IT General
10 Most Useful PowerShell Commands for Everday Users
Scripting is often seen as something only IT admins do to lengthen their coffee breaks, but home users can benefit from command line automation, too. Here are 10 PowerShell commands you can use to write scripts to lighten your workload, troubleshoot problems, and uncover new functionality.
How to Declutter Your Gmail Inbox With This New Feature
Google's new Subscriptions Management feature lets you pool together a list of your mailing list senders and unsubscribe them one by one. You don't have to open random emails and unsubscribe manually. Gmail handles it for you by automatically sending the unsubscribed content to spam. You can try it right now on your phone or desktop.
This Spacious PHEV Won’t Qualify for a Federal Tax Credit Much Longer
The Chrysler Pacifica has quietly become one of the last great survivors. In a market obsessed with SUVs, it’s still pulling in impressive numbers.
How to Automatically Clean Your Desktop with Power Automate
I tend to download stuff and work on my desktop by default. So like most people, my desktop (and even the downloads folder) is almost always a mess with just random icons, files and folders everywhere. So I set up an automation system that automatically clears up that clutter by sorting and organizing my files every hour.
What Oura Ring’s partnership with the U.S. military means for your data
Oura Ring has announced a partnership with the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD), and many users online are not happy about it. The announcement sparked immediate backlash across social platforms, with concerns ranging from misinformation about data privacy to broader moral objections over the company's willingness to work with the U.S. military.
Some users speculated — incorrectly — that personal health data from Oura's consumer rings was being shared with the military. Others focused less on privacy and more on principle: questioning whether they want to support a company that collaborates with the Department of Defense at all.
This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.To clarify, Oura's work with the U.S. military isn't new. Tom Hale, Oura's chief executive officer, called their relationship with the DoD "longstanding" in a press release last week.
"We’re proud to expand manufacturing to the United States and are committed to empowering the Department of Defense with technology that prioritizes security and promotes readiness, resilience, and effectiveness to support service members and their missions," Hale said.
According to Oura, this expanded partnership is limited to its enterprise business, which is separate from its consumer offerings — meaning none of your data is currently being used to support military projects.
In an email to Mashable, Oura said it would "never sell, rent, or share your personal data with any third party without your express consent." This announcement, Oura told its customers, is "exclusively limited to our project support for U.S. service men and women." That support includes investing in manufacturing operations in Fort Worth, Texas, working closely with active duty military "to determine factors that impact soldier effectiveness," and "advancing military readiness," according to Oura's press release.
"Unless you’re a service member who is enrolled in a Department of Defense (DoD) health or human-performance program that uses Oura Ring — AND you have consented to share your data with that program — your data will never be shared with the DoD," Oura told concerned customers.
Hale also took to TikTok to clarify that user data is safe.
Users online also worried about Oura's connection with Palantir, a software company that works with intelligence agencies and defense departments and has a significant presence in Israel and the U.S.
"Underscoring its commitment to responsible data practices, ŌURA will be available to support population-level analysis of risk and Readiness on Palantir's FedStart platform, which is authorized at IL5 — enabling deployment of the Oura Enterprise Platform in environments with heightened security and compliance needs," Oura said in a press release.
SEE ALSO: Ultrahuman sues Oura over patent infringement in the battle of the smart ringsIn a clarification to concerned users, Oura said it does not have a partnership with Palantir, but rather "Palantir provides the security layer for some of the DoD’s projects with Oura, particularly projects with rigorous security requirements to operate Oura’s platform within secure environments."
Despite these clarifications, the announcement has left some customers reconsidering their relationship with the brand. While Oura's consumer data does appear safe from military use, the company’s willingness to align with defense and intelligence contractors is now part of the equation for users deciding whether to keep wearing the ring.
The question now is whether users are comfortable supporting a tech company that openly collaborates with the U.S. military, regardless of how securely their data is handled.
Screencast: The Ultimate Screen Recording Tool for Chromebooks
Have you ever tried to explain a complex process to someone over the phone? Perhaps you've spent hours typing out a detailed guide on how to use a new software feature that ended up being tedious to use? A good screen recorder can solve those headaches by transforming long explanations into a simple, shareable video that can be reused time and time again.
