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You don't have to be obsessed with privacy and cybersecurity to worry about your data. These days, data is a hot commodity, and you want to have as much control over yours as possible. Some of it is hard to avoid; for instance, your ISP probably knows more about you than you think. But sometimes, a rogue device might be oversharing, and you definitely want to know when that's the case.

I'm good with the Linux command line. I use it daily and even teach basic Linux operations to a few students. But I was thinking about it the other day and realized: I can get around and do a lot using the Terminal, but am I truly fluent with the command line? I don't think I am. Every so often, I like to test Claude, whether it's for gaming tweaks, research, or other stuff. I wanted to see how it would do on something useful, so I devised an experiment that asked a simple question: can an LLM design a 30-day Linux workout that can make a daily/familiar Linux user with a lot of experience more fluent with the command line? The answer was surprising.

As someone who has used Samsung phones for a while, I can't help but feel like the brand is slowly but surely drifting away from its roots. While all smartphone brands copy one another, Samsung seemingly ditches things that already work really well in favor of a layout that is considered to be more popular.

Upgrading to Ubuntu 26.04 on an older PC might not feel as smooth as you expected. The new release recommends 6GB of RAM for a comfortable experience, up from 4GB in Ubuntu 24.04. If your system is starting to feel sluggish, you might be able to make things better without spending money on new hardware.

Whether they've carved out a content career for themselves or they simply dream of one day going viral, the creator in your life is sure to appreciate any one of the gifts on this list. From microphones that will capture crisp audio, to task lights to help them appear bright and professional, these are the tools that will help grow their audience and stop the scroll. We've consulted actual creators to assemble this collection of gear recommendations, so whether they're filming #GRWM videos, posting on #BookTok, hosting a podcast, or more, these gifts are sure to have a wide reach.

In the battle over artificial intelligence in the classroom, Google has just taken a controversial stance.

The tech giant announced in a blog post Tuesday that Google AI classroom products — Gemini, Gemini Notebook, and Gemini in Classroom — will be off until administrators turn them on. In August, Google said Gemini in Classroom would be available by default. Now schools must opt-in to each of these products.

At the same time, Google is not permitting schools to use its search engine without AI overviews and AI Mode.

"Search and A.I. are deeply integrated," Chris Phillips, vice president for education at Google, told the New York Times. Schools that ban AI, "will not have access to search, and they'll see a message from their school that indicates it's not available."

Google subsequently posted on X that its new approach gives "schools more choice, not less."

SEE ALSO: Google's AI Search is a minefield for schools

The company also framed its announcement as being responsive to feedback from schools, educators, researchers, and policymakers. Google promised to share specifics with schools in the coming months, prior to the new policy's rollout.

"Our goal is simple: provide school leaders the control and confidence to use AI products in classrooms as they see fit," the blog post said.

In July, researchers at Common Sense Media's Youth AI Safety Institute tested Google Search's AI Overview and AI Mode and concluded that neither product is safe for kids or teens to use.

Google described the research as flawed and not reflective of how people interact with its search products.

While advocates concerned about the role of AI in education didn't want Google's AI features turned on by default, restricting its popular and universally used search engine has been met with fierce criticism.

"Google forced its AI products into classrooms and parents fought back," Lila Byock, founder of the advocacy group Schools Beyond Screens, said in a statement. "Now Google is refusing to take no for an answer."

Schools Beyond Screens is calling on school district leaders to divest from Google.

Josh Golin, executive director of the advocacy group Fairplay, said in a statement that AI isn't safe for kids and undermines their education and critical thinking.

Schools shouldn't "fret" about losing Google search access, he said. Instead, they should help students find search alternatives that prioritize privacy, as well as teach them to conduct substantive research beyond searching and clicking.

"Google's attempt to strong-arm schools into using its AI products is likely to backfire," Golin said.

Additional reporting by Chase DiBenedetto.

Sanrio fans in need of new headphones, I have great news for you.

Preorders are finally live for the limited Hello Kitty-themed editions of three pairs of Sony headphones: the Sony WH-1000XM6 headphones, the WH-CH730N headphones, and the WH-CH530 headphones. The collab is available exclusively on Sony's website and features a pair of the headphones in black or pink, as well as a Hello Kitty tote and black carrying case with a heart-shaped carabiner.

