is crying because DeepSeek may have trained on the outputs from ChatGPT. They're crying their eyes out. What a bunch of hypocritical little babies. Cry more, freaks. www.ft.com/content/a0df...

[image or embed]

— Ed Zitron (@edzitron.com) January 29, 2025 at 1:01 AM Tweet may have been deleted Tweet may have been deleted

OpenAI might be upset about the situation, but if it wanted any pity from the internet, they're fresh out of luck.

You’ve heard the outrage, you’ve read the reports, and you’ve seen the headlines: social media may be harming your child. What now? You gave your child a phone years ago and nothing short of the jaws of life could extract that thing from your kid’s grip now. You’d like to keep your child safe, but it’s a tug of war between you and an industry that has thousands of brilliant minds, and has invested billions of dollars, just to keep your child online as long as possible. You feel hopeless, guilty, exhausted, and maybe even angry.

I get it. I have done research on technology and adolescent mental health for 25 years, delivered hundreds of presentations of our findings to parents, schools, state legislative offices, and even to the Senate and at the White House. In fact, I am writing this piece on a flight back from Switzerland, where I presented at the World Economic Forum in Davos among dozens of companies unveiling even more sophisticated versions of AI-driven platforms that are designed to occupy our children’s attention for even more hours per day.

I am well aware of the potential benefits and harms of social media. But I am also a parent of two teenagers. I talk about this research all day, and then I spend each evening engaged in that same tug of war. It is almost impossible to raise a child today when tech titans have as much influence as parents in guiding our kids’ behavior.

But they haven’t won yet. You are still your child’s parent, and you still have tremendous power.

Here are four relatively easy things you can do today to help guard your children from the most dangerous risks on social media. Note – it’s best if you can do each of these thingsalong with some friends; we have added power when we work together as parents to create a united front, so our children don’t feel like they are the only ones with different rules for using tech.

Create tech-free zones in your child’s life

Your child will never admit this to you, but our research shows: Kids actually want limits on their device, but they want to be able to blame their parents or schools for “having to log off now.” Do them a favor and help them get some tech-free time. Research shows that about 50% of kids report at least one symptom of clinical dependency on social media (i.e., they can’t stop even when they want to), and in our work with college-aged students, about the same percent tell us that they wish their parents had not given in to them when they asked (begged?) for a phone at age 12.

You can do this in several ways:

• Use parental controls to set up “downtime” or “sleep time” on your child’s device for periods throughout the day. “Sleep” mode will often even post a label so your child’s friends will understand why they are not writing back. You can shut down devices during the day, too. When your child has friends over, tell their parents not to bring the devices along – make it a tech-free playdate. Same for sleepovers, and ask instructors or coaches for extracurricular activities to apply the same rule.

• Adolescence is the second most important period in our lives for brain development behind the first year of life; eight to nine hours of sleep a night is absolutely mandatory. Make a house rule that all devices are shut off and put away at 10 p.m. on a school night (yours, too!). Remember when it was rude to call someone after 10 p.m.? Time for us to set that norm again. I know this can be hard to enforce, but scientific studies show that social media use is the number one reason for teens’ delayed sleep start and disrupted sleep, both of which have significant implications for how large your child’s brain grows in adolescence, and how well it functions. Tech titans may be able to get our kids to spend more time online than we would like, but we should absolutely refuse to let them affect how large our children’s brain will grow.

• Tell your school district that you want phones out of the classroom for instructional time (go to joinmama.org for resources).

Visit the app store with them

When I speak to middle and high school students, I conduct a simple exercise. Open the app store. Type in the name of your favorite social media platform. Now scroll down. Keep scrolling. There it is: the “Privacy” section. There’s a list of all the data the companies are collecting from your device once you download the app. This is the moment that the kids’ jaws drop, and their hands raise dramatically. “Wait, my internet searches are being sent to the company? My location? My contact list? My payment method?!” Yep. “Hold on, is this only when I am using the app?” Nope – it is everything you do from the moment you download the app and accept its terms. “What if my profile is set to ‘private’?” Doesn’t matter – that only affects what other users see. The company gets all your data no matter what. “Hey, if they are selling my data, do I get a cut of the profits?” Oh, bless your heart, no, you do not. Try this exercise at home. Create the space for an educated child to become a wise decision-maker for themselves.

