IT General

The best Prime Day Australia deals for 2026 – live now

Mashable - 2 hours 3 min ago
A quick look at the best Prime Day 2026 deals we've spotted so far: Best robot vacuum deal Dreame X40 Ultra Robot Vacuum A$749 (was $2,799, 73% off) Get Deal Best budget robot vacuum deal Eureka E20 Plus A$349 (was $862.95, 60% off) Get Deal Best headphones deal Bose QuietComfort Ultra A$378 (was $649, 42% off) Get Deal Best Laptop Deal Lenovo Yoga Slim 7 14IPH11 Aura Edition A$1,429 (was $2,499, 43% off) Get Deal Best Wearables Deal Apple Watch Ultra 3 A$999 (was $1,399, 29% off) Get Deal Best TV Deal Prism+ Q75 Ultra 75" 4K QLED Smart Google TV A$1,299 (was $1,843, 33% off) Get Deal

Amazon's famed Prime Day sale has kicked off Down Under for 2026, with deals running across Amazon Australia until July 13. That means a whole week of eyewatering discounts on just about everything, with a strong focus on tech. If you need a new robovac, TV, headphones, or just about anything else gadget-y, now is the time. Below, we've listed the best deals we've seen so far and will be updating this page all week. Happy hunting!

Best robot vacuum dealsBest smart home dealsBest smartphone and tablet dealsBest wearable tech dealsBest headphone and speaker dealsBest TV and home cinema dealsBest laptop deals

After a new PC? Check out the top computer deals on our sister site, PCMag Australia.

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With literally thousands of deals on Amazon.com.au, finding the good ones can be a laborious task. So we've done the hard work for you and tracked down the best deals on everything tech. If you enjoy window shopping yourself (AKA, scrolling), you can check out Amazon's Prime Day page.

You will need to be an Amazon Prime member to partake in the fun. If this isn't you, fear not! You can grab a no-obligation 30-day free Prime trial and still get in on the action.

What is Amazon Prime Day? Is it different in Australia?

In 2026, Prime Day Australia is taking place on a completely different week to in the US, who had theirs in the last week of June this year. Previously, the dates had overlapped.

Prime Day is an twice-a-year online sales event (think Black Friday or Click Frenzy), only it is exclusive to Amazon Prime customers. It started as a one-day event in the US in 2015, but has since expanded to a week long event that takes place across the globe, including Australia. The first Prime Day Down Under happened in 2018, and has grown every year since. Australian users get access to deals on both Amazon.com.au and the Amazon Global Store until the conclusion of the event in the US.

Additionally, the Shop Local Businesses store highlights a number of small Australian businesses that are also partaking in the Prime Day fun.

What will be on sale this Prime Day?

While it can be difficult to predict specific products that go on sale, Amazon has promised over 100,000 deals in Australia from big brands, small local brands, and everything in-between. The brands that Amazon has confirmed will be a part of Prime Day include Apple, Samsung, Lenovo, Bose, and more – a pretty hefty list!

Expect deals across all categories, including tech, such as TVs, Smart Home, Headphones, Gaming, as well as homeware, sports, fashion, beauty and more.

How to find the best deals during Prime Day in Australia

Amazon is quite often the cheapest place to find a given product at the best of times, but the really good deals only come up a few times a year. The above list features some of the very best tech deals available right now. However, you can also properly prepare for the event to make sure you truly get the most out of it.

Before Prime Day kicks off, you should put together a shopping list of items that you are after, then 'wishlist' those products on Amazon and set deal alerts on the Amazon app. This will ensure you don't miss top deals on products that you especially want.

Ensure you are subscribed to Amazon Prime, or else you won't be able to secure the products for the Prime Day deal price. A subscription costs A$6.99 per month, but there is a 30-day free trial available if you are just looking to take part in Prime Day and nothing else.

It is also worth spending a bit of time on Amazon and familiarising yourself with its interface and how it works. This can save you time and hassle when the deals start dropping (many of which are only available for a limited time).

How to shop on Amazon Prime Day

Of course, we'll be keeping track of all the best Prime Day deals we spot in the lists above. But if you are keen to trawl through some deals yourself, here's how to best shop during the event.

  • Amazon app: If you'll be out and about on Prime Day, download Amazon's mobile app, log in, and you'll be ready to shop wherever you are.

  • Amazon Wishlist: Add items to your wishlist in the product interface to get alerted if it goes on sale.

  • Ask Alexa: Why move at all? The main idea behind Amazon's Echo devices is to sell you stuff, so Alexa is more than willing to help you add things to your cart.

  • Amazon Global Store: Check out the best deals from the US and across the world on the Amazon Global Store.

  • Support Local: Amazon's Shop Local Business initiative highlights deals curated from small Aussie businesses across Amazon.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Prime Day AU: Save up to 73% on these top Dreame robot vacuums

Mashable - 2 hours 8 min ago

Amazon Prime Day is back for another year! Running from July 7-13, you can grab a hefty discount on a variety of smart home products, including Dreame’s range of automated cleaning gadgets. From easy-to-use robot vacuums to powerful hair dryers, you’ll save up to 73% off and give your home the cleaning upgrade it needs.

Opens in a new window Credit: Dreame Dreame L10s Ultra Gen2 Robot Vacuum and Mop AU$409.99 at Amazon AU
AU$1,699 Save AU$1,289.01 Robot vacuum and mop with MopExtend RoboSwing technology, 10,000PA suction power, and Duo Scrub Mopping System. Get Deal

When looking for a solid starter robot vacuum for your home, you can’t go wrong with the L10s Ultra Gen2 for only A$529. Equipped with Dreame’s “advanced MopExtend RoboSwing Technology” and Pet Zone Cleaning, this gadget will rid your space of spills, stains, and pet hair with ease. However, if you want an automated cleaner with extra power, their flagship X40 Ultra is down to an unbelievable price of A$749. With 12,000Pa suction power and SideReach Edge Cleaning, this robot cleaner can clean the parts of your home you’ve been struggling to reach.

The best Dreame robot vacuum Prime Day deals

However, Dreame’s Prime Day sale extends beyond their range of robot vacuums. If you’d prefer to replace your cordless vacuum, the A$189 G10 Wet Dry Vacuum Cleaner can both suction and mop your floors in one go.

