IT General

WordPress.org now requires users to affirm that pineapple is delicious on pizza before they can log in. It's the latest move in an increasingly antagonistic dispute between WordPress co-founder and Automattic CEO Matt Mullenweg and web hosting service WP Engine.

As reported by 404 Media and confirmed by Mashable, WordPress.org's login page features a new check box next to the phrase, "Pineapple is delicious on pizza." Users are currently unable to log in or create a new account unless they tick the box, which was first spotted on Sunday. (WordPress.com remains unaffected.)

SEE ALSO: Hong Kong Pizza Hut offers free pineapple after Italy objects to Olympic win

The merits of pineapple on pizza has long been the subject of frequently lighthearted internet debate. However, this particular invocation is less jovial. WordPress.org's pineapple pizza mandate comes in response to a California District Court decision last Tuesday, which granted WP Engine a preliminary injunction preventing Automattic from blocking its access to WordPress.org.

The injunction also ordered Automattic to remove a check box on WordPress.org's login page, which required users to pledge that they were "not affiliated with WP Engine in any way, financially or otherwise." Users were unable to log in unless this box was ticked.

Yet instead of completely removing the box, it appears Automattic amended it to refer to pineapple on pizza instead.

Credit: Mashable screenshot: WordPress.org What's the WordPress drama?

The ongoing WordPress drama is primarily about alleged trademark infringement, with WP Engine and Automattic having been at loggerheads for months now.

1. Blog post from Automattic CEO Matt Mullenweg disparages WP Engine

The dispute publicly kicked off when Mullenweg denounced WP Engine as a "cancer to WordPress" in a blog post on Sept. 21. WP Engine is a third-party web hosting service that specifically caters to websites built using WordPress' open-source content management system, which is hosted and available via WordPress.org. 

Mullenweg has since been loudly critical of WP Engine, deriding the company for disabling tracked changes, using branding that allegedly infringes on WordPress' trademark, and contributing little to develop the open-source software.

"[WP Engine] do about half a billion in revenue on top of WordPress and contribute back 40 hours a week, Automattic is a similar size and contributes back 3,915 hours a week," Mullenweg claimed in his post.

2. WP Engine sends cease-and-desist letter to Automattic

Of course, WP Engine wasn't pleased with this. The company responded with a cease-and-desist letter on Sept. 23, demanding Automattic and Mullenweg stop making "false factual statements." 

WP Engine also accused Mullenweg of threatening to take a "scorched earth nuclear approach" toward the company if it refused to pay Automattic to license WordPress' trademarks. Court documents indicate Automattic demanded eight percent of WP Engine's revenue to be paid on an ongoing monthly basis.

According to WP Engine, such licensing is unnecessary as its use of WordPress' trademarks to describe its services are permitted under fair use.

"Mr. Mullenweg’s covert demand that WP Engine hand over tens of millions to his for-profit company Automattic, while publicly masquerading as an altruistic protector of the WordPress community, is disgraceful," read WP Engine's letter.

"WP Engine’s uses of those marks to describe its services – as all companies in this space do – are fair uses under settled trademark law and consistent with WordPress’ own guidelines."

3. Automattic sends cease-and-desist letter to WP Engine, bans it from WordPress

Automattic responded to that with its own cease-and-desist letter also dated Sept. 23, demanding WP Engine "immediately stop all unauthorized use of [WordPress and WordPress-based ecommerce platform WooCommerce] trademarks." 

Acknowledging that it had contacted WP Engine about licensing the trademarks, Automattic stated that no agreement had been reached, and accused the company of misleading consumers into thinking it is affiliated with WordPress.

The WordPress Foundation's trademark policy was also amended to specifically call out WP Engine, acknowledging that "WP" is not covered by trademarks but asking that it not be used "in a way that confuses people."

"For example, many people think WP Engine is 'WordPress Engine' and officially associated with WordPress, which it’s not," the policy reads. "They have never once even donated to the WordPress Foundation, despite making billions of revenue on top of WordPress."

Mullenweg subsequently announced that WP Engine had been banned from WordPress.org on Sept. 25, breaking numerous websites and preventing updates from being implemented. While it was temporarily lifted two days later, the ban significantly disrupted WP Engine's ability to do business. 

"[P]ending their legal claims and litigation against WordPress.org, WP Engine no longer has free access to WordPress.org’s resources," Mullenweg wrote in said announcement.

