IT General

Physical media in entertainment is declining across the board, and game companies are at the forefront of pushing an all-digital future. The signs are there, and I am deeply concerned about the future of ownership and preservation.

A movement to strike back against Tesla CEO and "Department of Government Efficiency" (DOGE) leader Elon Musk left social media and took to the streets this weekend. Groups of protesters at Tesla showrooms across the country sported signs with messages like, "Stop the broligarchy," "Burn a Tesla, save democracy," and "DOGE is a criminal enterprise," encouraging potential Tesla buyers to take their money elsewhere.

Referred to as the #TeslaTakeover, the protests were organized by a small-but-mighty army of Bluesky users supported by Seattle-based activist group the Troublemakers and direct action The Disruption Project. Many of the events were posted to Action Network, which by Saturday rose to 50 planned protests nationwide, including small town hits and several in California and New York, Washington D.C., Ohio, and even Canada. "Sell your Teslas, dump your stock, join the picket lines. Hurting Tesla is stopping Musk. Stopping Musk will help save lives and our democracy," the page reads. The #TeslaTakeover events, set for Feb. 15, generated rallies of varying sizes — from handfuls of protesters to large crowds of dozens of people chanting and parading signs — all with the same message: Musk is doing something categorically wrong.

SEE ALSO: What Elon Musk could do with the digital keys to the kingdom

Protest today at Tesla in NYC #TeslaTakeover #video #StopElon #ImpeachMusk

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— MsBellaF (@msbellaf.bsky.social) February 15, 2025 at 12:20 PM

"This isn't just about voicing our anger at Elon Musk's unelected takeover, it's about letting our friends and neighbors know that buying, owning, charging, and servicing a Tesla directly supports him," wrote one Bluesky user, whose post was reshared dozens of times. "Taking down Tesla's sales and stock price is our best way of hitting back. That starts tomorrow!"

Globally, Tesla owners and onlookers have been hitting back at Elon Musk's quick encroachment into the federal government, spurred on by the wider accusation that the SpaceX owner is associating with alt-right figures. Earlier this year, protests broke out at the German Die Welt Economic Summit, at which Musk was set to virtually appear, following Musk's decision to back a German far-right political party.

Credit: Jason Redmond / Contributor / AFP via Getty Images Credit: Jason Redmond / Contributor / AFP via Getty Images Credit: Stephanie Keith/Bloomberg via Getty Images

Meanwhile, American leaders are pleading with the courts to curb Musk's "unconstitutional" scorched earth approach to federal oversight and optimization. On Feb. 13, 14 state attorney generals filed a lawsuit against Musk, challenging the legality of DOGE's actions and asking for the court to bar Musk from issuing orders to bodies outside of the executive branch or overseeing the disbursement of federal funds. Earlier that week, a group of cybersecurity bodies, including the Electronic Privacy Information Center (EPIC), filed a lawsuit against Musk's DOGE for having "illegally forced" the Office of Personnel Management and Treasury Department to give up Americans' sensitive digital information to "unauthorized, untrained personnel." The lawsuit called it the "largest data breach in U.S. history."

Apple's HomeKit Secure Video is a compelling choice thanks to its generous iCloud+ storage plan. The platform also offers face recognition, which can try to identify the people who appear on your smart home cameras or video doorbells.

If you want to feel like a hacker and you have an Android phone, then ADB is the perfect tool for you. It's simple to use and allows you to do all kinds of things right from your terminal.

For some strange reason, the internet seems to be obsessed with running the 1993 classic shooter DOOM on everything with a display or chip inside. This begs the question: is there anything that can't run DOOM?

One of the major drawbacks of traditional SUVs is their subpar fuel economy, so the appeal of hybrid SUVs is easy to see. Fuel economy is important, but so is practicality—and we believe we've found one option on the market right now that ticks both boxes.

Part of the fun of getting Plex up and running is inviting friends and family to stream the content you have, from music to movies. Everyone in your house can have their own user profile, and you can even access parental controls to adjust content accordingly.

Meta is looking to be the go-to marketplace for robo-tech, with the company planning to develop its own humanoid robot hardware and later become a lead developer of the robots' AI-based backbone.

The effort will be spearheaded by a new hardware division in Meta's Reality Labs (Quest VR and Ray-Ban smart glasses), reported Bloomberg, and will focus on robotics that can help with household tasks, first. Plans for a Meta-branded robot butler aren't happening yet, according to the company, but they're not off the table.