Talk, talk, talk

Our research shows: Your kids will be exposed to content that teaches them how to engage in disordered eating behavior, how to cut themselves and hide it from their parents.They will see live suicide attempts and drug use among teens, they will see hateful and discriminatory posts against others based on their race, religion, or identity. They will be encouraged to “like” or “repost” this content, and for many, this content will make them more likely to engage in the same behavior themselves. Don’t wait for your child to volunteer that they saw this content. Talk to them about it, assuming that they have already seen or will soon see it. “Why do you think people posted that content? What would you do if you saw someone from your school posting that content? Why do you think some people “like” that content? Have you ever thought about doing some of the things you saw in those posts?”

Look at yourself

The world has been discussing the effects of tech on youth. But here’s a hard truth that folks don’t want to say out loud: It’s not just youth. Do you ever spend more time on your device than you would like? Ever pick up your phone to check a quick message only to scroll for way longer than you expected? Ever get excited about how many likes your post got? Your child is watching you. Research on “technoference” even shows that toddlers are jealous that you may spend more time looking at your phone than at them. Here’s a tough pill to swallow: We are complicit every time we show our kids that notifications must be answered immediately, that posts with many “likes” are to be celebrated, that people’s opinions matter just because they have many followers, or that scrolling on our phone is more exciting to us than watching our children play on the field.

The fact is – we are part of this, too, so let’s all be part of the solution together. Have a tech-free dinner with the family while leaving all devices in the other room. Maybe a tech-free hike, or device-less stop for frozen yogurt as a group. And here’s the important part: Talk about how hard this is for you, too. Discuss with your child how you cope with missing your phone. Discuss how it’s natural to worry that we may be missing out on a juicy new development online. Then discuss why your family values some tech-free time to make genuine human connections. Talk with your kids about how you develop emotional intimacy with friends so they can learn that there are relationships to be had that make us less lonely, as compared to the incessant scrolling of “friends’” profiles or the collection of followers that seems to increase loneliness. As hard as it is to acknowledge that we have been hooked, too, we must practice what we preach. 


SEE ALSO: Nearly half of U.S. teens say they're online 'almost constantly' “I’m exhausted.”

Maybe you are far too busy to follow the tips suggested here. That’s fair. How many of us actually have time for deep conversations with our teenagers these days? And let’s be honest, the longer the kids are on screen, the easier it is for us to find time to do what we need to feed them fed, keep them in clean clothes, and give ourselves an occasional, needed break. That’s OK. Don’t beat yourself up for just making it through the day. Maybe instead of following all of the steps here, just try one. Maybe just once. Or maybe just start a conversation with another parent and compare notes on how they are managing this. Even the smallest steps forward can help change begin. I’m sad to say, although parents have the least time and energy to fix this issue, it may be up to us to do so.

You are not alone. We can make this change if we decide to do it together. Let’s not blame our kids, or each other, when we fail to resist the urge to look at our phones. Let’s support, commiserate, and share tips on what we have found that can help. And let’s use the most powerful tool we have – our collective power as parents. It was parents who made designated drivers “a thing.” We fought back against companies trying to make tobacco look cool to kids. We pushed back against those making a profit by putting sugary snacks and drinks in our kids’ schools. And we can do this! Demand that parental controls are easier to set. Select products that prioritize child safety. Abandon companies that advertise on platforms with the weakest protections for youth, and support nonprofit groups that advance a tech-healthy youth agenda. We are the market that tech companies need to survive, and your child has the data they want to make a profit. We may feel helpless in the struggle to keep our kids safe, but there may be some small things we can do today and some big things we can do together to save a generation from risk.

Mitch Prinstein, PhD is the chief of psychology for the American Psychological Association.

On Tuesday, President Donald Trump dangled a "buyout" offer in front of 2 million federal workers, encouraging them to resign en masse. The mass email blast from the Office of Personal Management (OPM), designed to rattle employees into quitting, aligns with a key objective of Project 2025 — clearing the ranks of federal workers to install MAGA loyalists.

The move is already backfiring.

On r/fednews, the Reddit hub for federal employees, workers are rejecting what they see as an intimidation tactic. Posts urge colleagues to stand their ground and resist being pushed out. The consensus remains clear: don’t take the bait.

SEE ALSO: Elon Musk and the Roman salute: What it is and why it doesn't matter what you call it

"We took an oath to serve our country and fellow Americans. They can drag me out," says the title of one such post.

"They can’t fire us as easily as they thought, so they are trying to scare us into quitting, don’t fall for it!"

"To my fellow Feds, especially veterans: we’re at war"

Tensions between federal employees and the Trump administration are at a boiling point in D.C., fueled by an email sent Tuesday from OPM titled "A Fork in the Road." The message, tied to a Trump executive order, mandates all agencies end remote work.

The email laid out two choices: return to the office full-time or resign with a supposed buyout and severance pay through September 30. But federal employees on r/fednews quickly picked apart the offer. According to the fine print, there’s no actual buyout. Instead, it’s a “deferred resignation” allowing employees to keep their telework status until September 30 before being forced out.