Expanding further on his personal blog, Mullenweg claimed Automattic's demand that WP Engine pay up "isn’t a money grab: it’s an expectation that any business making hundreds of millions of dollars off of an open source project ought to give back, and if they don’t, then they can’t use its trademarks," 

4. WP Engine files lawsuit against Automattic

It was all downhill from there. On Oct. 2, WP Engine filed a lawsuit against Automattic and Mullenweg with a slew of allegations, including libel, slander, attempted extortion, and unfair competition. 

WP Engine also amended its plan names to remove the word "WordPress," and updated its website to make clear it is "not endorsed or owned by, or affiliated with" the WordPress Foundation or WooCommerce.

"Automattic’s suggestion that WPE needs a license to do that is simply wrong, and reflects a misunderstanding of trademark law," a WP Engine spokesperson told TechCrunch. "To moot its claimed concerns, we have eliminated the few examples Automattic gave in its September 23rd letter to us."

In response to the ongoing legal proceedings, Automattic maintains that "WP Engine has never lost the ability to access the WordPress code and plugins on the Website."

"WP Engine is asking that the court force Matt and Automattic to allow WP Engine to host and distribute their plugins on the WordPress.org website for free in the absence of any obligation requiring them to do so," Automattic stated.

What does pineapple pizza have to do with the WordPress lawsuit?

All of this brings us back to WordPress.org's pineapple pizza pledge.

In early October, Mullenweg amended the WordPress.org login page to add a mandatory check box pledging that users have no affiliation with WP Engine. In a Slack post at the time, Mullenweg stated that this checkbox was part of the ban on WP Engine.

Following the court's injunction last Tuesday, that box now demands loyalty to the pineapple on pizza agenda instead.

What connection this culinary debate has to the larger legal matter at hand is unclear, assuming it has any at all. Automattic has not made any public statement on the matter, while Mullenweg merely shared a post on X which highlighted the change.

It's likely that Mullenweg simply took the opportunity to make a joke, regardless of the more serious circumstances surrounding it. Even if it didn't have bigger fish to fry, it seems improbable that Automattic would follow up with users on their pizza preferences.

Wondering how to watch college football this season? Here are your best options: Best for affordability Sling TV Blue Plan $20 for the first month, then $40/month (save $20 ) Get Deal BEST FOR SINGLE GAME FuboTV Pro plan 7-day free trial, then $59.99/month for 1 month (Save $20) Get Deal

The No. 25 Memphis Tigers and the West Virginia Mountaineers will face off in the first bowl game of the season this week at Toyota Stadium in Frisco, Texas. The match will take place on Tuesday, Dec. 17, and is scheduled to start at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT.

The Tigers earned the No. 25 ranking after winning four of their last five regular season games. Memphis finished the season fourth in the American Athletic Conference with a 10-2 record overall and 6-2 in conference. West Virginia did not earn a College Football Ranking after coming in ninth in the Big 12 conference, but they were 6-6 overall.

SEE ALSO: How to watch college football without cable Memphis vs. West Virginia football kickoff time and network

The Memphis vs. West Virginia football game is scheduled for a 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT start on ESPN on Tuesday, Dec. 17.

Best streaming services for Memphis vs. West Virginia football game

You need to choose a streaming service to watch college football without cable or satellite TV. We've found some of the best streaming services to consider for the Memphis vs. West Virginia football game on ESPN. 

Most live sports: YouTube TV Opens in a new window Credit: YouTube TV YouTube TV $49.99/month for your first two months (save $46) Get Deal

YouTube TV's base plan is $49.99 per month for two months for new subscribers ($72.99 per month regularly). The base plan includes over 100 live TV channels, including ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC, ESPN, Fox Sports 1, and NBA TV.

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Sling TV suggests the streamer's Orange Plan for the game, which costs $20 for the first month and $40 monthly after that.

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FuboTV offers you more than 250 channels of live TV and the option to watch on 10 screens at once. You can try FuboTV with a seven-day free trial period. 

FuboTV’s sports channel offerings include ABC, ACC Network, Big Ten Network, CBS, CBS Sports Network, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNews, FOX, FS1, FS2, Golf Network, Marquee Sports Network, Monumental Sports, NBC, NFL Network, and SEC Network. 

TL;DR: Help them preserve cherished photos, videos, and important files with 1TB of Koofr cloud storage for life for just £94.60, with no recurring fees.

Who isn't on the hunt for a thoughtful gift that’s both practical and unique? That's why this offer has come at the perfect time.

Give your loved ones the gift of secure, lifetime cloud storage with Koofr’s 1TB plan — just £94.60 through 22 December. Because it's made to be user-friendly, it's ideal for parents, grandparents, or anyone who wants to keep photos, videos, and important files safe — even if they're not all that comfortable with digital files.