Opens in a new window Credit: Dreame G10 Wet Dry Vacuum Cleaner AU$189.04 at Amazon AU
AU$549 Save AU$359.96   Get Deal

Meanwhile, Dreame has also slashed prices on their range of smart hair dryers, with the ultra-fast drying Dazzle now only A$229.99 – and you can get an extra 15% off using code W444QFST.

Opens in a new window Credit: Dreame dreame Dazzle Hair Dryer AU$229.99 at Amazon AU
AU$499 Save AU$269.01   Get Deal

This promotion will run strictly during Amazon’s annual Prime Day from July 7-13, so you’ve got until stocks last to take advantage. However, since these deals are locked to Amazon Prime members only, just make sure your subscription is up to date (or sign up for a 30-day free trial).

Categories: IT General, Technology

Silo Season 3, episode 2s ending explained: What is Vitamin D+?

Mashable - 2 hours 24 min ago

Silo loves ending with an ominous shot of something mysterious, and Season 3, episode 2 is absolutely no exception.

But what are those big barrels of the troublingly named "Vitamin D+" being pushed up the central staircase? And what will they mean for the silo's residents? Let's break down what we know.

SEE ALSO: 'Silo' Season 3, episode 1: That weird cloud and goo, explained What happens at the end of Silo Season 3, episode 2?

Camille (Alexandria Riley), thinking she's managed to smooth out the growing issues with Juliette (Rebecca Ferguson), heads back to the Vault for a chat with the mysterious Algorithm.

But based on what the voice says to her, it sounds like the problems for Silo 18 are only just beginning.

"After her return, Juliette's survival was...unwelcome. But the numbers indicated it was tolerable. Perhaps even beneficial," says the voice, before bringing up a graph on the screen. "The blue line represents the calming value in the silo of having Juliette Nichols as mayor. The red line is the risk she poses if the memory protocol is not successful. If those lines cross, Juliette Nichols will have outlived her usefulness. The problem, of course, is that a sudden removal of Juliette could be catastrophically destabilising. We can only hope that the introduction of the vitamin compound into the water supply happens before that becomes necessary."

Vitamin compound? Water supply? It's not looking good, and nor does the sight of silo workers shoving large "Vitamn D+" barrels up the winding staircase in the episode's closing shots.

But what exactly is the compound, and how will it affect the silo's population?

What is Vitamin D+?

The answer seems pretty clear, and it links back to 1) What's been happening this season with Juliette, and 2) Another conversation between Camille and the Algorithm at the start of the episode, where Camille is complaining about how long it's taking Juliette to forget what happened to her.

"We have 352 years of data that demonstrates the protocol is effective most of the time, when implemented correctly," says the robotic voice in response. "Six silos have successfully undergone full resets, including your own 140 years ago, and there have been individuals targeted along the way."

So, we know Juliette is being given a drug that affects her memory. But the talk of a "full reset" suggests this strategy has been implemented on a much wider scale in the past.

Those "Vitamin D+" barrels being rolled up the stairs? Most probably the same memory-wiping medication being given to Juliette. Only this time, the target is everybody in Silo 18. Another "full reset" is in the works.

Silo Season 3 is streaming now on Apple TV, with new episodes dropping every Friday.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Hurdle hints and answers for July 10, 2026

Mashable - 5 hours 24 min ago

If you like playing daily word games like Wordle, then Hurdle is a great game to add to your routine.

There are five rounds to the game. The first round sees you trying to guess the word, with correct, misplaced, and incorrect letters shown in each guess. If you guess the correct answer, it'll take you to the next hurdle, providing the answer to the last hurdle as your first guess. This can give you several clues or none, depending on the words. For the final hurdle, every correct answer from previous hurdles is shown, with correct and misplaced letters clearly shown.

An important note is that the number of times a letter is highlighted from previous guesses does necessarily indicate the number of times that letter appears in the final hurdle.

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If you find yourself stuck at any step of today's Hurdle, don't worry! We have you covered.

SEE ALSO: Hurdle: Everything you need to know to find the answers Hurdle Word 1 hint

Black bird.

SEE ALSO: Apple’s new M3 MacBook Air is $300 off at Amazon. And yes, I’m tempted. Hurdle Word 1 answer

RAVEN

Hurdle Word 2 hint

An herb.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for July 10, 2026 Hurdle Word 2 Answer

ANISE

Mashable 101 Fan Fave: Nominate your favorite creators today

Hurdle Word 3 hint

More secure.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for July 10 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for July 10, 2026 Hurdle Word 3 answer

SAFER

Hurdle Word 4 hint

Dwelling.

Hurdle Word 4 answer

HUTCH

Final Hurdle hint

A hum.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Games available on Mashable Hurdle Word 5 answer

THRUM

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

Categories: IT General, Technology

NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for July 10, 2026

Mashable - 7 hours 24 min ago

The NYT Connections puzzle today is not too difficult if you're a sports fan.

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.

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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.

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

SEE ALSO: NYT Pips hints, answers for July 10, 2026 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: Mobile features

  • Green: Sweet treat

  • Blue: Rockstars

  • Purple: Take me out to the ball game

Meet The Mashable 101: Our list of the content creators shaping the internet today

Here are today's Connections categories

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

  • Yellow: Smartphone settings

  • Green: Dessert menu descriptors

  • Blue: '80s synth-pop bands

  • Purple: Starting with baseball calls

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 #1125 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

  • Smartphone settings: AIRPLANE MODE, DO NOT DISTURB, HOTSPOT, LOCATION SERVICES

  • Dessert menu descriptors: DECADENT, FRESH-BAKED, MOLTEN, À LA MODE

  • '80s synth-pop bands: DEPECHE MODE, ERASURE, NEW ORDER, PET SHOP BOYS

  • Starting with baseball calls: BALL GOWN, OUTKST, SAFE MODE, STRIKE A POSE

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for July 10, 2026

Are you also playing NYT Strands? Get all the Strands hints you need for today's puzzle.

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.

Categories: IT General, Technology

NYT Strands hints, answers for July 10, 2026

Mashable - 7 hours 24 min ago

Today's NYT Strands hints are easy if you're always doing.

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

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on 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 July 10, 2026 NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: "I think..."

The words are related to creating.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

These words describe taking action.

NYT Strands spangram hint: Is it vertical or horizontal?

Today's NYT Strands spangram is horizontal.

Meet The Mashable 101: Our list of the content creators shaping the internet today

NYT Strands spangram answer today

Today's spangram is We Can Make It.