Depending on the model, the headphones are due to ship out from mid-November to early December. Below, you can find info on each of the available preorders, including price and potential ship dates.

Sony WH-1000XM6 x Hello Kitty

The Hello Kitty edition of the flagship WH-1000XM6 headphones is available in the classic black and sand pink colorways found on the non-Hello Kitty XM6s. The full kit costs $519.99, up $60 from the standard XM6 headphones. Estimated delivery times for these headphones start on Nov. 18. Sony's flagship headphones feature their best combination of noise cancellation, comfort, and sound quality, making them one of Mashable's top picks for the best noise-cancelling headphones.

Opens in a new window Credit: Sony Sony WH-1000XM6 x Hello Kitty $519.99 at Sony
  Preorder at Sony Sony WH-CH730N x Hello Kitty

If you're looking for a more budget-friendly alternative to the flagship headphones, the WH-CH730Ns also come in black and (a slightly brighter) pink, with the same case and tote design as the XM6 headphones. (As with the XM6s, these colors are also available without the Hello Kitty package). The 730N collab clocks in at $224.99, up $45 from the WH-CH730N base price of $179.99. These headphones will come with less sophisticated sound engineering and noise cancellation than the flagship headphones, but still offer a well-rounded noise-cancelling experience, with 50 hours of battery life with ANC, spatial audio, and customizable sound.

Opens in a new window Credit: Sony Sony WH-CH730N x Hello Kitty $224.99 at Sony
  Preorder at Sony Sony WH-CH530 x Hello Kitty

For Sony fans who don't need noise cancellation, the WH-CH530 headphones are the cheapest of the Hello Kitty collab, coming in at $104.99 for the full set. Like the other two models, these headphones are also available in the black and pink colorways that can be found in the regular edition of the headphones. Also like the other two models, they'll run you a bit more than the standard CH530 headphones, which go for $69.99 (a $35 price difference). Though a budget model, these headphones still come with 55 hours of battery life, a 10-band custom equalizer, and easy-to-use on-ear tactile controls.

Opens in a new window Credit: Sony Sony WH-CH530 x Hello Kitty $104.99 at Sony
  Preorder at Sony

On October 29, Sir Patrick Stewart died at the age of 86. This news sent a wave of grief through the world and left me personally feeling shaken to my core. He is an actor who had such a profound impact on the world of cinema, bringing a Shakespearean elegance and poise to the screen that few others have achieved, and played a core role in my enthusiasm for movies.

Whether you're just starting out or looking to buy another power tool, Milwaukee offers three main battery systems. And depending on what you plan on using it for, there's a good chance you're buying or using the wrong one.

The legendary Shure SM7B has stood the test of time as one of the world's best XLR microphones and Michael Jackson trusted it for Thriller. It's the microphone of choice for professionals and the best pick if you want world-class voice clarity for streaming or podcasting. The Shure SM7B is rarely on sale, but you can now get it at a marked-down price on a limited-time Amazon deal.

Your Android device is doing a lot more in the background than you realize, with some pretty complex systems aiming to optimize your phone. Even more interesting is that you can take direct control of a lot of these functions if you know where to look. The background resources that an app draws, and by extension how much battery it drains, is one of these functions.

At a glance:

• Key specs: 8.5-inch OLED display, A20 Pro chip, and just 5.4mm thin

• What we loved: Incredible, lightweight design, strong performance, and a beautiful display

• What we didn't love: The $699 starting price

The new iPad Mini is here — I'm looking right at its super-bright OLED display as I type this review — and it's beautiful. The lightest Apple tablet ever made, the iPad Mini has the same powerhouse A20 Pro chip as the iPhone 18 Pro Max, and even though it may not be the ideal device for intensive work, it can still support local AI workloads, not to mention the new Siri AI.

But why oh why does everything have to be so damn expensive in 2026? That's not a serious question — we know exactly who's hogging all the RAM, and putting Apple under pressure from memory makers. But for folks like me who have to count every dollar, the starting $699 price does hurt.