Koofr makes digital organisation simple and worry-free. Unlike other storage services, Koofr’s one-time payment model means no monthly fees, ever. Once you’re in, you’re set for life.

More than just a place to park files, it’s a thoughtful solution built to make digital storage easy, accessible, and secure. With 1TB of space, you can store up to 250,000 photos, 500 hours of HD video, or millions of documents. And if you’re already using services like Dropbox, Google Drive, or OneDrive, Koofr lets you connect them all in one place for simplified access to all your files.

One of the more thoughtful features is the Koofr Duplicate Finder. Say goodbye to duplicate files taking up unnecessary space. Koofr makes it easy to keep storage neat and organised. And it's good to know that Koofr takes privacy seriously. It doesn’t track your activity, and all files are encrypted during transfer and at rest, so you can rest assured your data is private.

Koofr is ideal for anyone who wants to keep their digital files safe and accessible, especially those who might not be very tech-savvy. It’s a useful gift for backing up photos, archiving family memories, or securing important work documents.

Grab lifetime access to 1TB of Koofr Cloud Storage while it's on sale for just £94.60 (reg. £638.70) through 22 December.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

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If TikTok had you rushing to throw away your black plastic kitchen utensils, rest assured that those tools weren't as bad as they seemed.

A study went viral in November — as much as any study can go viral — that suggested black plastic kitchen utensils were shed lots of poison into our food thanks to a flame retardant carried over from recycled electronics that helped make the plastic tools. However, there was a big problem in the study that came down to simple math, as Canada's National Post reported.

In short, the study looked to measure the median amount a flame retardant toxin might get out of black plastic spatulas during cooking. The study found that figure was 34,700 nanograms per day, which, the study noted, was close to the EPA limit of 42,000. That, in part sparked lots of panic all over TikTok and in major publications about how black plastic cooking utensils were slowly poisoning everyone. I cannot tell you how many posts I saw online of folks throwing away their utensils or telling others to do so.

However, the study made a really simple math error, one that may have made its findings sound more severe than they should. The National Post reported that the study calculated that EPA limit by multiplying 7,000 — the amount of nanograms of the toxin per kilogram of bodyweight — by 60, to get the limit for a 60-kilogram (132 pound) person per day. That's how they got 42,000. But 60 multiplied by 7,000 is, in fact, 420,000 — meaning the exposure is actually less than one-tenth the limit.

Now that's not to say folks want any of that toxin leeching into their food. Zero would be a great figure. But as YouTube's favorite science nerd, Hank Green, pointed out on Bluesky "that paper on black plastic was a bit blown out of proportion by a simple math error."

Hey, so it turns out that paper on black plastic was a bit blown out of proportion by a simple math error. nationalpost.com/news/canada/...

[image or embed]

— Hank Green (@hankgreen.bsky.social) December 16, 2024 at 12:09 AM

Toxic-Free Future, an advocacy group that carried out the study, has said that while there was a mistake it does not affect the overall findings.

"As noted in the published correction, this comparison was not a major point of the study and the findings, conclusions, and recommendations are unaffected by this correction," the group wrote on Bluesky.

So you might want to still be wary of black plastic — but all those headlines and TikToks might've been a bit misleading.

Generative AI chatbots have a lot of potential, and from the get-go, companies like Microsoft and Google saw its potential to aid in internet searching. ChatGPT has entered this field too, and its Search feature is now available for everyone.

As the festive season approaches, it's time to think about switching off. Yes, you can shut your computer down and lock your keyboard away, but taking some other steps across the Microsoft suite of apps will ensure you can truly unplug this Christmas.

Robot mops offer hands-free floor cleaning and range in prices from budget-friendly bots to hi-tech premium offerings. The key differences in features and capabilities will determine which model suits your home and specific needs.

There is (or was) a vulnerability in Windows Defender, but you don't have to worry about it. That's the short version.

The longer version, for those who are interested, is that Microsoft detected a fault in its homegrown antivirus software and admitted as much in an official security note, per Forbes. Microsoft's security note included an executive summary that explained the problem in something resembling layman's terms:

"Improper authorization of an index that contains sensitive information from a Global Files search in Windows Defender allows an authorized attacker to disclose information over a network," the summary read.

SEE ALSO: Microsoft wants you to upgrade to Windows 11 or buy a new computer

In other words, it was theoretically possible for someone to use this exploit to send private files over a network to people who aren't meant to see them. There are apparently no known instances of anyone actually using this exploit, but it did exist. Emphasis on did.