NYT Strands word list for July 10

  • Haste

  • History

  • Merry

  • Good

  • Believe

  • We Can Make It

  • Love Sense

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.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Wordle today: Answer, hints for July 10, 2026

Mashable - 7 hours 24 min ago

Today's Wordle answer should be easy to solve if you love Amsterdam.

If you just want to be told today's word, you can jump to the bottom of this article for today's Wordle solution revealed. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for July 10, 2026 Where did Wordle come from?

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

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

What's the best Wordle starting word?

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

What happened to the Wordle archive?

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

Is Wordle getting harder?

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

SEE ALSO: NYT Pips hints, answers for July 10, 2026 Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

Tunnel.

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

The letter A appears twice.

Meet The Mashable 101: Our list of the content creators shaping the internet today

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

Today's Wordle starts with the letter C.

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...

CANAL

Don't feel down if you didn't manage to guess it this time. There will be a new Wordle for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we'll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints. Are you also playing NYT Strands? See hints and answers for today's Strands.

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

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.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Does Evil Dead Burn have a credits scene?

Mashable - 8 hours 24 min ago

Everyone who loves horror movies knows there's always time for one final scare. But does Evil Dead Burn take the opportunity?

The sixth installment in the Evil Dead franchise, directed and written by Sébastien Vaniček and Florent Bernard, sees Deadite family hell unleashed upon stars Souheila Yacoub, Hunter Doohan, Luciane Buchanan, Tandi Wright, Erroll Shand, and Maude Davey.

But does Evil Dead Burn have secret scenes to stick around for? Of course it does, this is Evil Dead! Yes, there are a few surprises in store in the film's credits.

Without dropping any spoilers on you, here's what you can expect, so you don't have cinema lobby regret.

SEE ALSO: Best horror movies of 2026, and where to watch them now Does Evil Dead Burn have a credits scene?

We won't spoil what happens in the scenes, but just know you should definitely stay for the credits for three reasons:

  1. There's a mid-credits scene that's a cautionary tale against helping random ladies on the road.

  2. There's a post-credits scene that includes a familiar face for Evil Dead fans, and it could set up the next film.

  3. Thousands of people worked on this film. It's nice to stay for the credits.

Evil Dead Burn hits cinemas July 10.

Featured Video For You The Cast of "Obsession" Shares Their Top Horror Movies of All Time
Categories: IT General, Technology

The Soundcore AeroClip earbuds are $20 off and come with a free Soundcore Select 4 Go speaker

Mashable - 11 hours 23 min ago

SAVE $94.97: Get the Soundcore AeroClip earbuds on sale for $149.99, down from the standard price of $169.99 for a $20 discount. The deal also comes with either a free Soundcore Select 4 Go Bluetooth speaker or a free AeroClip accessory.

Opens in a new window Credit: Soundcore Soundcore Aeroclip earbuds $149.99 at Soundcore
$169.99 Save $20 Plus, choose a freebie add-on Get Deal

I'm not saying a solid pair of earbuds can change your life, but I'm also not downplaying their importance. Some of us have an emotional support water bottle, and others of us have earbuds we're incredibly attached to. After all, they're with us all the time these days, playing our current audiobook, new favorite songs, and podcasts. If you're not in love with your current earbuds, check out this deal that comes with a freebie.

As of July 9, the Soundcore AeroClip earbuds are on sale for $149.99 at Soundcore, marked down from the standard price of $169.99, which works out to $20 in savings. But today's deal also comes with a free Soundcore Select 4 Go Bluetooth speaker or the choice of two free AeroClip on-earbuds accessories. The freebies range in value from $19.99 to $34.99.

The Soundcore AeroClip earbuds have a unique design that securely clips them to the cuff of the ear, like many of our other favorite open earbuds. They're designed to be flexible and lightweight, with the intention of giving all-day comfort. Plus, they get up to 32 hours of battery life with the included case.

SEE ALSO: 16 summer hosting essentials that cost under $25 at Amazon

On top of the earbuds, today's deal includes the choice of two free earbuds accessories. The butterfly and snowflake accessories clip onto the open earbuds themselves, adding a fun piece of jewelry to the earbuds. They're easy to attach and have a lightweight feel, so they won't be noticeable.

You could also opt for a free Soundcore Select 4 Go Bluetooth speaker, which is both water- and dust-resistant. Pack it along on your next summer outing or use it in the backyard during the next barbecue.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Before you buy a new laptop, try this $10 Windows 11 Pro upgrade

Mashable - 11 hours 24 min ago

TL;DR: Give a PC a major upgrade with a Microsoft Windows 11 Pro license, on sale now for just $9.97 (reg. $199) until July 19.

Opens in a new window Credit: Microsoft Microsoft Windows 11 Pro $9.97
$199 Save $189.03   Get Deal

Before you start shopping for a laptop, make sure your current one doesn’t just need a little tune-up. A Microsoft Windows 11 Pro license breathes new life into an old computer, offering new tools and enhanced security features to bring your device up to speed.

Right now, you can do this retooling for just $9.97 if you snag it before July 19.

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How often do you find a $10 solution to a problem these days? You can currently upgrade your PC for less than the cost of lunch with this Microsoft Windows 11 Pro deal.

When it comes to old PCs, sometimes a fresh operating system is all it needs to shine again. Windows 11 Pro was designed with today’s professional in mind, so you can rest easy knowing there are plenty of upgrades to make your life run a little more smoothly.

An easy-to-use interface lets you hop in and get to work quickly, and features like a more powerful search experience, easy redocking, and snap layouts can boost your productivity.

Your Windows 11 Pro license includes Microsoft Teams, an app that makes it much easier to stay connected with friends, family, and coworkers. It also includes Copilot, Microsoft’s AI-powered assistant, available right on your desktop. Let Copilot answer your questions, help with your tasks, change settings, summarize web pages, and even open apps.

Cybersecurity gets a major boost with new features with your privacy in mind. Take advantage of biometric logins, encrypted authentication, and enhanced antivirus protection that keep your data safer.

Lock in your own Microsoft Windows 11 Pro license for just $9.97 now until July 19.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Categories: IT General, Technology

A new Shark FlexStyle for creating the best curls possible just dropped

Mashable - Thu, 07/09/2026 - 22:47

It's no secret that multi-stylers like the Dyson Airwrap initially went viral because of the Co-anda tech that seemed to wrap and create curls as if by magic.