So, as much as I loved using the new iPad Mini (it really is a lot of fun), I'm not quite sure who to recommend this device to, unless you're in the top income tax bracket.

iPad Mini review: Who is it for? Credit: Timothy Werth / Mashable

Let's cut to the chase: The iPad Mini is now my favorite tablet in the Apple lineup. It has an incredible display, excellent design, and strong performance. However, I'm not quite sure who should buy it.

I'm not the only reviewer who's a little confused by Apple's product lineup in 2026. At first, I thought the iPad Mini was the MacBook Neo of the iPad family. It's the smaller, less powerful model for everyday use. That makes intuitive sense, but it's also wrong.

The iPad Mini offers better performance in many respects than the iPad Air and a far superior display. And while the MacBook Neo is a budget laptop, the iPad Mini is definitely not a budget device. Its starting price is only $50 less than the iPad Air.

A slightly cheaper iPad Mini priced around $499 or $599 would make a lot more sense to me, and be much easier to recommend.

After testing the device, I can heartily recommend the iPad Mini to one-percenters looking for the best iPad for everyday use. But you can also get Amazon's new Alexa Pro tablets, and plenty of other good tablets, for well under $500, and most people will be perfectly fine without an OLED display or a chip that supports local AI models.

Given all that, I'm just not sure I'd pay $699 for the iPad Mini. Plus, the model I tested, which came with 512GB, the Nano-texture display, and the C2 cellular chip, would have set me back $1,249, almost twice as much — and that's definitely not in my budget.

Now, most people can skip the cellular and stick with WiFi only. The Nano-texture finish is also non-essential. And if you rely on iCloud, you can make do with 128GB of storage, bringing the price back down to $699. But that's still a big ask.

iPad Mini (A20 Pro) review: A near-perfect design Credit: Timothy Werth / Mashable

I praised the M4 iPad Air for its excellent design, but the new iPad Mini is somehow even thinner. I also found its more compact size to be pretty much perfect for streaming, browsing, gaming, and scrolling. It fits just right in your hands.

Apple made some other design changes as well. The new iPad Mini no longer has speaker holes at the bottom of the device, which will inevitably get filled up with gunk and lint. Instead, sound emanates from the device as part of a new Acoustic Display technology. And because the device is fully enclosed, it achieves IP67 water and dust resistance for extra durability. I haven't dunked my iPad Mini in the bathtub (yet), but it should withstand brief immersion in water.

Just look how thin it is! Credit: Timothy Werth / Mashable

I'm used to the larger iPad Air, and I instantly preferred the smaller, lighter design of the iPad Mini. I can see why the device has such devoted fans in the Apple community.

One design note: Apple moved the microphone and 12MP Center Stage camera to the side bezel of the device. Because I'm not used to it, I kept thinking it was a bit of schmutz on the screen and kept trying to wipe it off with my thumb. I got used to it, and so will you.

My only complaint about the design? It has Touch ID instead of Face ID.

iPad Mini review: The OLED Super Retina XDR display is awesome Photos don't quite do it justice, but the OLED display is incredible. Credit: Timothy Werth / Mashable / Photo on display by Paul Reiffer

Apple upgraded the iPad Mini with an OLED display, and it's fantastic. The clarity is so precise, and the brightness, color clarity, and deep blacks are instantly noticeable, especially when watching HDR content (the iPad Mini has a peak brightness of 1,200 nits with HDR).

I used the iPad Mini side by side with the iPad Air while watching my go-to monitor-testing video, and the difference was clear. The blacks are jet-black, the colors jump off the screen, and even the smallest details are so sharp.

Credit: Timothy Werth / Mashable / Photo on display by Paul Reiffer

Now, I have to call out that the iPad Mini display doesn't rise to the level of the iPad Pro.

The tandem OLED display on the latest M5 iPad Pro remains unrivaled in the tablet world. It's so good that the iPad Pro can act as a reference monitor for film editors, which is not something you can say about the Mini. The iPad Mini also lacks the ProMotion tech that gives the Pro its high, smooth refresh rate.

But these are minor quibbles that almost no one outside the tech or video-editing world really needs to care about.

To recap: The iPad Mini's OLED display absolutely rules.

Is the Nano-texture finish worth it?