That's because Microsoft has closed the loop on the exploit, confirming that users don't need to take any action to fix it themselves. Just don't do anything, according to Microsoft. That's easy enough.

Our top picks from Best Buy's Last-Minute Savings event Best Apple deal Apple MacBook Air (M2, 16GB RAM, 256GB SSD) $799 (Save $200) Get Deal Best Bluetooth speaker deal JBL Charge 5 $139.99 (Save $40) Get Deal Best gaming deal Sony PlayStation 5 Slim (Digital Edition) Fortnite Cobalt Star Bundle $374.99 (Save $75) Get Deal Best home deal KitchenAid Bowl-Lift Stand Mixer (5.5-quart) $279.99 (Save $170) Get Deal

The holiday season doesn't really arrive until you find yourself panicking over finishing your gift shopping on time. Luckily, Best Buy kicked off a sale for exactly this situation, aptly named the Last-Minute Savings event.

The sale started on Dec. 16 and runs through Dec. 24 at 11:59 p.m. CT, bringing with it savings on top brands like Apple, Therabody, PlayStation, JBL, KitchenAid, and LEGO. Options like curbside pickup, as well as same and next-day delivery make sure that you can get discounted items into your hands ASAP.

In addition to this sale, Best Buy will also be releasing its seventh and final round of doorbusters on Dec. 20. If you want a sneak peak at what will be available, you can preview the list now, which includes an LG OLED TV, Beats headphones, and the Apple Watch Ultra 2.

If you're ready to start shopping, below, you'll find some of the best picks available now from the Last-Minute Savings event:

Best Apple deals

• Apple iPad, 10.9-inch (10th generation, WiFi, 64GB) — $279 $349 (save $70)

• Apple iPad, 10.9-inch (10th generation, WiFi, 256GB) — $429 $499 (save $70)

• Apple iPad Air, 11-inch (M2, WiFi, 128GB) — $499 $599 (save $100)

• Apple Mac mini (M2, 8GB RAM, 512GB SSD) — $599 $699 (save $100)

• Apple MacBook Air (M2, 16GB RAM, 256GB SSD) — $799 $999 (save $200)

• Apple iMac, 24-inch (M4, 16GB RAM, 256GB SSD) — $1,199 $1,299 (save $100)

Best headphones and speaker deals

• JBL Tune Flex earbuds — $49.99 $99.99 (save $50)

• JBL Clip 5 — $59.99 $79.99 (save $20)

• Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 4 — $69.99 $99.99 (save $30)

• JBL Flip 5 — $79.99 $89.99 (save $10)

• Beats Pill — $99.99 $149.99 (save $50)

• Marshall Emberton II — $99.99 $169.99 (save $70)

• JBL Charge 5 — $139.99 $179.99 (save $40)

• Bose QuietComfort headphones — $199 $349 (save $150)

Best gaming deals

• Save up to 50% on select video games for PlayStation, Xbox, and Nintendo Switch

PlayStation

• Sony PlayStation 5 Slim (Digital Edition) Fortnite Cobalt Star Bundle — $374.99 $449.99 (save $75)

• Sony PlayStation 5 Slim Fortnite Cobalt Star Bundle — $424.99 $499.99 (save $75)

Xbox

• Xbox Wireless Controller — $34.99 $59.99 (save $15)

• Xbox Elite Series 2 Core wireless controller — $94.99 $139.99 (save $45)

• Xbox Series X (Digital) — $399.99 $449.99 (save $50)

Nintendo

• PowerA Nintendo Switch controller — $38.99 $64.99 (save $26)

• PDP Afterglow Wave Wireless Pro controller — $43.99 $54.99 (save $11)

Best TV deals

• LG 65-inch UT70 4K TV — $379.99 $599.99 (save $220)

• Samsung 75-inch DU6950 4K TV — $549.99 $749.99 (save $200) + one free month of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate membership

• Samsung 70-inch Q60D QLED 4K TV — $849.99 $999.99 (save $150) + get a free $50 Best Buy gift card

• Samsung 77-inch S84D OLED 4K TV — $1,799.99 $3,299.99 (save $1,500) + get a free $100 Best Buy gift card

More deals from Best Buy

• Save up to 25% on select LEGO sets

• KitchenAid Tilt-Head Stand Mixer (4.5-quart) — $249.99 $329.99 (save $80)

• KitchenAid Bowl-Lift Stand Mixer (5.5-quart) — $279.99 $449.99 (save $170)

• Therabody Theragun mini (2nd gen) — $149 $199 (save $50)

• Therabody Theragun Prime — $199 $299 (save $100)

• Therabody Theragun Sense — $199 $299 (save $100)

• Therabody TheraFace Pro — $249 $399 (save $150)**

• Therabody TheraFace Mask — $499 $599 (save $100)

Facebook has long been criticized for collecting and selling our data. Also, it's easy to become hooked on the platform, wasting valuable time scrolling. If you wish to leave Facebook for these reasons, the platform gives you the option to take a temporary break or permanently delete your account.