SEE ALSO: OpenAI strips warnings from ChatGPT, but its content policy hasn't changed

Meta has also begun talks with robotics companies like Unitree Robotics and Figure AI Inc., the publication reported, as it plans to harness its already existing software, sensors, and computing packages — the same tech powering Reality Labs' offerings and many exploratory autonomous vehicle (AV) projects — along with existing tech and collaborations with manufacturers. Meta's new division will also focus on developing robot safety standards.

"The core technologies we’ve already invested in and built across Reality Labs and AI are complementary to developing the advancements needed for robotics," wrote Meta CTO Andrew Bosworth in an internal memo. "We believe that expanding our portfolio to invest in this field will only accrue value to Meta AI and our mixed and augmented reality programs."

Last week, Meta began a round of global layoffs — set to affect at least 4,000 employees across the U.S., Europe, and Asia — as part of a years-long "efficiency" plan to reduce its workforce and lean into AI. A few weeks prior, Meta had reorganized its internal divisions to allocate more resources to its generative AI group and began fast-tracking hiring for machine learning engineers, reported Reuters.

Trying to find your next gaming monitor can turn into a proper odyssey because the market is teeming with exciting options in every segment. Why don’t you sit back, relax, and check out our recommendations instead?

One of the most striking things about Linux is the sheer number of terminal emulators available. There are dozens, each offering different features, philosophies, and levels of customization. This naturally leads to the question: Why are there so many choices?

The ideal cellular carrier isn’t just the one with the lowest price—it should provide reliable coverage, fast data speeds, transparent pricing, and excellent customer support. Whether you're choosing a carrier for the first time or switching to a new one, here are some common mistakes you should avoid.

About one in three people suffer from sleep deprivation, with significant consequences for both physical and mental health. Smart tech has helped me get more and better-quality sleep—here's how.

I've been a Plex user for over a decade, but Jellyfin has some compelling features — especially when you consider that Jellyfin is 100% free. So, if you're out to save some cash, here are five reasons to run Jellyfin alongside your Plex server.

While I believe that SteamOS will one day evolve into a worthy Windows alternative for PC gamers, I don't think that day will come anytime soon. Despite loving SteamOS, its potential, and what it represents, here's why I won't install SteamOS on my gaming PC any time soon.

Since I started using Linux over a decade ago, I’ve been a Mint fan. Over the years I’ve tried using other distros—and tried some really weird stuff, often in service of How-to Geek—but Linux Mint has always remained my daily driver and I’ve never seriously considered getting rid of it. Here’s why I like it.

I’m sure you’ve heard that YouTube is no longer allowing content blockers on its platform. Developers of these content blockers and YouTube have been trying to one-up each other for years. This minor arms race is coming to a head now.

With all the great tools and repair guides I’ve used from iFixit, I’m not surprised that the company's first attempt at a soldering line blew the competition out of my mind. While the iFixit FixHub Portable Soldering Station might just blow you away, too, it doesn’t come cheap.

The Mini is a bite-sized version of The New York Times' revered daily crossword. While the crossword is a lengthier experience that requires both knowledge and patience to complete, The Mini is an entirely different vibe.

With only a handful of clues to answer, the daily puzzle doubles as a speed-running test for many who play it.

So, when a tricky clue disrupts a player's flow, it can be frustrating! If you find yourself stumped playing The Mini — much like with Wordle and Connections — we have you covered.

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

Here are the clues and answers to NYT's The Mini for Sunday, February 16, 2025:

AcrossWhat has two hands around your wrist?

• The answer is Watch.

Sneeze sound

• The answer is Achoo.

Elevator choice

• The answer is Floor.

___ and Caicos

• The answer is Turks.

Magnetoreception, for many migratory birds and fish

• The answer is Sense.

DownFloats, as a smell

• The answer is Wafts.

"I don't have ___" ("Beats me")

• The answer is A clue.

Rosebush protector

• The answer is Thorn.

Too many might be in the kitchen

• The answer is Cooks.

Basketball game with a spelled-out score

• The answer is Horse.

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

Featured Video For You The Wordle Strategy used by the New York Times' Head of Games

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

Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to the latest Mini Crossword.