I wouldn't call the Nano-texture finish (which adds $200 to the price) a must-have, but it is pretty phenomenal. It's also available on the iPad Pro and the new iPhone Duo, and it virtually eliminates reflections and glare thanks to microscopic glass-etching technology that's hard to wrap your head around.

But damn, is it cool.

Even when I shone a bright flashlight directly at the display, you could barely see it. And with the OLED and nano-texture combined, you can watch content even in direct sunlight. It's like a magic trick.

iPad Mini review: Strong performance with the A20 Pro chip Credit: Timothy Werth / Mashable

Instead of using a past-gen chip, the new iPad Mini gets the same super-powered chip as the new iPhone 18 Pro Max and iPhone Duo. And it's a damn fine chip. I put the iPad Mini through the Geekbench 7 benchmarking test, and it compares favorably to the iPad Air and iPad Pro, coming somewhere between the M4 chip in the latest iPad Air and the M5 chip in the iPad Pro.

Here are the single- and multi-core Geekbench 7 scores for each of Apple's tablets. (Note: I ran Geekbench 7 on the Mini and Air myself and used Geekbench's average for the 11-inch M5 iPad Pro.)

• iPad Mini (A20 Pro): 4,001 / 11,422

• iPad Air (M4): 2,753 / 12110

• iPad Pro (M5): 3,535 / 15,013

What does this mean for the average user? Single-core scores are a good measure of overall "zippiness" for everyday use, according to Mashable laptop reviewer Haley Henschel, while the multi-core score is a better measure of overall performance for complex, longer-running tasks.

The scores indicate that the iPad Mini can support multitasking as well as a laptop, which matches my experience. I made sure not to close any apps while testing the Mini, and it never slowed down. The A20 Pro chip can also support Apple Intelligence features such as visual intelligence and photo editing, as well as run powerful local models.

That being said, I'm not sure many people will be working much on the iPad Mini. If you're doing complex video editing, engineering, or photo retouching, the larger displays on the iPad Air and Pro are better suited to these tasks. The iPad Mini doesn't even support Magic Keyboard.

iPad Mini: The cameras and speakers Credit: Timothy Werth / Mashable

The new Acoustic Display technology on the iPad Mini works really well, which isn't a surprise. Apple doesn't really release anything half-baked. The speakers were surprisingly good, and the new Mini has new tweeters and woofers for music and streaming. The audio does end up sounding a little tinny, but that's to be expected.

The cameras are also fine.

Taking pictures with an iPad is very boomer-coded, and the 12MP Center Stage cameras are better suited to quick selfies and video calls than to true photography. And for FaceTime purposes, the cameras get the job done.

The volume buttons and front camera placement take some getting used to. Credit: Timothy Werth / Mashable No more speaker holes... Credit: Timothy Werth / Mashable The final verdict: The iPad Mini is the best tablet in the world for most people, but...

Only you can decide if the $699 iPad Mini fits into your budget. Apple products are sometimes luxury items and status symbols, and that's becoming even more true in the age of RAMageddon and higher prices.

If price were no object, the iPad Mini would be an easy recommendation. Setting price aside for a minute, it puts competitors to shame and offers better design and display than the iPad Air.

Apple iPad Mini (A20 Pro) $699 at Amazon
  See It at Amazon See It at T-Mobile See It at Apple.com

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The RAM-pocalypse is bad news for our wallets, obviously. Anyone who's had any dream or plan of upgrading their PC during the past year was left with two choices: wait or overspend. Things aren't getting better anytime soon on that front, so we all have reason to complain.

There's a word for when someone looks so good they make everyone standing next to them look worse. And now, it’s Collins Dictionary's 2026 Word of the Year.

"Mogging" means outshining or outperforming someone or something, whether in appearance, confidence, status, or skill. According to Collins, usage of the slang term increased by 210 percent this year. For anyone still catching up on internet slang, think of showing up to a Halloween party feeling pretty good about a costume, only to find someone wearing a homemade outfit with working animatronics. Your costume? Mogged.

The term is believed to come from AMOG, short for "alpha male of the group," according to Collins' announcement. It circulated in bodybuilding culture around 2016 before spreading through the manosphere. Collins says Gen Z and Gen Alpha now increasingly use it playfully and ironically, applying it to everything from people to video games.