You can now search your saved lists and locations in Google Maps, which might be just the tool you need to find that one cool spot you bookmarked weeks ago.

As spotted by 9to5Google, Google's handy "Saved" feature now lets you search, which means you can parse through webpages you bookmarked, Discover tabs, and locations you saved in Maps. So if you've saved lots of cool cafes, bars, restaurants, clubs, bookstores, hobby shops — whatever you're into — they're now searchable. Funny it took this long for the search tech company to introduce this feature.

The search functionality is obvious and easy to use. You simply navigate to your "Saved" section and use the magnifying glass search tool.

Tweet may have been deleted

Now, if you're not using the "Saved" section of your Google account — perhaps like the person writing this article — now could be the time to start. How To Geek wrote a helpful piece explaining why the feature is great but in short, saving locations is a way to create a virtual Rolodex of places you like, things you want to visit, and lots more. You can also create custom lists — things like "Taco Spots I Love" — and forever have them saved, even if you can't remember names or locations offhand.

With the ability to search, those lists will prove even more helpful.

As of Dec. 16th, you can get up to 51% off on Beats audio gear including Beats Studio Pro headphones, Beats Studio Buds, and the Beats Pill speaker.

The best Beats deals The best beats deal Beats Studio Pro $169.99 (Save $180) Get Deal The best Beats earbud deal Beats Studio Buds $79.00 ($70.95) Get Deal The best Beats speaker deal Beats Pill $99.95 ($50) Get Deal

Modern life is noise. Whether you want to tune out the hustle with a calming ambient dream-scape or dive face-first into the buzz of endless four-on-the-floor, a good set of headphones is crucial. Right now Beats deals at Amazon are offering some of the best prices we've seen.

We like Beats. Beats Studio Buds outclass entry AirPods in our testing and we love the versatility of Beats Studio Pros. The Pill is Apple's take on a portable JBL-style Bluetooth speaker. With deals up to 51% off. Now is a fantastic time to invest in a new set of Beats headphones.

The best beats deal Opens in a new window Credit: Beats Beats Studio Pro $169.99 at Amazon
$349.99 Save $180.00 Get Deal Why we like it

These over-ear headphones offer impeccable sound in an Apple package that will work with non-Apple devices. Beats is an Apple subsidiary, however, Beats gets to go to parties that Apple might not be seen at — namely Android parties. Simple to pair and equipped with a battery that goes and goes, these headphones are a wonderful pick for anyone that wants to bring high-fidelity sound with them on the go.

Right now Beats Studio Pro are available for 51% off ahead of the holidays. Gift these active noise cancelling headphones, or restock your own audio war chest.

SEE ALSO: My all-time favorite earbuds are back to their lowest-ever price at Amazon The best Beats earbud deal Opens in a new window Credit: Beats Beats Studio Buds $79.00 at Beats
$149.95 Save $70.95 Get Deal Why we like it

Beats Studio Buds compress great sound into tiny earbuds. Though Beats is an Apple brand, Beats Studio Buds upstage Apple's own entry AirPods. With hard hitting bass, good battery life, and cross-OS support, these versatile earbuds are a great pick for Apple or Android.

On sale for 47% off ahead of the holidays, now is a perfect time to invest.

The best Beats speaker deal Opens in a new window Credit: Beats Beats Pill $99.95 at Amazon
$149.95 Save $50.00 Get Deal Why we like it

Whether by the campfire or at the beach, group hangs go better with music. The Beats Pill is Beats' approach to the modern classic Bluetooth speaker. With the sound quality you expect from an Apple product and solid battery life, this speaker sounds great and is certifiably down for the outdoors. A little rain or river mud aren't a problem, it's weather resistant and equipped with an IP67 ingress protection rating.

The Beats Pill is currently on sale for 33% off at Amazon. Gift it to a car-camper you know, or buy it for yourself and bring better sound with you on next year's canoe excursions.

More Beats Deals

• Beats Solo 4 — $99.99 $199.95 (save $99.96)

• Beats Fit Pro — $149.00 $199.95 (save $50.95)

One of the issues with formatting charts in Excel is that there are so many menus that it's sometimes impossible to find the command you want to implement. What's more, many of the chart formatting options can be accessed in more than one place, adding further confusion.