OpenAI announces new parental controls for teen ChatGPT users
OpenAI is appealing directly to concerned parents as the AI giant announces plans for a new suite of parental oversight features.
The company explained in a new blog post that it is moving ahead with more robust tools for parents who hope to curb unhealthy interactions with its chatbot, as OpenAI faces its first wrongful death lawsuit after the death by suicide of a California teen.
The features — which will be released along with other mental health initiatives over the next 120 days — include account linking between parent and teen users and a tighter grip on chatbot interactions. Caregivers will be able to set how ChatGPT responds (in line with the model's "age-appropriate" setting) and disable chat history and memory.
OpenAI also plans to add parental notifications that flag when ChatGPT detects "a moment of acute distress," the company explains. The feature is still in development with OpenAI's panel of experts.
SEE ALSO: I 'dated' Character.AI's popular boyfriends, and parents should be worriedIn addition to new options for parents, OpenAI said it would expand its Global Physician Network and real-time router, a feature that can instantly switch a user interaction to a new chat or reasoning model depending on the conversational context. OpenAI explains that "sensitive conversations" will now be moved over to one of the company's reasoning models, like GPT‑5-thinking, to "provide more helpful and beneficial responses, regardless of which model a person first selected."
Over the last year, AI companies have come under heightened scrutiny for failing to address safety concerns with their chatbots, which are increasingly being used as emotional companions by younger users. Safety guardrails have proven to be easily jailbroken, including limits on how chatbot's respond to dangerous or illicit user requests.
Parental controls have become a default first step for tech and social companies that have been accused of exacerbating the teen mental health crisis, enabling child sex abuse materials, and failing to address predatory actors online. But such features have their limitations, experts say, relying on the proactivity and energy of parents rather than that of companies. Other child safety alternatives, including app marketplace restrictions and online age verification, have remained controversial.
SEE ALSO: What the Supreme Court hearing about age verification could mean for youAs debate and concern flare about their efficacy, AI companies have continued rolling out additional safety guardrails. Anthropic recently announced that its chatbot Claude would now end potentially harmful and abusive interactions automatically, including sexual content involving minors — while the current chat becomes archived, users can still began another conversation. Facing growing criticism, Meta announced it was limiting its AI avatars for teen users, an interim plan that involves reducing the number of available chatbots and training them not to discuss topics like self-harm, disordered eating, and inappropriate romantic interactions.
Marvel Zombies trailer turns your favorite Avengers into vicious undead monsters
If you're suffering from Marvel fatigue, the trailer for Marvel Zombies is here to wake you right up.
The upcoming animated show lures viewers in with a gonzo premise initially explored in Season 1, episode 5 of What If...?: What would happen if the Avengers became zombies?
SEE ALSO: All the Marvel Cinematic Universe movies, ranked worst to bestThe answer: Pure, unbridled carnage.
The four-part series transports viewers to a world overrun by a zombie plague. Its victims include Avengers like Captain America, Scarlet Witch (voiced by Elizabeth Olsen), and Hawkeye, along with Marvel villains like Namor and Thanos. The virus may have taken their lives, but it did not take their powers, meaning we've got superpowered zombies on our hands. Hell yeah! I mean... oh no.
Luckily, many heroes have escaped infection and are working to save the world. They include Yelena Belova (voiced by Florence Pugh), Shang-Chi (voiced by Simu Liu), and Kamala Khan (voiced by Iman Vellani). Which team of heroes will prevail: infected or uninfected?
If the premise of zombies with superpowers didn't already sell you on Marvel Zombies, the trailer certainly will thanks to a hard rocking soundtrack and several fight scenes that made me gasp. Blade fighting Moon Knight? Spider-Man ripping a dozen zombie heads off with his web? The sheer amount of blood and guts and gore? It's a two-minute adrenaline rush.
In addition to Olsen, Pugh, Liu, and Vellani, several other MCU actors reprise their roles in Marvel Zombies. The cast includes Paul Rudd, David Harbour, Tessa Thompson, Awkwafina, Hailee Steinfeld, Wyatt Russell, Randall Park, and Dominique Thorne.
How to Set Up Home Assistant Community Store (And Why You Should)
Home Assistant is a dizzyingly powerful smart home platform, thanks in no small part to its vast array of integrations. But the vanilla installation is just the tip of the iceberg.