"The selection of 'mogging' as Collins' Word of the Year shows how each generation leaves its mark on language," Collins managing director Alex Beecroft said.

The choice follows another very online winner. Last year, Collins selected "vibe coding," the practice of using natural-language prompts and AI to help write computer code.

SEE ALSO: 'Maxxing' named Dictionary.com's 2026 Word of the Year

Collins isn't the only dictionary taking cues from the feed — or even from manosphere culture. Dictionary.com chose "maxxing" as its 2026 Word of the Year, recognizing the urge to optimize everything from sleep to appearance. The term spread in part through "looksmaxxing," a practice focused on improving physical appearance that originated in incel forums. Meanwhile, Merriam-Webster added 1,400 words and definitions in September, also including "looksmaxxing," "vibe-coding," and "Sunday scaries."

Taken together, the selections show how language from the manosphere is becoming everyday slang, often losing its original context along the way.

Collins' shortlist also includes several terms that will sound familiar to anyone following tech, gaming, or the job market. "P(doom)" describes an estimate of the likelihood that AI will cause civilization’s collapse, while "ghost job" refers to an advertised position an employer has no intention of filling. "Friendslop," meanwhile, describes low-budget indie games built around playing with friends.

Other contenders include "carspreading," for increasingly large vehicles; "fricy," a blend of fruity and spicy; and “bixie," a haircut somewhere between a bob and a pixie.

A competitive field. Naturally, "mogging" outshone them all.

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TL;DR: Owala's latest holiday drop is officially live with three new colorways: Sew Merry, Golden Eclipse, and Snow Petal. You can grab them now across the FreeSip 24oz, FreeSip Sway 30oz, and SmoothSip Slider 20oz before stock vanishes.

Opens in a new window Credit: Owala Owala Holiday Drop   Shop Now at Owala

If your emotional support water bottle is due for a festive refresh, drop whatever you're doing: Owala just dropped another batch of holiday cheer. These will inevitably sell out quickly, so consider this your official warning before your favorite shade disappears.

The new drop brings three fresh colorways to the table: Sew Merry, Golden Eclipse, and Snow Petal. You can grab all three shades across the classic FreeSip 24oz, the contoured FreeSip Sway 30oz, and the SmoothSip Slider 20oz travel tumbler. They’re cozy and festive without screaming tacky Christmas sweater, so you can easily carry them around well into next year.

Credit: Owala

Here at Mashable, we're admittedly obsessed with Owala. After cycling through pretty much every reusable bottle on the market, our reviewer crowned the FreeSip the absolute water bottle to end all water bottles. The hype comes down to the lid design. You get a built-in straw for easy sipping and a wider spout for chugging. A push-button cap keeps the mouthpiece completely covered and protected from germs, while the double-wall insulation keeps water ice-cold for 24 hours.

Size-wise, the FreeSip is usually our top recommendation because it fits in standard car cup holders. If you need more hydration and prefer a flexible swing handle for carrying on the go, the FreeSip Sway has you covered. And if your mornings are powered by hot coffee or tea, the SmoothSip Slider keeps your drink warm for hours with a secure, splash-free sliding lid.

Limited-edition Owala releases tend to vanish from shelves soon after release. Head over to Owala's site, pick your silhouette, and hit checkout before the rest of TikTok catches on.

No matter how difficult you try to reduce ads, they are always present to some degree, whether you’re browsing the internet, using a mobile app, watching a streamed TV show or movie, or using a streaming device. You’ll even find them lurking in video games as background videos or in-game images. No matter, the point is that ads have become a supplemental income stream, often turning into a primary one. It's hard to eliminate ads completely in this day and age.

While giant corporations are going all-in on AI, using it to replace staff, crush human content production, and generally set things up to enrich themselves even more, regular folks are realizing they can use AI to eliminate their reliance on these companies.

Rugged dive watches are built to withstand deep ocean exploration and other adventures. They're also elegant fashion statements that reflect your appreciation for old-school craftsmanship and design. You don't need to spend thousands of dollars on high-end luxury brands when you can get a tough and reliable dive watch, like the Citizen Promaster Eco-Drive, which you won't mind risking in adverse conditions.

The fanfiction is gone, but the fandom discourse is thriving.

