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Parents and caregivers keeping a close eye on their children's activity have a new tool at their disposal, as Snapchat launches its new location alerts for monitored accounts.

The new feature, part of the platforms' teen safety-focused Family Center, will harness the app's popular Snap Map to alert parents when their teens are on the move — making its social map more akin to popular apps like Life360 and Find My.

SEE ALSO: I stopped doomscrolling after the election. You should too.

Location sharing is currently available to all users via the Snap Map, but the new tool allows parents to request their teen's live location at any moment, as well as share their own. Parents and caregivers can select up to three designated locations and receive alerts when members arrive or depart from those spots on the Snap Map. Account supervisors will also be able to see minor users' location sharing activity in Family Center — teens can only share locations with people in their friends lists.

The platform has steadily expanded its internal safety controls for young users — a response to ongoing concerns about youth safety and mental health on the platform, as the app hooks new users with Gen AI tools and even integrated shopping.

In 2022, Snapchat launched Family Center, a monitoring tool that allows parents to view a minor users' interactions, make reports on their behalf, and limit screen time, similar to (but more limited than) parental monitoring apps like Bark. In 2023, the platform expanded this initiative to include safeguards against unwanted contact from stranger accounts and limit search discovery for teen users. It also blocks location sharing and defaults to the strictest content settings for minor accounts.

But it's problems have continued. Last month, the company was accused of allowing sextortion and grooming to proliferate on its app, part of a wave of lawsuits against social media platforms allegedly marketing their services to younger audiences despite knowing they are at risk. According to a lawsuit filed against Snapchat, the platform reportedly failed to accurately verify ages of users, address safety reports, or warn new users about the threat of sexual predation.

Check out the best Amazon deals of the day as of Nov. 14: OUR TOP PICK Apple MacBook Air (M2, 16GB RAM, 256GB SSD) $749 (save $250) Get Deal BEST TABLET DEAL Apple iPad Air (M2, 512GB, WiFi) $899 (save $200) Get Deal BEST KITCHEN DEAL SodaStream E-Terra Sparkling Water Maker Bundle $105.99 (save $74) Get Deal BEST HEADPHONES DEAL Sony WH-CH720N noise-cancelling headphones $79.99 (save $70) Get Deal

Early Black Friday deals are starting to pick up at Amazon, though the sale doesn't officially start until Nov. 21. So, if you're antsy to get your holiday shopping started, why wait? As of Nov. 14, there are plenty of deals worth grabbing, including on top brands like Apple and Sony.

Here are our top picks for the best Amazon deals of the day. Don't see anything that sparks your interest? Check back at our picks from Nov. 12 and Nov. 13. Many of those are still live, including a record-low price on the Apple AirTags four-pack and a 41% price drop on the very impressive Samsung Galaxy Buds FE.

Our top pick Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple MacBook Air (M2 chip, 16GB RAM, 256GB SSD) $749.00 at Amazon
$999.00 Save $250.00 Get Deal

Simply put, 8GB of RAM is just not enough for a MacBook. Typically, boosting the RAM to 16GB would cost you an extra $200, but since Apple decided to make 16GB the new standard, you can get an upgraded model for the same price. And if you want to save even more, opt for the slightly older M2 MacBook Air from 2022, which is on sale for just $749 instead of $999. That's the lowest price to date for the now-standard 16GB base model with 256GB of storage. Sure, it's not the latest and greatest MacBook on the market, but it's still a very solid laptop that Tech Reporter Alex Perry gave the Mashable Choice Award badge of honor. He praised its zippy M2 processor, rock-solid battery life, slim profile, and more than satisfying keyboard design.

Read our full review of the M2 MacBook Air.