I was getting ready for a night out when I spotted a "hey girlie" text from an unknown number flash across my screen.

"I'm Danny's girlfriend and I saw some messages from you on his phone. I was wondering if you could help me?"

My eyes widened as I read the word "girlfriend." I've never opened a message faster.

SEE ALSO: Why social media algorithms hurt after a breakup

Danny (not his real name) and I had been embroiled in a sexting situationship after matching on Hinge. It was just a bit of fun during a particularly busy work period that hadn't left much time for in-person dates. But thinking about the nature of our chats, I feared what messages this poor woman had stumbled across.

I tapped the unfamiliar number and hit call, a wave of nervousness coming over me.

"I am so sorry, I had no idea he had a girlfriend," I blurted out seconds into the call.

"Don't worry, I know. You're actually one of many," his girlfriend responded in a kind tone. She told me that she and Danny were living together, about to get a mortgage together, and that she'd just discovered he'd been texting (and sexting) a web of other women, none of whom were any the wiser about the existence of his girlfriend.

When Danny accidentally synced his iPhone to his girlfriend's laptop, she unearthed scores of screenshots of my messages. I dreaded to think what his girlfriend might have seen in those screenshots.

When she texted me saying she'd confronted him about her conversation with me and that he'd reacted very badly, I decided I didn't want to give this man another opportunity to contact me. I didn't need to say anything to him. Just block and move on with my day. It was a blissful feeling.

Until then, I hadn't been much of a blocker. I'd previously considered blocking a bit harsh, but that was likely due to my inability to set boundaries (which I've thankfully overcome since then). Certain situations in life call for hard boundaries.

So, what exactly are the rules of engagement around blocking people? Are there scenarios when blocking literally is too harsh?

When their behaviour is terrible: block ✅

When someone behaves in an unacceptable or disrespectful way towards you, blocking is always OK. If you fear for your safety, block them. Abuse, harassment, and non-consensual sexual messages or images are all reasonable grounds for blocking. Trust your instincts too: If a person has exhibited behaviours that make you feel uneasy about your safety, you shouldn't feel guilty about blocking them.

SEE ALSO: How to break up with someone in the digital age No contact after a breakup: block ✅

Annabelle Knight, sex and relationship expert at Lovehoney, says blocking someone is simply a digital version of setting boundaries for yourself and that it's pretty common to hit the block button when you're getting over a breakup.

In the immediate aftermath of a breakup, some people find it helpful to go "no contact." This means no phone calls, texts, social media, emails, letters — literally no forms of contact. It means no in-person meet-ups and can also involve not contacting their friends or family, perhaps unfollowing these individuals on social media.

SEE ALSO: Social media dos and don'ts after a breakup

"While [blocking] can be seen as an extreme decision, it can help if you feel that urge to initiate contact or take a peek at their profile to see what they're up to — both of which may only prolong the healing or result in emotional hurt," says Knight. "You can block your ex for many reasons: maybe you want to close any direct lines of communication, you don't want to see their content, or you don't want them to see your content. Although many people see it as intense in a digital world, it's really no different to avoiding your ex in person," she adds.

Trying to get a reaction from them: don't block and unblock 🚫

If you feel the urge to unblock someone after blocking them, ask yourself why. Do you want attention? Did you block them to punish them and now you're rethinking it? Perhaps you want them to get in touch with you? Examine the feelings at the root of this desire and whether it's worth breaking this boundary with yourself.

Relationship counsellor Sophie Personne advises against yo-yo-ing between blocking and unblocking individuals, particularly if it's being used as a manipulation tactic. "I have known clients to keep blocking and unblocking each other every time they had an argument," says Personne. "It's counterintuitive and destructive. It is restricting communication and is manipulative and controlling as you are controlling the level of communication."

Avoiding being honest about your feelings: don't block 🚫

Having difficult conversations can be nerve-wracking, and sometimes our urge to avoid conflict can make us bury our heads in the sand. For example, if you're dating someone and want to reject them, it's not cool to block them because you're too afraid to be honest. Similarly, if you make plans to meet up and then change your mind: don't just block them and stand them up (this is a behaviour I call cloaking). Afford the person the courtesy of cancelling the plans and spare them the hassle of showing up for a date that isn't happening.

Using blocking as an ultimatum: don't block 🚫

It's not a good idea to use blocking as a threat. "Blocking also becomes the wrong route to take if you decide to use it as a way to leverage or manipulate your ex; it should never be used as an ultimatum or a threat," says Knight. "Making the decision to block someone should be made on your feelings and your own terms, rather than involving them."