It's been six days since Archive of Our Own (AO3), the internet's beloved fanfiction repository, went offline following a reported security incident. What was initially supposed to be routine maintenance has turned into a potentially weeks-long disruption, leaving millions of readers without their favorite stories and writers without a place to publish them. Naturally, the internet has responded with the kind of collective meltdown you'd expect from people suddenly deprived of their favorite fictional relationships.

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There have been memes, dramatic declarations of withdrawal, and even makeshift survival guides filled with downloaded fanfiction. Fans of Heated Rivalry, in particular, have been sharing Google Drive archives to ensure that the adventures of Shane Hollander and Ilya Rozanov remain accessible during these trying times.

Not all of these efforts have been welcomed, however. One since-deleted Google Drive containing more than 200 fanfics spanning multiple fandoms began circulating online, prompting some authors to question why their work was being redistributed without their knowledge or consent. While readers saw these collections as a way to keep fanfiction accessible during the outage, some writers saw their stories being shared without anyone bothering to ask permission.

Then there are the more blatant attempts to capitalize on AO3's absence, including vibe-coded clone sites attempting to profit from fanfiction originally published for free. One such site was reportedly hit with more than 2,000 takedown notices from authors in a single day.

And just like that, what began as a collective fandom crisis turned into a familiar argument about ownership, consent, and what readers owe the people who write the stories they love.

It's a debate that has been simmering within fandom communities for years, fueled by disagreements over reader expectations, unsolicited criticism, and the harassment of fan creators. But the AO3 outage has brought a new urgency to these conversations, exposing a fundamental tension within fanfiction culture: What happens when stories created and shared freely, out of love for a fandom, begin to be treated as content to which readers are entitled?

Fanfiction has always been a labor of love

To understand why this conversation matters, it's important to understand what makes AO3 different from most of the internet.

Founded by fans and operated by the nonprofit Organization for Transformative Works (OTW), AO3 was created to give fanworks a permanent home, free from commercial pressures and the threat of censorship. Today, it houses more than 18.8 million fanworks, according to the New York Times. There's no algorithm deciding which stories deserve attention, no advertising generating revenue from readers, and no financial compensation for the writers who collectively contribute millions of words to the archive.

SEE ALSO: Wattpad’s alleged smut ban sends fan-fiction readers running to AO3

Fanfiction has historically operated within what's often described as a gift economy. Writers create stories because they love the source material, the characters, and the communities that form around them. Readers reciprocate through comments, recommendations, fan art, and other forms of engagement. The exchange isn't financial, but that doesn't mean it lacks value.

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In many ways, that relationship is what makes fanfiction special. A writer can spend months crafting a 200,000-word slow-burn romance about two characters who barely interact in canon, publish it for free, and find an audience of people who are just as emotionally invested in those characters as they are.

There are no publishing contracts or sales targets. There is simply the pleasure of creating something and sharing it with people who understand why it matters.

But that relationship can become complicated when readers begin to treat freely shared creative work as a product they're entitled to receive.

When did reading fanfiction become consuming content?

The frustration some fanfiction writers express isn't necessarily about readers wanting more stories. Most writers want their work to be read, appreciated, and discussed. The debate emerges when enthusiasm turns into expectation.

I saw this firsthand recently when I posted a TikTok responding to a claim that the quality of fanfiction has declined. The comments quickly filled with writers expressing frustration over what they perceived as a growing sense of entitlement among readers. "The entitlement in complaining about the 'decline in quality' when reading free fiction is unreal omg," one commenter wrote.

The sentiment extends well beyond debates over writing quality. Anyone who has spent enough time in fandom has probably encountered some version of this dynamic — readers demanding updates on unfinished works, criticizing authors for abandoning stories, or leaving comments that read more like customer complaints than responses to something another person created for free.

Of course, readers are allowed to have opinions. Not every fanfiction is going to be well-written, and not every creative decision deserves universal praise. Criticism has always been part of fandom, too. But there's a difference between discussing a story and treating its author like a content provider who has failed to deliver.