While the promise of curls styled more by air than heat was enticing, it also didn't take users long to figure out that these tools weren't on par with traditional hot tools when it came to definition and longevity. Shark is looking to close that gap with its latest release, the Shark FlexStyle IonCurl, which hit online shelves on July 6 and retails for $349.99.

Opens in a new window Credit: Shark Shark FlexStyle IonCurl $349.99 at Shark
  Shop Now

At first glance, the multi-styler looks similar to the original FlexStyle. It features four different attachments — the 1.25-inch IonCurl curlers, the IonCurl FrizzFighter high shine polisher, the IonCurl styling concentrator, and the IonCurl oval brush — and can be used without any attachments as a standard blow dryer. It also has the iconic twisting base mechanism, but the main differences here are all about the tech you can't see.

The Shark FlexStyle IonCurl: What's different

The IonCurl features two major upgrades to optimize the curling experience with this multi-styler: the ion smooth technology and CoandaBoost technology.

The Shark FlexStyle IonCurl lineup. Credit: Shark Ion smooth technology

Ionizers have long been a part of blow drying tech to provide the smoothest styling possible. That step becomes extra crucial when your blow dryer doubles as your primary styling device. With the Ion smooth technology, the IonCurl works to target any frizziness and flyways for smoother and shinier looking hair.

CoandaBoost technology

Coanda tech is essentially the fancy term for describing the automatic wrapping mechanism that's now a mainstay on any multi-styler with a curling attachment. However, Shark ups the ante of the FlexStyle line with the CoandaBoost tech. The enhanced airflow allows for the hair to be wrapped even more tightly around the styling barrel, which creates a more defined and longer lasting curl. According to the brand, this is the strongest version of the tech you can find on any of the Shark FlexStyle models.

Other FlexStyle models

Speaking of other Shark FlexStyle models, it's worth breaking down where the IonCurl falls in the existing lineup of FlexStyles.

The original Shark FlexStyle is essentially the all-in-one multi-styler, the original Dyson Airwrap dupe, and the most affordable version of the tool, starting at $299.99 for a build-your-own model (and that's before dropping down to one of the frequent sale prices).

SEE ALSO: The Shark FlexStyle is still better than the Dyson Airwrap

The Shark FlexStyle Glam is an upgraded version of the FlexStyle, both in functionality and price. The tool goes for $449.99, but can be used on both wet and dry hair for styling.

The IonCurl then, at $349.99, falls somewhere in the middle, and is for anyone who prioritizes the best curl possible. Like the other two models, the curling barrels on this version of the multi-styler need to be switched out in order to change the curl direction, which is where Dyson retains the biggest advantage.

The Shark FlexStyle IonCurl: Where to buy

The Shark FlexStyle IonCurl is available to purchase at SharkNinja, Sephora, and Ulta for $349.99 in the lilac colorway.

Where to buy the Shark FlexStyle IonCurl SharkNinja Shark FlexStyle IonCurl $349.99 Shop Now Sephora Shark FlexStyle IonCurl $349.99 Shop Now Ulta Shark FlexStyle IonCurl $349.99 Shop Now
Categories: IT General, Technology

5 new shows to watch this weekend across Netflix, Hulu, and more (July 10-12)

How-To Geek - Thu, 07/09/2026 - 22:30

July's television slate is off to a hot start. Silo returned to Apple TV for its third season, while the Legally Blonde prequel series Elle debuted as Prime Video's No. 1 original series last week. As for what's on tap this weekend, Netflix will release the first season of an adaptation of a beloved novel series. That show is our top selection, and you can finish it this weekend because it's only eight episodes.

Categories: IT General, Technology

DuckDuckGos web browser will now automatically block YouTube ads

Mashable - Thu, 07/09/2026 - 22:27

Annoyed by YouTube ads? There are a few ways to avoid them now, such as YouTube's own official option with a paid YouTube Premium subscription.

However, the privacy-focused search engine DuckDuckGo is now providing a new, free way to block YouTube ads.

This week, DuckDuckGo announced that its free web browser will now block most video ads, including ads shown on YouTube. 

The YouTube Ad Blocking feature is turned on by default on Mac, Windows, and iOS versions of the web browser. There's nothing that users on those devices have to do, as the feature is on by default.

YouTube Ad Blocking is also available on the Android version of the DuckDuckGo web browser. However, it needs to be turned on by going to the browser’s Settings and then toggling Ad Blocking on. DuckDuckGo says the option to have ad blocking activated by default is coming soon to Android as well.

DuckDuckGo launched in 2008 with a privacy-focused search engine alternative to Google. Since then, the company has rolled out other privacy-focused alternatives to Google products, such as its desktop and mobile web browsers. 

The company has also benefited from Google's missteps. Earlier this year, for example, DuckDuckGo reported a spike in growth after Google announced new unavoidable AI features. While DuckDuckGo does have its own set of AI tools, they are completely optional, and the company makes sure to promote that. DuckDuckGo has a completely AI-free search product called DuckDuckGo No-AI.

Now, DuckDuckGo is taking on Google's sister site, YouTube, with its default ad blocker built right into its privacy-focused web browser.

Categories: IT General, Technology

GLP-1s are inescapable online. Heres why thats a problem.

Mashable - Thu, 07/09/2026 - 22:14

Kate Gombach recently celebrated four years in recovery from an eating disorder. Such a milestone once felt impossible for the 35-year-old who recalls growing up at the height of "heroin chic," a time in the early aughts when celebrities like Paris Hilton and Nicole Richie appeared in tabloids looking extremely thin. 

"I didn't realize that living the way I'm living now was even an option for me," Gombach tells Mashable. "I thought trying to shrink my body constantly was what I had to do because of the body that I was born in." 

SEE ALSO: Using AI for health questions? Here are 4 tips for the most accurate answers.

Since Gombach completed treatment at the Eating Recovery Center, she'd mostly been able to tune out the kind of messaging and advertising that typically triggered her disordered eating. But over the past several months, that became much harder thanks to one of the most popular medications of the 21st century: appetite- and hunger-suppressing GLP-1s. 

Suddenly, Gombach saw bodies shrinking everywhere she looked, particularly amongst celebrities and on social media. Creators who once championed body positivity or neutrality began weight-loss journeys with little explanation or initial disclosure about paid partnerships and sponsored content, Gombach witnessed.