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple iPad Air (M2, 512GB, WiFi) $899.00 at Amazon
$1,099.00 Save $200.00 Get Deal

If you're looking for a new tablet and like the color purple, the M2 iPad Air with 512GB of storage is down to a record-low $899 at Amazon. That's $200 or 18% in savings. Our favorite iPad for most people, the 2024 iPad Air offers powerful performance that can keep up with the big dogs — including some of our favorite laptops — and a battery life that's even better in real life than on paper. As Mashable's Kim Gedeon noted in her review, "The M2 chip brings sweet energy efficiency and a performance uptick."

Read our full review of the M2 iPad Air.

Opens in a new window Credit: SodaStream SodaStream E-Terra Sparkling Water Maker Bundle $105.99 at Amazon
$179.99 Save $74.00 Get Deal

Sparkling water lovers can start whipping up their own batches at home with this SodaStream E-Terra bundle, which includes the sparkling water maker, two 60L Co2 cylinders, three reusable carbonating bottles, and a two 40ml Bubly drops flavors. The E-Terra makes things super simple, with three preset carbonation levels and a one-touch electric design. It's usually $179.99, but as of Nov. 14, you can get the full bundle on sale for just $105.99. That's 41% in savings and its lowest price on record.

Opens in a new window Credit: Sony Sony WH-CH720N noise-cancelling headphones $79.99 at Amazon
$149.99 Save $70.00 Get Deal

A direct replacement for the Sony WH-CH710N headphones — which our friends at PCMag (also owned by Ziff Davis) said "offer solid audio performance and active noise cancellation for a relatively affordable price" — the WH-C720N are on sale for just $79.99 at Amazon. That's 47% in savings and a record-low for this model. The new design is more inspired by the much more expensive WH-1000XM5s (which we love). They add some sound and noise-cancelling upgrades compared to their predecessor, boosting sensitivity in the drivers and increasing the dynamic range, yet keep the impressive 35-hour battery life (with ANC). They're not the fanciest noise-cancelling headphones on the market, but they're stylish, reliable, and budget-friendly.

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

SAVE $15.80: As of Nov. 14, get a 3-month Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscription for $29.19 at Woot with promo code TWENTY for an additional 20% off its sale price of $36.49, down from its standard price of $44.99. This deal is only valid for one day.

Opens in a new window Credit: Woot Xbox Game Pass Ultimate (3-Month Subscription) $29.19 at Woot
$44.99 Save $15.80 Promo Code: TWENTY Get Deal

Planning on getting an Xbox anytime soon? Or maybe you're getting one for a friend or family member, and thinking about what they may play when they get their hands on the system. Don't go overboard buying a bunch of Xbox games and spending more cash than you need to when Xbox Game Pass Ultimate is on the table, which is a great way to get started on the Xbox ecosystem. And right now, you can save big on a membership for you or anyone you're gifting at Woot.

As of Nov. 14, get a digital code for a 3-month Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscription for just $29.19 when you use promo code TWENTY. That's $15.80 off its sale price of $36.49, down from its normal price of $44.99, which is already a 19% discount. This deal is only valid for today, and you'll be emailed the code for your subscription within a few business days, according to Woot. Multiple codes are stackable up to 36 months — you can buy a few so you or your giftee are set.

Xbox Game Pass Ultimate is a subscription that lets you play hundreds of Xbox games without paying for each one individually. That includes titles like Starfield and the Halo series. It also grants access to new first-party games from Xbox Game Studios, Bethesda Softworks, and more the day they come out. The Ultimate option even comes with access to EA Play for access to a variety of EA titles as well.

There are tons of other reasons to use Xbox Game Pass Ultimate as well, including online multiplayer and Xbox Cloud Gaming, but the unlimited access is the biggest. This is a great price to buy your three months at, so be sure to lock it in while there are still codes available.

SAVE $196: A certified renewed Vitamix Explorian blender is on sale at Amazon for just $199.95, down from the typical price of $395.95. That's a 47% discount.

Opens in a new window Credit: Vitamix Vitamix Explorian blender (renewed) $199.95 at Amazon
$395.95 Save $196.00 Get Deal

We're well into fall now, with Black Friday sales upon us and the busy holiday schedule taking shape. That also means it's soup season, and if you've never produced a warm and smooth soup from your blender, you'll want to check out this deal at Amazon.