Since Donald Trump won his second presidential term, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg has enacted a tirade of right-leaning policy changes that critics warn could amplify hate speech, misinformation, and harassment across its platforms. These changes include eliminating fact-checkers in favor of community notes, lifting prohibitions on certain forms of hate speech, scrapping DEI initiatives, removing trans-inclusive features from its apps, and reinstating political content recommendations. 

Many activists view these changes as a stark, rightward shift, but for leftist meme creators on Instagram, it's just more of the same — a continued struggle to navigate an increasingly hostile digital landscape. For creators, platform changes go beyond a simple policy shift; they reshape the environment in which they create and share their work. 

Despite escalating hostility on Meta’s platforms, it's created digital spaces that are inherently necessary for creators. Leftist meme creators aren’t logging off en masse, but, instead, are adapting and resisting. While Meta’s rightward shift may shape the digital battleground, it isn't extinguishing the creativity, subversion, and activism that define leftist meme culture. For some, it’s pushing them to become more radical. 

After all, they argue, Meta has always been antagonistic to their cause, and they've managed to carve out a space for themselves despite it.

SEE ALSO: Mark Zuckerberg wants more 'masculine energy' in corporate America Instagram’s longstanding tensions with progressive and leftist creators

Instagram isn't a platform exclusively for political memes. As Pew Research found in 2024, the platform is primarily for entertainment and connecting, not politics — an opinion temporarily shared by Instagram head Adam Mosseri when the platform limited political content for a short time. However, Instagram has increasingly become a hub for news, art, and memes, as well as a tool for elected officials and activists to engage with the public. 

You simply can’t deny the popularity of memes. Users share over a million memes every day, according to one 2022 study. Not all memes are political, of course, but more and more are being shared by candidates and political parties. As NPR highlighted in 2023, the vast majority of political memes are created and shared by everyday users, making them a sort of grassroots medium for spreading political ideas. And while not every meme goes viral, those that do often see more user engagement than posts from prominent news organizations, another study showed.

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Aiden Arata, an Instagram meme creator at @aidenarata, doesn't make inherently political memes. But her work does touch on themes — such as creation without capitalism, nature and nurture, and empathy — that lean toward progressive politics. She describes the memes she creates as "modern folk art," existing both within and often in opposition to hostile structures. This description holds true for many of the more contentious political meme creators.

"[Memes] take these institutionalized ideas and allow you to subvert them and make them about something else and give them a new meaning," Arata told Mashable. "Honestly, the meme already operates under structures that it doesn't quite agree with." 

Jake Stoner of @eco_socialist told Mashable that he "lean[s] heavily on memes" because of their shareability. "I view memes as modern-day pamphlets."

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"My view on memes is that they function as a kind of outlet or possibly even a conversation starter," John, the creator of @socialistsopranosmemes, told Mashable. "I don’t think that changes just because Meta will be easing up on censorship. We’ll probably see more from a certain particularly odious segment of the political spectrum, but if those people want to volunteer to show everyone just how vile their views are, I say we let them."

Ultimately, Jon argues, there are "real limits to digital activism." Online political discourse needs to move to real-world action, he says. But meme creation is part of that larger movement, one that leads to political organizing. According to one 2020 study, this kind of posting facilitated offline protests through advertising and organizing. The study argues that communications of the day — what were once pamphlets, town square assemblies, and rumors — played an important role in "the group dynamics of mobilization similar to that played by social media today."

"Memes can be good ways to express opinions and feelings that people might have and relate to others that feel the same. I hope this gives people hope and community and inspires them to do political organizing in their communities [and] workplaces," the creator of @bigdawgsocialism told Mashable over Instagram DM. "Sometimes the comedic aspect of memes can disarm people that otherwise might be hostile to left-wing politics."

View this post on Instagram

The challenge of combating misinformation and hate speech in a space with fewer guardrails is ongoing. It involves the use of coded language, satire, and creative workarounds to bypass moderation, but leftist creators argue this is nothing new.

That subversion is political. Meta has struggled to manage politics on its platforms — for years, it allowed political content on its sites, which led to the spread of misinformation and extremism. By the early 2020s, Meta began oscillating between limiting and encouraging political discussion. This created a constant tension between Meta’s profit-driven motives and the creators who use its platforms for activism.

As Davey, who runs the meme page @renaissance__man on Instagram, told Mashable, Meta has always followed the money, not ideology.