"I didn't realize that living the way I'm living now was even an option for me." - Kate Gombach

Even as Gombach pruned certain accounts from her feed and actively disliked weight-loss advertising on Instagram and TikTok, Gombach still encounters marketing for GLP-1, or semaglutide, drugs there, not to mention on television and the wider internet. 

"It's not easy, and it's not fun, but [I'm] trying to push through it, maintain my recovery, and hold on to my beliefs, despite a lot of people around me kind of switching," Gombach says. 

Fighting to stay in recovery

She's not alone. Mashable interviewed others in recovery who described the same seismic shift toward thinness and diet culture triggered by GLP-1 drugs. 

In just the first nine months of 2025, the pharmaceutical companies Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly spent $700 million marketing their GLP-1 medications, Wegovy and Ozempic, and Zepbound and Mounjaro, respectively, according to Reuters.  

This advertising rush has made weight loss content inescapable for many. That might help explain why Americans are flocking to online black markets to purchase Eli Lilly's "retatrutide," a drug not yet approved by the Food and Drug Administration that reportedly leads to significant weight loss.  

Meanwhile, influencers pitching wellness optimization strategies, and Make America Healthy Again proponents who promote thinness as virtuousness, have revived diet culture after it fell out of favor in the late 2010s. 

Now former patients like Gombach find themselves fighting to stay in recovery. 

Social media and eating disorders

"Many people feel like they've come through on the other side," said Jessica Scheer, CEO of the National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA). "But it's a hard thing to protect now."

Gombach spends several hours a day on social media, where she connects with recovery-focused influencers. Building that network during treatment aided Gombach's recovery, because her friends had neither experienced an eating disorder or lived in a larger body, like she does. 

Yet experts say social media can also be risky for those in recovery as diet culture and pro-disordered eating are extremely difficult to moderate online. 

SEE ALSO: TikTok 'fear food' challenges: Can they help with eating disorder recovery?

Earlier this year, the eating disorder care company Equip surveyed 828 adults about how social media influenced their body image. A number of respondents named GLP-1 ads unprompted as a distinct source of distress. 

A recent survey by NEDA found the same. Clinicians reported having weekly conversations with patients about GLP-1 advertising and increased disordered eating behaviors. 

New research published in JAMA Psychiatry suggests that GLP-1 use may be higher among people with eating disorders compared to the general population. The study authors, who did not look at the role of social media, wrote that these people might use GLP-1 drugs to achieve rapid food restriction and weight loss.

Whether or not they are actually taking the drugs, people with a history of disordered eating may be more at risk online. A 2024 TikTok algorithm study, conducted by researchers at the University of Melbourne, found that users with a history of disordered eating were served more videos featuring "toxic" eating disorder content than those without prior struggles. 

The researchers attributed the increased likelihood of seeing such videos to the platform's content personalization system, particularly the way TikTok collects and profiles users based on personal data. The platform, they wrote, may see lingering on content as a sign of engagement. 

The researchers noted several limitations of their study, including that they evaluated videos based on hashtags, an "imperfect" indicator of their content. TikTok declined to comment on the research. 

Positive engagement or eating disorder risk?

Dr. Blair Burnette, a Michigan State University assistant professor and principal investigator of the eating- and body image-focused ARISE Lab, called the findings of the study "extremely disturbing." She was not involved in the research.

"It was very clear that the people who were struggling were getting delivered more harmful content," said Burnette, who is overseeing multiple studies on social media's effect on body image, GLP-1 advertising, and eating disorders. A patient can unintentionally direct more GLP-1 related content to their feed simply by pausing on a video or searching for seemingly unrelated content, she explained. It's become a greater worry for her as a clinician. 

Equip survey participants also reported that actively seeking body-positive or recovery-focused content led to seeing more about fitness and body transformation, as well as restrictive eating. 

GLP-1 content on social media

Dr. Elizabeth Wassenaar, regional medical director of the Eating Recovery Center, said that social media usage is cropping up more and more in treatment with the rise of GLP-1s. Patients are vulnerable to posts about GLP-1 weight loss, and platforms are responding to it, she said. "The algorithm likely curates content that gets more interaction, and when people are engaged in a mental illness, the content that gets more interaction reinforces that mental illness."

While their effectiveness is still widely debated, many platforms offer content controls intended to weed out such posts. Still, less obvious content can derail recovery. A favorite creator suddenly posting an image of their thinner body, for example, is not easily flagged by moderation tools or necessarily clocked by users themselves. 

In fact, Scheer explained, eating disorder content readily "shapeshifts" into whatever nutrition and wellness trends are taking over the internet at any given moment. Unhealthy or restrictive food habits can be repackaged as "clean eating." Compulsive exercise is reformed into "hot girl walks" or daily gym vlogs. GLP-1 influencers are lumped in with wellness advice accounts.

"It's a great business model." - Sharon Maxwell, weight inclusivity advocate

Scheer points to advertising phrases like "take control of your health" or "get back control of your body," which mirror the mindset of many people experiencing disordered eating habits. 

Co-opting the language of recovery

The diet industry has also co-opted the language of recovery and anti-diet spaces to sell their own products. For example, GLP-1 ads often promise to quiet "food noise," or incessant rumination on hunger and eating. Food noise happens to be one of the most common indicators or struggles among people with eating disorders, explained Sharon Maxwell, a weight inclusivity advocate, consultant, and content creator. 

"People with eating disorders are very susceptible," said Maxwell. "It's a great business model."

Maxwell started posting online after they left a restrictive cult upbringing and were diagnosed with an eating disorder. They built a career offering weight inclusive curriculum to large businesses and eating recovery facilities, even collaborating with Meta's former moderation team on better age-gating of eating disorder content. But in recent years that work has dwindled. 

The human safety teams Maxwell once worked with have been reconfigured or shrunk, they note. In the year since, they say they’ve seen a rise in anti-fat content. And as platforms bank on questionable drug and wellness advertising revenue, Maxwell says creators they used to work alongside have pivoted to sponsored GLP-1 posts.

Eating disorder recovery in the era of GLP-1s

Content about GLP-1s, already hard to moderate, is supercharged by stereotypes about larger bodies and weight loss. GLP-1s are much less criticized because they result in thinner bodies, said Wassenaar. Though researchers are still learning about their long-term effects, GLP-1s have surged in popularity, even as established interventions that have nothing to do with body size, like vitamin K shots for infants and life-saving vaccines, are increasingly rejected. 