As of Nov. 14, a renewed Vitamix Explorian blender is on sale for just $199.95 at Amazon, marked down from the normal price of $395.95. That's a savings of $196 and a 47% discount.

The Vitamix Explorian blender is an incredibly versatile kitchen appliance, ready to help you create everything from smoothies to hot soups to fresh salsa. The blender has three program settings for smoothies, hot soup, and frozen desserts. You can also use the blender in a manual mode, selecting a speed on the dial between 1 and 10. The pulse function is perfect for adding in quick bursts of blending.

The blender's container measures a large 64 ounces which means you'll be able to feed the family, but its low-profile design means it's more likely to fit under your cabinets.

Vitamix blenders are known as some of the most powerful and durable blenders out there. Unfortunately, that comes with a steep price, but buying a model that's been renewed from Vitamix's rigorous renewal process is a great way to grab a Vitamix without paying the big bucks. In order to gain the Vitamix Renewed premium stamp of approval, the blender must pass a 17-point inspection process and the blade needs to be under a year old.

Vitamix then puts the sanitized blade into a new container shell and packs it up with a brand new two-part lid and tamper. Essentially, this means buying a renewed model gets you all new parts, except for the blade, which is under a year old.

If you've had your heart on a Vitamix blender but haven't been thrilled with the high price tag, snag a renewed Vitamix Explorian blender from Amazon for under $200. Soup season is about to get much better.

Robbie Williams biopic "Better Man" hits select theaters December 25, and opens nationwide January 17.

Cameron Diaz and Jamie Foxx are spies pulled out of hiding in Netflix's "Back In Action." Trailer.

Amazon is launching a Shein competitor, according to a new press release.

With Shein's skyrocketing sales, it's easy to see why the Bezos-owned big-box retailer aims to compete head-on in the world of low-cost, trend-driven e-commerce.

Fast-fashion retailer Shein, despite ethical scrutiny regarding its labor practices, environmental impact, and product safety, is a fierce rival in the e-commerce space.

In 2023, it amassed over $32 billion in worldwide sales, indicating a growth of nearly 42% year-over-year. In the same year, Shein secured over $14 billion in sales in the U.S., according to EcommerceDB (ECDB). To put this into perspective, Shein surpassed both Walmart.com and Amazon.com, which had sales between $9 and $12 billion, per ECDB.

"Amazon’s online fashion revenues are now behind both Shein and Walmart," the ECDB report said.

SEE ALSO: Shein exploited marginalized women for their influencer trip. It worked. Amazon's new low-cost retailer is called 'Haul'

Haul, Amazon's new economical online retailer, will keep prices capped at $20. However, most of the products will be less than $10. Amazon's press release cited examples of some of these budget-friendly items:

• An necklace, bracelet, and earring set for $2.99

• Two kitchen tongs for $4.99

• An iPhone 16 case for $1.79

• A belt for $1.99

• A three-piece trimmer razor set for $2.99

Orders must be $25 or more to qualify for free delivery — but don't expect them to be delivered in two days. According to Amazon's press release, Haul's delivery timeframe is between one to two weeks.

“Finding great products at very low prices is important to customers, and we continue to explore ways that we can work with our selling partners so they can offer products at ultra-low prices,” said Dharmesh Mehta, Amazon's vice president of worldwide selling partner services.

As mentioned at the outset, the mass production of inexpensive products has faced criticism. For example, Shein's rapid production model contributes to substantial carbon emissions, according to Wired.

We reached out to Amazon about how it plans to evade concerns about environmental degradation and other ethical issues regarding fast-fashion retail. We'll update this story if we get a response.

For now, Haul is in beta and available exclusively through a mobile app. You can access it here.

Meta said it would appeal the decision by the European Union, which said the company had abused its dominance in social networking to strengthen its shopping and classified ads service.