Reddit Reddit Reddit

“If you resign under this program, you will retain all pay and benefits regardless of your daily workload and will be exempted from all applicable in-person work requirements until September 30, 2025 (or earlier if you choose to accelerate your resignation for any reason),” the email states.

On r/fednews, users flagged the inconsistencies, with Senator Tim Kaine bluntly calling it “a scam.” The federal budget only stretches to March, leaving no funding allocated for buyouts. The Trump administration has not guaranteed that workers who resign will see any severance pay.

Right out of the Musk playbook

If this resignation ploy feels familiar, that’s because "A Fork in the Road" is the same headline Elon Musk used when he took over Twitter in 2022. In that email, Musk gave employees two choices: resign immediately with severance or brace for “hardcore” work under his leadership.

Those former employees had to sue Musk to try and get the severance pay he promised them if they resigned.

Now, Musk’s influence has extended beyond tech and into federal staffing. While he was appointed to lead the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) — formerly the U.S. Digital Service — several of his close allies have landed prominent roles within OPM, as WIRED previously reported.

Thus, it’s hardly a stretch to suspect Musk’s fingerprints on the OPM email blast. By Wednesday, as backlash erupted on Reddit, Musk was amplifying the narrative on X, retweeting posts that cast federal employees as lazy. Meanwhile, the DOGE agency’s official X account framed the deferred resignations as a "paid vacation" where workers could "just watch movies and chill."

Tweet may have been deleted

It’s unclear how many workers will take the deferred resignation offer, but one thing is certain: the most vocal federal employees on Reddit are standing firm against Musk and Trump’s attempt to reshape the government in their image.

Reddit

DeepSeek, a Chinese AI chatbot, swiftly rose to the top of app stores this week, and it's just as swiftly rising in priority for data protection watchdog agencies worldwide. 

DeepSeek's privacy policy has many aspects that might concern users, but governments are particularly interested in the fact that the company's data is stored in China and, therefore, subject to Chinese data laws.

A data protection watchdog in Italy, Euroconsumers, comprising a coalition of consumer groups throughout Europe, filed a complaint to the Italian Data Protection Authority earlier this week that asks DeepSeek for more details about how the company will process its citizens' data, saying, in Italian, according to TechCrunch, "The data of millions of Italians is at risk." The Irish Data Protection Commission quickly followed suit.

On Wednesday, Reuters reported that DeepSeek could not be accessed in Apple and Google app stores in Italy.

SEE ALSO: What DeepSeek knows about you — and why it matters

"The Data Protection Commission (DPC) has written to DeepSeek requesting information on the data processing conducted in relation to data subjects in Ireland," a spokesperson for the Irish Data Protection Commission told TechCrunch.

DeepSeek collects information you provide, like your birthday and email address and anything you send in the chat; information like your IP address, keystroke patterns or rhythms, and payment information; and information from other sources, like if you sign in using Google or Apple. This information is stored "in secure servers in the People's Republic of China." This, of course, is all coming when TikTok is battling a ban in the U.S. due to ties with "foreign adversaries."

GET $15 OFF $50 OR MORE: As of Jan. 29, get $15 off your Costco delivery order of $50 or more through Feb. 23 using promo code WINTERSAMEDAY25. Limit 1 discount per membership number.

Opens in a new window Credit: Costco $15 off Costco delivery orders $50 or more Promo Code: WINTERSAMEDAY25 Get Deal

Do you love shopping at Costco, but dislike the actual "shopping" part? Good news: You can just get everything delivered to you. Yes, it's available with the magic of Instacart, which means if you want your chicken bakes sent to your door, all you have to do is order them, and they will come (for a slightly higher price than if you did it yourself). But that's where today's deal comes in. You can save a decent chunk of change with a promotion going on now.

As of Jan. 29, you can save $15 on Costco delivery orders of $50 or more with promo code WINTERSAMEDAY25. Limit 1 order per membership number, and the deal is valid through Feb. 23. You must be a Costco member to qualify.

SEE ALSO: The best flower delivery deals ahead of Valentine's Day

To use this discount, just add $50 or more of items to your cart and use the promo code at checkout. Your discount will automatically be applied. You'll also need to make sure you have a sameday.costco.com account, so be sure to sign up before you log in through Instacart. The discount can't be used on alcohol or prescription co-pays, and it can only be applied to a single transaction.

If you've been meaning to stock up on certain items but just don't want to go out in the cold, this is a good reason to stay inside. Just be sure to use your discount before it expires in February.