Alien: Earth fans, a warning: Do not eat or drink during episode 5
As someone who watches TV for a living, I eat a lot of meals while checking out new shows. Sometimes that system can get a little dicey, like when I decided to accompany dinner with the many surgeries of The Pitt. (While not the best eating experience, I did do it again.)
SEE ALSO: Did 'Alien: Earth' episode 5 freak you out? Us too.However, no show has outright killed my appetite quite like Alien: Earth, episode 5.
To be clear, I was able to handle the rest of the show just fine, pairing Xenomorph attacks with copious snack breaks, no problems in sight. But all that changed in episode 5, titled "In Space, No One..."
The episode is an extended flashback, trading Boy Kavalier's (Samuel Blenkin) Neverland research facility for the USCSS Maginot in the lead-up to its crash landing on Earth.
Featured Video For You 'Alien: Earth' episode 5 was its own 'Alien' movie. Here's how they made it.Alien: Earth has already hinted at what happened to the crew of the Maginot in their final hours. Episode 1 revealed that a Xenomorph got loose, slaughtering crew member Zaveri (Richa Moorjani), and likely many others. Later, in episode 2, when Hermit (Alex Lawther) and his fellow soldiers investigated the wreckage, they saw several of the Maginot crew's corpses, eyes bloodied, faces terrified. They also caught a glimpse of one crew member on a medical table with his chest cut open and signs of alien bodies in his GI tract. Basically, whatever happened to them, it wasn't good! But it also wasn't enough to raise my queasiness levels to alarming rates.
Still, seeing the corpses is one thing. Seeing the horrors on the Maginot actually play out is a totally different story — one that left me shunning my snacks and even my trusty water bottle for some time after watching. No spoilers, but it is predictably grisly! Nauseating, even.
So Alien: Earth fans, heed my warning. Eat or drink before you check out episode 5, but certainly not during. Don't make this a TV dinner event, don't break out dessert, don't even think about a relaxing glass of wine. You'll regret it more than the crew of the Maginot regret setting foot on that blasted spaceship in the first place.
MrBeast reportedly wants to start a mobile phone service
Leaks suggest that Jimmy Donaldson, better known as MrBeast, is planning to launch his own mobile phone service in 2026.
The scoop comes via Business Insider, which reviewed an internal pitch deck showing one of YouTube’s biggest stars eyeing a move into the telecommunications industry. It’s just one of several ambitious ideas from Donaldson and his team to expand the ever-growing MrBeast empire, alongside pitches for everything from a creator platform to financial services.
SEE ALSO: MrBeast pulls AI tool for YouTube thumbnails, issues video apologyAccording to Business Insider, Donaldson isn’t expected to build a phone network from scratch. Instead, the service would likely be a white-label venture — branded with MrBeast trademarks but powered by an established carrier like Verizon or T-Mobile. This setup, known as an MVNO (mobile virtual network operator), has become a popular side hustle among celebrities. Ryan Reynolds famously co-owned Mint Mobile before selling it to T-Mobile for $1.35 billion.
A leap into telecom may sound unusual, but it fits with Donaldson’s ongoing push to diversify beyond media. His brand already spans a successful chocolate line, Feastables; the packaged lunch competitor Lunchy; and the ghost kitchen chain MrBeast Burger.
For MrBeast, the phone in your pocket could be the next frontier. And if even a fraction of his more than 400 million subscribers get on board, it could mean massive profit in the future.
Strange Journey: The Story of Rocky Horror trailer promises big stars geeking out over the cult classic
The world "cult classic" gets thrown around a lot these days, too often intended to mean a movie or TV show with a cult following. But before the internet gave us access to everything and anything, true cult classics meant movies that you had to be introduced to by someone already initiated. The Rocky Horror Picture Show was such a sensation, going from a London fringe play to a flopped movie to a midnight madness phenomenon that's lasted for 50 years.
Strange Journey: The Story of Rocky Horror is a documentary that looks back on the origins of this truly iconic film, as Richard O'Brien, author of The Rocky Horror Picture Show, lays out ahead of the trailer above.