For those in recovery, this type of messaging can generate guilt and shame, explained Wassenaar. GLP-1 marketing constantly suggests the need to change one's physical appearance — and that there are several choices available for doing so. 

"You could make a choice to be on a medication. You could make a choice to be on a diet. You could choose a lower calorie food, but you're not, and that's why you think your body is flawed," Wassenaar said of the normalization of weight loss interventions. "It's insidious."

"I don't have to lose weight. I don't have to go down that path."  - Kate Gombach, former patient

Maxwell says they'd be lying if they didn't feel enticed to use GLP-1s for weight loss. 

Gombach similarly wonders about GLP-1s. She says two of her doctors tried to prescribe her a GLP-1 based on her body mass index, despite the fact that she's in good health. "Would people be nicer to me if I did that?" Gombach asks.

Maxwell and Gombach say GLP-1s aren't the solution to such thoughts.

"It's not the medicine itself that sounds appealing to me. It's the outcome of being in a smaller body," Maxwell said. "I know what happens if I engage in intentional weight loss, and that is a relapse into anorexia, and I'm not willing to do that."

Managing social media while in recovery  

Since entering treatment, Gombach finished her masters in clinical mental health counseling and specializes in eating disorder care. That may give her unique insight into coping with ubiquitous weight-loss messaging, but she still uses multiple strategies herself. 

Gombach leans on practices she learned in acceptance and commitment therapy, which focuses on aligning behavior with one's values. When Gombach sees content that could trigger negative feelings about her body, she affirms that it's not for her and doesn't match what she wants for herself. 

She also focuses on "clarity of intention," or the reality that an influencer, brand, or pharmaceutical company preys on people's insecurities so that they'll buy a product and feel better or achieve greater acceptance. 

Then there's training her algorithm. She immediately unfollows a creator when they announce they're on a GLP-1 drug. Every few months, she mass unfollows accounts that have begun sharing diet culture content. Gombach also tries to adjust her ad settings, but frequently sees harmful marketing content nonetheless. 

SEE ALSO: I tried to scrub weight loss content from my FYP. Here's what I learned.

Gombach says she hasn't considered quitting social media because "it’s still something that ultimately helps me." 

Time to turn away from social media?

Dr. Erin Parks, co-founder and chief clinical officer of Equip, says even former patients' best efforts to filter content run headlong into algorithms that don't distinguish between thinness and health. 

She doesn't discourage patients from eliminating screen time altogether, because it may be helpful to them. Yet, she does want them to consider whether being on their phone is like attempting not to drink but spending all their time in a bar. 

Parks recommends people in recovery curate their feed with a clinician when possible and stay open to their changing needs. Content they find tolerable one day may trigger disordered eating thoughts the next. That's why she says it's important for people to closely monitor their social media use, including their intended time spent versus reality, as well as how they feel before, during, and after scrolling. 

Maxwell has also scaled back their time online because of GLP-1s. They stopped posting about eating disorder recovery years ago, opting to highlight the joys of living in a larger body. "So often in eating disorder recovery we're obsessed with staying in the disorder, and then we become obsessed with the process of recovery, and that almost replaces the eating disorder," they explained. "My life isn't about recovery, recovery allows me to have a life."

While the rise of GLP-1s has made the desire to escape weight stigma difficult to ignore, Maxwell still envisions a future where social media can support those in recovery and fight weight discrimination. 

"I do have hope," Maxwell said. "How much? Not as much as a few years ago, but it's still there, and I'm still holding on. I've got a vice grip on it."

If you are concerned about your eating behavior, visit the National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA) website for more information. You can also text CONNECT to 741741 for immediate support from a trained volunteer at the Crisis Text Line.

Categories: IT General, Technology

The discontinued Kia that's a pre-owned bargain

How-To Geek - Thu, 07/09/2026 - 22:00

The Kia Forte quietly disappeared after the 2024 model year, replaced by the new K4 as Kia continued reshaping its sedan lineup. Unlike many discontinued cars, the Forte wasn’t pushed aside because it was outdated—it simply became another compact sedan overlooked as buyers moved toward SUVs.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Don’t buy a smart lock until you watch this (Nuki keypad 2 NFC and Aliro testing)

Mashable - Thu, 07/09/2026 - 21:59

Wes Ott tries out the new Aliro standard with the Nuki smart lock. He goes over why this new standard from the CSA matters and how it will change smart home keys.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Dysons newest Airwrap just got an update and new attachments — including a first-time addition to any Airwrap

Mashable - Thu, 07/09/2026 - 21:58

Dyson just released an updated version of its latest multi-styler, the Airwrap Co-anda2x, just one year after the original version of the styling tool became available.

The updated Airwrap, available to purchase as of July 9, comes with a new lineup of attachments and a more powerful motor for creating longer-lasting styles. The new Co-anda2x retails for $749.99, putting it at the same price point as the first version of the styler. (The first iteration initially went for $699.99, but jumped up $50 in price after its release).

Opens in a new window Credit: Dyson Dyson Airwrap Co-anda2x $749.99 at Dyson
  Shop Now The updated Dyson Airwrap Co-anda2x: What's new

While the latest Airwrap Co-anda2x looks rather similar to its predecessor at first glance, the upgrades made could go a long way for anyone looking for the longest lasting styling possible.

Updated attachments

The first major update to the new Airwrap is the four new attachments, replacing some of the lineup from the 2025 release of the Airwrap Co-anda2x.

The 2026 Airwrap Co-anda2x attachment lineup is as follows (new attachments are bolded):

  • Conical Co-anda2x curling barrel: a tapered barrel for creating more defined curls that can style hair closer to the root

  • Large round volumizing brush 2x: a larger round brush with a 2.8-inch diameter, which is larger than that of the round brush included with the previous generation Airwrap

  • 1.6-inch Co-anda2x Curling Barrel (Long): a curling barrel that's the same diameter as the larger barrel option on the older Airwrap, but features a long barrel, making it easier to grab thicker or larger sections of hair

  • Air straightener 2x: a clamp-style straightening iron that uses air to create and set the style

  • Fast dryer2x

  • Anti-snag loop brush 2x

Dyson also updated the curly/coily model of the Airwrap, but it's not available just yet. According to a Dyson spokesperson, that version of the Airwrap will hit store shelves in the coming weeks.