View this post on Instagram Adapting to a hostile online climate

Hostility online isn't new for leftist creators, and these creators have always had to modify their content strategies to avoid suppression, shadowbanning, or algorithmic penalties. So, some posters are hoping to use these changes to their advantage.

John, for instance, says he "welcomes these changes."

"I’ve previously had to self-censor on Meta’s platforms," he told Mashable. "I’ve actually had content that was flagged as hateful before, which is something that I find laughable. The memes express a political opinion and are supposed to hopefully make people laugh."

He argues that his posts aren't hateful, and he doesn't think tech companies "should be adjudicating whether or not" they are.

"I see it as this is my enemy's house. I'm using my enemy's equipment and his machines and his algorithms against his interests."

Creator @bigdawgsocialism told Mashable that they are "way less careful about posting stuff that used to get me content strikes or suspensions," like using certain words.

"They say a master's tools will never disassemble a master's house," Davey said. "But a hammer is a hammer. And hammers smash. The house will be gone."

And, as Stephen Potter of @adorable__communism told Mashable, "I see it as this is my enemy's house. I'm using my enemy's equipment and his machines and his algorithms against his interests."

Davey added that while the rollback of content moderation could, in theory, benefit radical leftist speech as well, he’s skeptical that Meta will apply its enforcement evenly. This concern seems to be shared by many leftist meme creators. For instance, @bigdawgsocialism told Mashable that while these changes will likely create space for "nasty stuff overall," "theoretically, our side can post more of what we want." However, they also pointed out that "with the mainstream political climate becoming more reactionary, the cards are still stacked against the far left."

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According to Potter, "free speech absolutism isn't" afforded to leftist creators. He said it's "naive" to think the platform would begin treating leftist content any differently.

"It doesn't really apply to us because what we're talking about is the power structure and the people who own these things," Potter said. "If you're really gonna be an effective propagandist, you're not going to be the thing that Mark Zuckerberg likes. You're going to be the exact opposite of that. We're here against their wishes already."

Still, there is hope that political memes will remain powerful enough — through engagement and real-world impact — to warrant staying on the app.

"Though Trump's very unpopular policies that are hurting people will likely drive people towards different answers," @bigdawgsocialism said, "we can give them some class-based solutions to problems. Ones that lead with solidarity rather than scapegoating and division."

Why creators probably aren't leaving the app

No matter their internal politics or outward political posting, many creators probably aren't leaving the app. Despite disliking Meta’s policies, Arata feels compelled to stay on Instagram because it’s where her audience is — especially with a book release coming, one which she likely wouldn't have had without the success of her meme page. How else do you exist as a creative online without using the platforms at your disposal?

"There have been too many attempts to replace Facebook, Instagram, and X," John told Mashable. "It’s just not happening. I also have accounts on Bluesky and Threads, but I don’t particularly care for those platforms and often forget they exist when I have something to post."

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Stoner agreed, saying that since Instagram is such a visual platform, paired with a robust caption option, there isn't anything else comparable.

Beyond a lack of alternative platforms for creators to migrate to, as Potter puts it, "My concern about Meta's rightward shift is in lockstep with my concern about the country's rightward shift."

Meta’s rightward shift might be reshaping Instagram, but these meme creators see it as just another step in the platform’s long-standing trajectory. They don't want to leave the platform in protest only to see right-wing creators and narratives thrive. 

"The whole point of the meme page is to disrupt the imperialist narratives that they're going to use social media to push," Potter said. "So why would I leave? I wouldn't give [Zuckerberg] the satisfaction."

The issue, however, isn’t just Meta. Every major platform is a capitalist venture, and the fight for digital space remains a constant struggle for anti-capitalists. 

"I don't think any platform that is owned by a billionaire is going to be open to leftist anything," Stoner said. "They don't want challenges to their power, things that would disturb the status quo. They're interested in preserving it because that's how they're making ungodly amounts of money."

Is there hope for a meaningful social media platform under capitalism? Sure — as much as there is hope for any genuine community to thrive in a capitalist system. As long as memes remain a tool for subversion, creators will continue to post them.

Connections is a game from the New York Times that challenges you to find the association between words. It sounds easy, but it isn't—Connections categories can be almost anything, and they're usually quite specific. If you need a hand getting the answers, we've got you covered.