His son, documentarian Linus O’Brien, interviews a slew of the original cast members, including O'Brien, Tim Curry, Susan Sarandon, and Barry Bostwick. To get an idea of the impact this movie about kinky aliens had on pop culture, O'Brien also speaks to stars who grew up obsessed with Rocky Horror, including Tenacious D's Jack Black and RuPaul's Drag Race All-Stars champion Trixie Mattel.
Archival footage from the '70s allows audiences to do the time warp again, taking us back to the rise of the shadow casts and all the in-theater mayhem that came to be a part of the show's legacy. But beyond that, this documentary aims to explore why this "freak" show appeals to so, so, so, so many.
The northern lights are set to appear tonight. Where and how to see them.
Seeing the northern lights is one of life's little gifts. For those who have been lucky enough to catch them before, you'll know just how magical it is.
If you haven’t had the chance yet, tonight might just be your moment. A strong geomagnetic storm is set to light up the skies across parts of North America, giving hopeful stargazers the perfect opportunity to catch the northern lights tonight, according to a prediction from the Space Weather Prediction Center. So grab a blanket, find a dark spot, look north, and keep your fingers crossed.
When are the northern lights peaking?Tonight, Sept. 2, the northern lights are expected to reach their peak visibility in North America. A geomagnetic storm classified as "strong" was forecast by the Space Weather Prediction Center.
The geomagnetic activity is measured by the planetary K index, also known as Kp. Activity is measured between 0 to 9 – the higher the activity, the more likely it is to be seen from the United States, according to the Space Weather Prediction Center. The activity is measured at a Kp of 5, which means the northern lights move even further from the poles and become bright and active, even in the north of the United States.
Where will the northern lights be visible?According to maps from the Space Weather Prediction Center, Canada and Alaska are most likely to catch a glimpse of the phenomenon. There is a slight chance – but not a guarantee – that the aurora borealis will be visible in parts of Washington, Idaho, Montana, North Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan.
What causes the northern lights?The northern lights, or aurora borealis, are natural light displays that appear in the night sky, usually near the poles. According to NASA, they occur when charged particles from the sun collide with Earth’s atmosphere, creating shimmering colors of green, pink, and purple that dance across the sky.
Viewing tips for the northern lightsWhen it comes to seeing the northern lights, so much is down to luck, but there are things you can do to help increase your chances. Firstly, head somewhere dark away from light pollution.
If you're unsure whether you're seeing the northern lights, try taking a picture of the sky with your phone, which can capture a wider wavelength of light than the human eye, according to Lifehacker. Both Mashable and Lifehacker are owned by Ziff Davis.
This Three-Row Plug-In Hybrid SUV Delivers Luxury-Level Features
Three-row SUVs often balance space with efficiency, but this plug-in hybrid stands out by adding luxury-level refinement. It blends strong performance with impressive fuel savings, making it a family hauler that doesn’t compromise.
I spent a week with Bose QuietComfort Ultra earbuds 2.0: Theyre excellent, but familiar
Since their release in 2023, Bose QuietComfort Ultra earbuds have been Mashable's favorite noise-cancelling earbuds. So naturally, when Bose announced its second-generation QuietComfort Ultra earbuds — which are available for preorder as of Aug. 28 — I was curious to test them out.
After spending one week with the earbuds, I can say that so far, they remain the most comfortable earbuds on the market, with some of the best noise cancellation money can buy — but they don't feel all that different from their predecessor. Given that many devices can fall victim to fixing what isn't broke in the name of producing an "upgraded" model, the lack of dramatic changes isn't necessarily a bad thing.
So are they worth the upgrade? Let's dive into my early thoughts (which I am obligated to say, are subject to change as I spend more time with the earbuds).
Opens in a new window Credit: Bose Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen) $299 at BosePre-order Here Bose QuietComfort Ultra (2nd Gen) specs
Below, you'll find the quick rundown of what to expect with these earbuds, with new features bolded:
Adjustable active noise cancellation
Immersive Audio for spatial listening experience
Custom equalizer with four audio presets
Three sizes of stability bands and ear tips with wax guards
Six hours of battery life (four hours with Immersive Audio), and up to 24 hours with the case
Wireless charging for case
20 minutes of quick charge for
Toggle touch controls on/off
Bluetooth 5.3, Google Fast Pair
Bose SpeechClarity, an AI-powered technology to promote better voice quality on calls
Improved adaptive ANC, especially in Aware Mode
IPX4 water- and sweat-resistance
A quick glance at the spec list above will tell you that not a ton has changed between the first and second generation QC Ultra earbuds. The products themselves look nearly identical, and both started at the price point of $299 (though you can likely expect to see the first gen on sale more often as it's slowly phased out of Bose's lineup).