In relationships, healthy communication strategies can be used to bring about positive changes. Ultimatums and threats should be avoided at all costs.

A temporary pause for healing: block ✅

If you've ended on good terms with someone but need a break to protect your peace and move on, blocking is totally fine. If you're worried that the other person will be offended or it'll come as a surprise, you could consider dropping them a line beforehand to explain your decision to (temporarily) block. "If you do decide that a block is what you need to heal, a simple conversation with your ex about this change in terms will help; you can still take time and space apart before reconnecting as friends," says Knight.

When it comes to blocking, it can be an important boundary for protecting your physical and emotional safety. It can be an essential part of moving on from someone after a breakup. But it's not a get-out-of-jail-free card to avoid awkward conversations or to manipulate people's feelings. Use with caution.

SAVE UP TO 77%: Shop deals on Amazon Echos ahead of the holidays. Get majors savings on devices like the Amazon Echo Auto. When bundled with one month of Amazon Music Unlimited, receive the device and subscription for just $14.98, saving you $50 for 77% off.

Best Amazon Echo device deals Best Echo deal Amazon Echo Pop $17.99 at Amazon (Save $22) Get Deal Best Echo bundle deal Amazon Echo Auto with one month of Amazon Music Unlimited $14.98 at Amazon (Save $50) Get Deal Best Echo Show deal Amazon Echo Show 5 $44.99 at Amazon (Save $45) Get Deal Best Echo Kids deal Amazon Echo Pop Kids $22.99 at Amazon (Save $27) Get Deal

How is that last-minute holiday shopping going? Have you broken a sweat yet, racing around to stores, trying to find just the right thing for everyone on your list? With a week left to get your holiday shopping done, finding online deals is crucial, since we know time is running out. Plus, if you are online shopping, you want to make sure that your gifts will arrive in time for Christmas.

Sneaking in right under the wire, Amazon is coming in hot with deals on deals on Echo devices. Everything — the Pop, Dot, Spot, and Show — are all on sale ahead of the holidays, swinging back down to their lowest prices we've ever seen.

So if you have someone on your list (including yourself) looking for a smart home upgrade, you can't go wrong with these Amazon Echo deals that are guaranteed to arrive for the holidays.

Best Amazon Echo deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Echo Pop $17.99 at Amazon
$39.99 Save $22.00 Get Deal Why we like it

The Amazon Echo Pop is the smallest of Amazon's smart speakers, but that doesn't mean it isn't powerful. This small but mighty speaker is budget-friendly and responds to voices commands, whether you're asking it to play the latest episode of The Daily or set a timer for whatever you're cooking.

While its list price is already a great value at $39.99, it's back down to its lowest price ever of $17.99. That gives you a great smart speaker for under $20, saving you $22 for $55 off.

Best Amazon Echo bundle deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Echo Auto with one month of Amazon Music Unlimited $14.98 at Amazon
$64.98 Save $50.00 Get Deal Why we like it

Going hands-free in the car is crucial for your safety and the Amazon Echo Auto helps you keep your hands off your phone and on the wheel. With built-in speakers, the Auto plays musics, takes calls, and sends texts at your command.

Ahead of the holidays, Amazon is offering the ultimate savings on the Echo. Right now, when you bundle it with one month free of Amazon Music Unlimited, the device is just $14.98, saving you $50 for 77% off. If you don't need another music subscription we get it, just remember to cancel after your one month free before it renews at $9.99 per month.

More echo deals

• Amazon Echo Dot — $22.99 $49.99 (save $27)

• Amazon Echo Pop Kids — $22.99 $49.99 (save $27)

• Amazon Echo Dot Kids — $27.99 $59.99 (save $32)

• Amazon Echo Spot — $44.99 $79.99 (save $35)

• Amazon Echo Show 5 — $44.99 $89.99 (save $45)

• Amazon Echo — $54.99 $99.99 (save $45)

• Amazon Echo Show 8 — $84.99 $149.99 (save $65)

SAVE $27.98: Get one month of free access to YouTube Premium and 50% off a two-month membership with this Best Buy offer. YouTube Premium typically costs $13.99 per month which means you'll get three months of access for the price of one month.

Opens in a new window Credit: YouTube One free month of YouTube Premium and 50% two months $13.99 at Best Buy
$41.97 Save $27.98 eligible for new subscribers Get Deal

Love streaming videos and music but can't stand wasting time with ads? Life is too short wait around looking at the countdown timer before we can skip ads. Thankfully, Best Buy agrees and has a nice holiday offer in store for everyone.