And that relationship can feel particularly one-sided when readers consume stories without engaging with the people who create them. On AO3, leaving kudos or a comment is one of the simplest ways to show appreciation for a writer's work. Neither is required, of course, but those small interactions are part of what makes fanfiction feel like a community rather than just another endless library of content. Downloading a story to read offline isn't inherently a problem. But when the act of reading becomes entirely passive, something gets lost in the exchange.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

It raises a broader question about whether the habits we've developed as consumers of digital content are changing how we participate in fandom. We're accustomed to creators posting on schedules, streaming platforms offering endless entertainment, and algorithmic feeds serving up a constant stream of things to watch, read, and react to. There's always something new to consume, and notably, an expectation that there always will be.

But fanfiction doesn't operate on those same terms. At least, it was never intended to. A reader might spend hours immersed in a story without ever considering the person who spent weeks, months, or even years writing it. And when that story ends on a cliffhanger, it's easy to forget that the person responsible for the next chapter has a life outside the fictional universe they've created.

That doesn't make readers inherently entitled, nor does it mean writers are above criticism. But when we begin to approach fanfiction with the same expectations we bring to streaming services and social media, we risk losing sight of what makes it different in the first place. These stories aren't products commissioned by a platform or created to meet an audience's demand. They're personal expressions of creativity, shared freely by people who love something enough to imagine what else it could become.

And the relationship between writers and readers can be deeply rewarding. Most fanfiction writers are readers themselves, participating in the same fandoms and eagerly awaiting updates from their favorite authors. Writing and reading aren't opposing sides of fandom. They're interconnected parts of the same creative ecosystem.

In interviews with 404 Media following the outage, writers described how much AO3's comment sections mean to them. For some, comments provide encouragement during creative slumps. For others, they're a reminder that someone on the other side of the screen is connecting with a story they've poured so much of themselves into.

One writer even expressed hope that the outage would encourage readers to tell their favorite authors how much they'd missed their work once AO3 returned, saying, "I do kind of hope that the extended outage serves as a sort of wake-up call to anyone who's been taking AO3 for granted lately."

What happens when AO3 comes back?

For now, AO3 remains offline while OTW investigates the security incident. In its Oct. 30 update, the organization said that no works, bookmarks, or kudos had been deleted. However, it couldn't yet rule out the possibility that user account information had been compromised. The nonprofit expects restoration to take at least two weeks, possibly as long as four, with limited functionality possibly returning sooner.

In the meantime, fans are still finding ways to keep reading, writing, and connecting outside the archive.

AO3's absence has made its importance impossible to ignore. It's more than a place to find a 300,000-word enemies-to-lovers AU at two in the morning. It's an archive of fandom history and a community sustained by people who love these fictional worlds enough to keep expanding them.

And when AO3 eventually returns, perhaps readers will have a little more appreciation for the people who make those stories possible.

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If you haven't already, it's time to vote.

The 2026 U.S. midterm elections are today, and with them come answers from the American people on the future of the Senate, climate policy, LGBTQ+ rights, billionaire taxes, and more local issues than one can begin to count.

SEE ALSO: Election Day 2026: Find when polls open, close, and other voting details

The tech industry — led by SpaceXSI owner Elon Musk — has invested hundreds of millions in the outcome of this year's local elections amid a push to regulate the industry. Meanwhile, the Trump administration has threatened to sequester votes, block results certifications, and revolt against a theorized blue wave of democratic electorates.

All of this to say: Your ballot well and truly matters.

Check out the results trackers below to see how the rest of America feels on the issues, too.

Election results trackers with latest updates

The easiest way to track live election results is via online election hubs from known news outlets. These will be updated in real-time as estimated counts come in, and you can reliably keep track of multiple outlets' predictions at once versus switching channels.

Keep in mind that vote counts and race calls from news outlets are technically unofficial. Each outlet calculates results using different measures, and states vary in how and when they report outcomes.

• The Associated Press 

• Bloomberg

• NBC News House Tracker

• CNN Results Map

• ABC

• MSNow 

• FOX News 

• The New York Times Election Hub

• The New York Times Congressional seat tracker

• The Guardian

• Al Jazeera live election maps and results

Election livestreams and coverage

You can also tune into live coverage of the elections. Major news outlets will be covering results in real-time for standard cable customers and on streaming services, as well as YouTube streams from CBS News, PBS NewsHour, and NBC News Now.