Without the color differences, I'd have trouble telling which is which. Credit: Bethany Allard / MashableDespite the similar hardware, I did notice improved audio quality, noise cancellation, and general ease of use with the second generation earbuds.
Audio qualityBose's marketing materials don't tout many major upgrades to these earbuds' listening experience, but a rep from the brand told me to look out for an improved bass response and clarity at higher frequencies. Even without the direction, I firmly believe I would've heard the improvements: Ebony Loren's vocals on her cover of "O Pato" sounded clearer and even louder, without sounding blown out. Chappell Roan crooning "She's got a way" on her latest song, "The Subway," somehow hit even harder on the second-gen earbuds, highlighting a robustness where the first-gen Ultras default to a flatter sound.
SEE ALSO: Review: 8 months later my Panasonic Technics AZ100 earbuds still beat all comersAs for the bass, I went to my go-to songs where I need the bass to sound good — Magdalena Bay's "Killshot" and Le Sserafim's "Crazy" — and these earbuds delivered. Both offered a nice reverberation and blend, especially with the synth and guitar lines in the former song. The balance let me appreciate the depth of the bass and the layers of each song's production. Plus, with the ANC on, I could barely hear myself typing. Even on less bass-heavy tracks like Laufey's "Tough Luck," the quality of the bass allowed me to appreciate the backbone of the song more, offering an overall better-rounded listening experience.
For anyone looking to fine-tune the sound on their earbuds, the equalizer settings between both generations of earbuds are exactly the same. On the other hand, call quality is noticeably improved: when I made my partner do a blind test by calling him on each earbud, he immediately identified the newer Ultras, saying my voice sounded significantly less muffled.
Noise cancellationWhile Bose is known for having great audio quality, the brand's real standout feature is their noise-cancellation, and these earbuds offer no exception.
Bose's first claim is that on the newer earbuds, the adaptive ANC is better equipped at handling spikes in audio to prevent clipping, particularly in transparency mode. Unfortunately, I haven't been able to create the conditions for that particular feature in the course of the last week, but I have been able to use both earbuds in a shared workspace, right under an air conditioning unit, and with the TV playing nearby. In each of the above scenarios, the second-generation QC Ultras' performance bested the first gen, offering slightly more blockage.
More notably, these earbuds have a much less noticeable hiss than the first-gen earbuds, both on ANC and transparency modes. While not totally at the level of completely undetectable ANC, with these earbuds, Bose gets closer.
ComfortWith such a similar design, I didn't expect the newer earbuds to wear all that different, and spoiler alert — they didn't. Still, I appreciate the inclusion of a wax guard for easier cleaning, even if it's not a revolutionary feature.
The 2nd gen earbuds (right) have a guard to help catch dirt and ear wax, making the earbuds easier to clean and less susceptible to damage. Credit: Bethany Allard / MashableStill, there aren't many negative things I can say about the design of these earbuds. The stability bands help keep the earbuds firmly in place, without ever causing soreness or fatigue, even after a few hours of wear. The touch control is a little large, and the general design of the earbud is a tad clunky (meaning a higher likelihood to accidentally trigger those controls), but if that proves to be a real problem for you, Bose did include the option to toggle touch controls off completely with the newer generation.
Other points of differenceI was able to confirm the wireless charging on the second generation buds worked thanks to the charger built into my monitor stand from Target — in other words, you won't need anything fancy.
What stood out more than the charging to me was the ease of connection with these earbuds. I've tested my fair share of Bose headphones and earbuds, and across the board, they struggle with multipoint connection, often failing to connect or struggling to play back audio without skipping when more than one device is paired. It's never been a good look for Bose's price points, but so far, I haven't experienced these issues at all with the second-gen QC Ultra earbuds, and I've been switching between four different devices for playback (with two connected at a given time).