As of Dec. 16, Best Buy is offering one month of YouTube Premium for free, followed by two months at 50% off. Since YouTube Premium typically costs $13.99 per month, the deal equals a savings of $27.98 over the three months, essentially giving us three months of YouTube Premium for the price of one. You can also opt to cash in on just the one month of free access.

After checking out with the free one-month offer, Best Buy will email additional redemption info. To grab this deal, you'll need to have a Best Buy account, which is free. You'll also need to be a new subscriber to YouTube Premium.

YouTube Premium is a great program if you often tune into your favorite channels. From gamers to travelers, YouTube is a wealth of information that offers never-ending content options. A Premium account means you'll never have to watch an ad while streaming on both YouTube and YouTube Music.

YouTube Premium also gives you ability to keep a video steaming in the background, while you navigate to other apps on your phone. That same function also allows you to continue streaming from YouTube Music while your screen is off. Plus, you have the ability to download content to watch later. This could be especially useful if you have upcoming holiday travel plans and will be chilling in airplane mode or won't have access to Wi-Fi.

Instead of paying $13.99 per month, take advantage of this Best Buy offer that gives new subscribers three months of YouTube Premium for the price of one. Not only will you go ad free on YouTube with the membership, you'll be able to download content to watch while traveling over the holidays.

OpenAI is making ChatGPT Search available to all users and search in Voice Mode.

Two months ago, ChatGPT Search was launched for ChatGPT Plus users. As of today, it's rolling out to all free users who are logged in. Search with Advanced Voice Mode also now works with ChatGPT Search.

Just an hour before OpenAI's announcement, Google unveiled Veo 2, its next-gen text-to-video model. The two companies haven't been shy about their cutthroat rivalry, often shipping similar products within a day (or in this case hours) of each other. Last week, OpenAI launched its AI video generator Sora, vision for Advanced Voice Mode, and a slew of other minor features. Not to be outdone, Google unveiled its latest model Gemini 2.0, which is touted as an "agentic era" model for handling tasks on the user's behalf.

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By typing a query into the ChatGPT search bar, it will automatically decided whether or not to use the search engine. Search results include previews with images with links, just like you would with traditional search. Within ChatGPT, videos are embedded, so you can watch movie trailers or anything else in the app. Just like Google Search, you can click into search results for more information, without leaving the app.

If you're ready to complete your conversion from Google Search to ChatGPT Search, you can also make make ChatGPT Search your default search engine.

Windows 11 packs many features that you can use to speed up your tasks and save time. From using keyboard shortcuts to pinning apps to the taskbar, there are many things you can do.

A Secret Santa-inspired scam is back again on social media for the holidays. There are many names for it, but it's commonly referred to as the "Secret Sister" or "Secret Santa Dog" gift exchange. It's not all fun and games as the name suggests. In fact, it's illegal.

There are some mysterious flying objects hovering over New Jersey and, days after the first drones were spotted, we still don't know much about what they are, where they're from, and what they're doing up there.

Folks with eyes on New Jersey have been reporting mysterious drone sightings — over houses, military installations, and Trump's Bedminster golf club, to name a few — since mid-November. The FBI, Department of Homeland Security, and Federal Aviation Administration have all investigated the origins but don't yet have any answers for us. The Pentagon says the mystery drones are not military and are probably not foreign. New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy and U.S. Sen. Andy Kim have gone on their own drone hunts, too, but have come back empty-handed.

Despite this, Murphy and law enforcement officials say the drones aren't likely a threat to public safety, according to the Associated Press.

"Tonight I met with @NJSP officials and radar technicians at the Regional Operations & Intelligence Center who are surveying the area for unmanned aircraft systems," Murphy posted on X Sunday night. "The public deserves clear answers — we will keep pushing the federal government for more information and resources."

The drones have become such a spectacle that the president-elect weighed in.

"Let the public know, and now," Trump said. "Otherwise, shoot them down!"

It's leading lawmakers to consider stricter rules about flying unmanned aircrafts, the AP reported. But many of the sightings aren't unmanned aircrafts at all — they're stars, planes, or other flying objects like aircrafts coming and going from New Jersey airports.

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Just look at the Friday X post from Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan, who says he "personally witnessed" what he believed were "dozens of large drones in the sky above my residence in Davidsonville, Maryland." The video that accompanied the post clearly shows the constellation Orion and the stars Sirius and Procyon.

No matter who — or what — is behind the drones, Harry Direen, an electronic and software engineering expert at DireenTech, told USA Today that the culprits are "clearly ... not being very stealthy."