As a reminder, the 2025 Airwrap Co-anda2x attachments are as follows:

  • 30-millimeter Co-anda2x curling barrel

  • 40-millimeter Co-anda2x curling barrel

  • Round volumizing brush 2x

  • AirSmooth 2x attachment

  • Fast dryer 2x

  • Anti-snag loop brush 2x

The new Airwrap Co-anda2x attachment lineup... Credit: Dyson Compared to the curly/coily lineup of the previous gen. Credit: Dyson

The addition of the Air straightener 2x marks the first time that any Airwrap has featured a straightening attachment that isn't a brush. Anyone looking to get in on the Dyson air straightening tech before this Airwrap would have to buy the Dyson Airstrait, which goes for $499.99 at full price. While there are multiple new attachments on this Airwrap, the straightener is by far the biggest deviation from any previous Airwrap model.

Like its predecessor, these Airwrap attachments are RFID-enabled and can automatically change the air speed and temperature for optimal styling results. I was skeptical as to how much of a difference this could make when I tried out the first-generation Airwrap Co-anda2x, but pairing the multi-styler with the app and using the automatic adjustments genuinely made for longer styles that felt less effortful to achieve.

The attachments are also available to buy separately, and are backward compatible with the first version of the Airwrap Co-anda2x, but no other previous Airwrap model. (So far, we can only find the new versions of two out of four of the attachments on Dyson's site, but we will update this piece when the rest become available.)

A new motor

The other notable upgrade is the introduction of a new motor: the Dyson Gen 2 motor. While not as flashy as new attachments, the headline here is increased air pressure, which is designed to create and lock in styles better. In my experience, multi-stylers in general, including the Dyson Airwrap, can struggle with longevity in styles, as they do not rely on heat as much as traditional styling tools. The new motor, then, seems to be an answer to customer concerns over this reality.

Where to buy the new Dyson Airwrap Co-anda2x

As of July 9, you can pick up the second-generation Dyson Airwrap Co-anda2x at Dyson's website and at Sephora in the ceramic pink colorway. A jasper plum colorway will become available later this year.

Where to buy the Dyson Airwrap Co-anda2x Dyson.com Dyson Airwrap Co-anda2x $749.99 Shop Now Sephora Dyson Airwrap Co-anda2x $749.99 Shop Now The older gen Dyson Airwrap Co-anda2x $749.99 Shop Now
Categories: IT General, Technology

4 ways I've repurposed a cheap old Motorola phone for my homelab

How-To Geek - Thu, 07/09/2026 - 21:30

Homelabs don't always have to be massive. Sometimes, just a Raspberry Pi, a laptop, and an old phone or two can be an ideal lab setup. I'm in the latter camp, preferring old phones to tinker around with in my free time. My latest experiment is repurposing an old Motorola phone in my homelab.

Categories: IT General, Technology

You don’t need an EV to beat gas prices: This $25k hybrid will save you thousands

How-To Geek - Thu, 07/09/2026 - 21:00

Saving money at the pump usually means making compromises, whether it's paying more upfront for a hybrid or settling for a less desirable car. But one affordable sedan quietly breaks that rule, delivering exceptional fuel economy without demanding a premium price or sacrificing everyday usability.

Categories: IT General, Technology

I tried to scrub weight loss content from my FYP. Heres what I learned.

Mashable - Thu, 07/09/2026 - 20:46

I'm someone who smashes TikTok's "Not Interested" button like I'm getting paid per click. 

Content about losing weight, eating clean, or glow-ups have become an easy target for my lightning quick thumbs. Post about how healing your gut microbiome also made you lose 20 pounds? Not interested. The latest Serena Williams Ro ad? Certainly not interested! Vlog about packing a palm-sized, crumb-filled "snack" tin? What did I say? Not. Interested!! 

I believed in that precious button. I thought it was a tool in the fight against companies hawking GLP-1s or weight loss apps and creators platforming unhealthy body transformations while disguising unhealthy eating habits as trends.

SEE ALSO: GLP-1s are inescapable online. Here's why that's a problem.

More than 30 million Americans will have an eating disorder in their lifetime — and every 52 minutes a person dies as a direct consequence of an eating disorder, according to the Strategic Training Initiative for the Prevention of Eating Disorders (STRIPED). Meanwhile, our federal government is funneling taxpayer money into ads that call people in larger bodies "nasty," all while slashing at affordable food programs, healthcare, and federal food regulation. 

I've worked hard to keep that messaging out of my life, but I've noticed that weight loss influencers still frequently infiltrate my daily scroll. About every third ad is for a weight loss service. I'm seeing GLP-1 influencers more than my friends. What's going on, "Not Interested" button?

If you are like me, shouting disinterest to the TikTok algorithm gods, I have horrible news. It doesn't appear to do anything. 

TikTok's "Not Interested" button isn't what you think

After what I would estimate was years of trying to curate my FYP, check out what my advertising settings looked like when I went over them last month:  

Credit: Mashable screenshot / TikTok Credit: Mashable screenshot / TikTok

Health & Wellness: Interested. Weight management: No preference.

Well. I thought I had made my preferences and interests pretty clear, actually.

I also looked at my content topic preferences, which users can edit using a sliding scale from "See More" to "See Less." They were all still set to the default, including "Health and Fitness." This is the closest to weight-related settings on this page, since there isn't a specific sliding scale for weight loss or body-focused content. 

Credit: Mashable screenshot / TikTok

TikTok's own advertising guidelines prohibit "exaggerated or harmful weight loss or muscle gain claims" and products such as fat burning pills, appetite suppressants, and weight loss or detox foods. The app's community guidelines ban content that promotes disordered eating and risky weight management behaviors, including sponsored content from creators. The company says its "goal is to foster a body-positive and inclusive environment" and the platform hosts a large community of body positive creators, several I follow.

And yet.

I had incorrectly assumed that by smashing "Not Interested," TikTok was also automatically changing my account settings. It's not. Instead, "Not Interested" is more like a thumbs down, adjusting how the algorithm is categorizing me and my interests in a much more simple manner. If I hit "Not Interested" on one GLP-1 creator, or even go as far as blocking their page, it would continue to show me others. It's not registering that I don't want to see any content like that, just that I didn't enjoy scrolling by that one. 

To be fair to the billion dollar company, the button wasn't designed or advertised to act the way I and others users think it does. But research has found that it may not be effective at its intended purpose, limiting specific content, either.  