Who should upgrade to the second-generation Bose QuietComfort Ultra earbuds?I'm going to withhold my full judgment until my (incoming) full review, but if you haven't updated your earbuds in a while, or have never invested in a pair of premium earbuds, I can't see the second-gen Bose QC Ultra earbuds disappointing you. That said, first gen owners can likely skip the upgrade this time around, and anyone looking for a cheaper option still has plenty of other choices — even within the QuietComfort line.
Where to buy Bose QuietComfort Ultra earbuds Second generation Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen) $299 Pre-Order Here First generation Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds $229 (save $70) Get DealResearchers find secret ties and vulnerabilities in popular VPN apps
A new study has uncovered that more than 20 VPN apps on the Google Play Store share the same codebases and infrastructure, despite presenting themselves as independent services. Together, these apps account for 20 of the 100 most-downloaded VPNs on the platform, with a staggering 700 million users.
The findings raise serious questions about trust and transparency in an industry built on privacy — and highlight how poorly app stores may vet VPN providers.
The research, conducted by The Citizen Lab at the University of Toronto, traced these apps back to just three VPN families, some with ties to Russia and China. Investigators used business filings and forensic analysis of Android APKs to uncover the hidden connections.
SEE ALSO: I've tested a bunch of popular VPNs. This is the only one I recommend for streaming.Family A was tied to Innovative Connecting, Autumn Breeze, and Lemon Clove, and included major players like Turbo VPN, VPN Proxy Master, and Snap VPN — all of which shared identical code and assets. Family B, linked to Matrix Mobile, ForeRaya Technology, and Wildlook Tech, operated XY VPN, 3X VPN, and Melon VPN, which used the same VPN addresses. Family C, made up of Fast Potato and Free Connected Limited, controlled Fast Potato VPN and X-VPN.
Beyond a lack of transparency, the study also found serious security flaws. Some apps reused login credentials for ShadowSocks, a tool for bypassing firewalls. Others relied on outdated encryption algorithms, leaving users more exposed. Most concerning of all, all three VPN families were vulnerable to blind on-path attacks — meaning hackers on the same network, such as public Wi-Fi, could intercept traffic without either party realizing it.
The researchers noted that app stores have limited ability to verify who operates a VPN or how it’s built, since their review systems are largely focused on malware detection and privacy violations. As a remedy, they suggested introducing a security audit badge for VPNs — a certification that could give users more confidence in the apps they choose.
The specifics of Google’s app review process remain unclear. According to a support page, developers must provide a privacy policy, disclose whether the app contains ads, obtain a content rating, and share the app’s privacy and security practices with Google in order to pass review.
In a statement to Mashable through email, a Google spokesperson said that the company is committed to "compliance with applicable sanctions and trade compliance laws."
"When we locate accounts that may violate these laws, our related policies or Terms of Service, we take appropriate action."
UPDATE: Sep. 2, 2025, 3:17 p.m. EDT This article has been updated to include a statement from Google.
Meta might have access to your camera roll. How to check, turn it off
That issue with Meta secretly scanning your camera roll continues to rear its head. Check your Facebook privacy settings to see if this feature is turned on for you — even if you didn't provide explicit consent.
Back in June, Mashable reported a notice that popped up on the Facebook app giving users the option to allow Meta to access all your photos so that Meta AI could "get creative ideas made for your from your camera roll." Allowing this setting means agreeing to Meta's AI terms, which gives Meta the right to "retain and use" any of your personal photos for AI-generated editing and curating.
In the privacy settings of the Facebook app, there are two toggles related to granting photo access: the one described above, and another setting that grants access to your camera roll for suggesting photos to post. This setting is automatically toggled on when you download the Facebook app. It doesn't have access to the content on your camera roll, only metadata like date, time, resolution, and number of photos.
When the story was first reported, Meta told TechCrunch that the feature was a test, and can be turned off at any time. It also said the Meta AI suggestions are only visible to the user. But users have continued to raise awareness about the confusing privacy settings
The pop-up in question is related to the Meta AI feature. Some users, including Mashable's CJ Silva, said they never received a pop-up alert to provide consent for AI-related photo features. Others (myself included) noticed that the setting granting camera roll access for suggested photos was automatically toggled on, but the Meta AI setting was toggled off. I didn't receive a pop-up message asking me to opt in to the new feature. But a Meta spokesperson confirmed that this feature is still a test and being previewed to a limited number of users.