A recent Northeastern study used hundreds of bot accounts to test the impact of the tool — which researchers still called "the most effective explicit" signal to the algorithm — on user agency. It found that video topics can reappear mere minutes after hitting the button under these conditions.

"Worse, we find that once accounts cease to indicate disinterest in a topic, many find their feeds dominated by such content again," the study authors write. TikTok declined to comment on the research. 

Content settings: Solution or part of the problem?

That's not to say you shouldn't user TikTok's "Not Interested" button. It's also not the end all be all of personal content moderation on the platform. In fact, there's a plethora of settings users may not know exist. Specific content control tools and ad preferences — included ones related to weight loss and nutrition — are embedded deep in profile settings.

What I changed in my TikTok settings

For content preferences (at the top of your settings), I moved "Health and Fitness" all the way to "see less" and adjusted "Fashion & Beauty" as well, just to be safe.

Then, I scrolled to the bottom of my settings to find ad controls. I clicked "manage ad topics" to adjust specific types of content and "mute advertisers" to hide accounts. I adjusted every related setting to the equivalent of "Not Interested," including removing any personal user details that could potentially indicate my interest (like my gender and age) under "edit personal details." To find settings for "weight management," I had to select "Other" under "manage ad topics."

I cleaned out TikTok's "inferred" preferences, too. Yes, you can see what assumptions TikTok has made of you. I recommend you take a look. 

Credit: Mashable screenshot / TikTok Credit: Mashable screenshot / TikTok

The app gave me notice: I may have to wait 48 hours to see any changes. Finally, I thought, these may actually do something.

I gave the app the full two days, waiting to see a change… and I kept waiting. In fact, I am still waiting, months later. 

Not long after I changed my settings and began testing the "Not Interested" button more intentionally, the ads seemed to only get worse, just like the Northeastern researchers posited. I started screenshotting every ad I got just out of pure incredulity. Here's a sampling:

May 9: Two Wegovy semaglutide injection ads. 

May 14: A sponsored vlog from an account named "Lily Nurse&Lifestyle" with the caption "Unrecognizable ✨ #tryeden #glp1community #fyp"

May 27: One ad for TrimRX. One for Hers' Wegovy subscription. A vlog of a woman who "mysteriously" lost half her body weight. 

May 30: A Ro ad, featuring images of semaglutide injection pens and the Wegovy pill. An ad from BitePal: Food Calorie Tracker showing possibly AI-generated women wearing anatomical onesies with fat pads attached. A vlog from a GLP-1 influencer with the caption "How to get started on a GLP-1 🤍".

Nearly two months after first reporting this story, I am still inundated with ads.

I blocked Ro. And yet there the brand was... Credit: Mashable Instagram and weight loss content: What to know

I recognize it's not just a problem for TikTok, so I also explored Instagram's tools to personalize content and reconfigure user preference profiles.

Under content preferences, users can see and edit their own algorithm, including things you want to encounter less. Unlike TikTok, users can also "snooze" suggested content from profiles you don't follow for 30 days at a time. (Do that.)

Credit: Mashable screenshot What Instagram knows about me right now. Credit: Mashable screenshot

But here is the real difference between the two platforms, experts told me: Unlike TikTok, Instagram's main feed is not designed to show you a never ending flow of content from people you don't follow.

Yes, you can go to the app's explore page. Yes, the app can inject suggested content into your scroll. But you can also avoid those things much easier than on TikTok (who actually uses the "Following" tab over there?), and stick with only the accounts you have carefully chosen to pay attention to. 

I checked my settings, which are linked across Meta platforms like Facebook, and adjusted them only marginally. As long as I stick to my main feed, I haven't had as much of a problem.

This isn't to say Instagram is perfect. In fact, parent company Meta was recently found liable for misleading consumers about the safety of its platforms when it came to mental health and content tools. But I feel a bit better over there. For now.

Can you ever be fully safe from weight loss ads online?

In the midst of a growing frustration with my feeds — that I have still not solved — I turned to experts. 

I asked Jessica Scheer, CEO of the National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA), why it's so difficult to protect our feeds, and why GLP-1 ads have seemed to skirt the tools above. 

"Because of the political construct we're in right now," Scheer said, "we're seeing much more of a laissez-faire approach to any type of active content moderation on either accounts or algorithm programming."

"It's really, really tough, because everybody's competing for the views, the clicks, the likes," said Dr. Elizabeth Wassenaar, regional medical director of the Eating Recovery Center. "The algorithms are designed in favor of the creators, not in favor of the consumers."

And even when platforms have robust controls, weight loss content can very easily slip through the cracks, explains Dr. Blair Burnette, a Michigan State University assistant professor and principal investigator of the ARISE Lab. Videos featuring disordered eating, body checking, and anti-fat sentiment are not easily caught by algorithms trained to scan captions, comment sections, and audio for explicit words and phrases. 

Not only are brands still creeping up, but so-called "GLP-1 influencers." Credit: Mashable How to clean your feeds, the best you can

If I can offer you one takeaway, it is this: Continuously update your profile settings. Not once, not twice, but consistently. 

Scheer says NEDA is still figuring out best practices for being online in this landscape, working alongside clinicians, caregivers, and people with lived experience to determine which tools work, which ones don't, and how tech companies can step up. But in the meantime, routine (or even clinician-supported) audits of your feeds are crucial. "Algorithms re-train slowly so repetition is key," the organization writes. 

"Oftentimes, these fixes are only temporary," said Scheer. "It only really helps you, maybe, for a few sessions, and then you might have to recalibrate yet again."

Burnette told me she is also still figuring out the best advice for patients who want to stay online while in recovery. But there are ways to regain some control. 

She recommends her patients utilize device screen time limits and additional time-limiting apps like Roots. She suggests following new forms of content and purging your following list regularly. You have to be intentional in who you choose to follow, Burnette advises, like creators who are specifically anti-diet or accounts that never post images of their bodies. 

This advice works just as effectively for those who aren't in active recovery. If your feed isn't working anymore, scrap it. If something feels off about accounts you've followed for years, block them. If your phone is causing more anxiety than joy, put it down. Don't be precious about it, either. That's how Big Tech (and its sneaky older sibling Big Pharma) want you to feel. 

If you are concerned about your eating behavior, visit the National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA) website for more information. You can also text CONNECT to 741741 for immediate support from a trained volunteer at the Crisis Text Line.

Categories: IT General, Technology
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