"These suggestions are opt-in only and only shown to you – unless you decide to share them – and can be turned off at any time," said the spokesperson of the feature. "Camera roll media may be used to improve these suggestions, but are not used to improve AI models in this test."
Given Meta's track record of privacy issues this angered users who felt like Meta was spying without more explicit permission. Regardless, there's no better time to see if Meta is looking at your photos. Here's how to check and how to turn it off.
1. Open the Facebook app and go to Settings & PrivacyYou can find this by tapping on the Menu icon in the bottom right corner of the app.
2. Open SettingsScroll down to find the Settings option.
3. Find the section called 'Camera roll sharing suggestions'Open this section and you'll see the two features. One says, "get camera roll suggestions when you're browsing Facebook." The other says, "get creative ideas made for you by allowing camera roll cloud processing." The second setting is the one about using Meta AI to edit and curate their photos. But both settings, when toggled on, grant Meta access to your camera roll. The first setting is what essentially enables you to post content on Facebook.
4. Toggle the setting offIf either of these settings are toggled on, that means Meta has had access to your camera roll. You may have received a notice about this, but we wouldn't hold it against you if you didn't know what you were consenting to. Turn off these settings by tapping the toggle off.
UPDATE: Sep. 3, 2025, 1:28 p.m. EDT This story has been updated with a statement and additional clarification from Meta.
10 Movies That Are So Bad They're Good
A bad movie can be a disappointment, but it can also be a hoot. Sometimes, a movie is so ridiculous and unbelievable that unintended laughs come easily. The special effects are cheesy, the acting is absurdly ineffective, or the whole vibe is so off that the snickering never stops.
Samsungs curved gaming monitors are up to $700 off at Amazon
The laptop you use for school or work might not be your favorite model to use for gaming. In that same vein, the TV you use for streaming shows might not work well for gaming. If you prefer to game on a monitor that's specifically designed with features to enhance your experience, Samsung makes some awesome models. Lucky for us, tons of great models on a steep discount at Amazon.
Best overall Samsung gaming monitor deal Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Samsung 49-inch Odyssey G9 Series DQHD curved gaming monitor (G95C) $699.99 at Amazon$999.99 Save $300 Get Deal Why we like it
With a massive 49-inch display, the Odyssey G9 Series DQHD curved gaming monitor (G95C) is on sale for under $700 at Amazon which is a record-low price. With a 240Hz refresh rate, QLED display, and 1000 nit peak brightness, you'll be in great shape for gaming through the nasty winter weather. This model also comes with an adjustable ergonomic stand and Samsung's unique Core Lighting+ system which projects on-screen colors to the back of the monitor, reflecting off walls for a more real-life experience.
Best upgraded Samsung gaming monitor Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Samsung 49-inch Odyssey OLED Series curved gaming monitor (G93SC) $899.99 at Amazon$1,599.99 Save $700 Get Deal Why we like it
The Samsung 49-inch Odyssey OLED Series curved gaming monitor (G93SC) comes with all the fancy stats and then some. When it comes to gaming, you're in for a snappy 240Hz refresh rate and 0.03ms GtG. The included stand gives your height and tilt adjustments and the back of the monitor houses Samsung's Core Synch technology and Core Lighting+ for an epic real-world display of the colors you're already seeing on-screen. This model comes with two HDMI ports and plenty of USB ports to connect up your favorite gaming consoles.
Best budget Samsung gaming monitor deal Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Samsung 32-inch Odyssey Series QHD curved gaming monitor (G55C) $219.99 at Amazon$329.99 Save $110 Get Deal Why we like it
Not looking to spend a bunch to get a top-tier gaming experience? Look no further than the Samsung 32-inch Odyssey Series QHD curved gaming monitor (G55C). Sure, it's not as large as the 49-inch models listed above, but who says bigger is better? The 32-inch curved gaming monitor comes with a 165Hz refresh rate and it'll be easier to fit on your desktop and much easier to move. Samsung also considered eye health with the Odyssey G5 and uses a screen that reduces flicker. There's also the Eye Saver Mode which minimizes blue light, and that can be super useful for longer gaming sessions.
Amazon Prime Is Ending Its Benefit-Sharing Program
Amazon is getting rid of its Prime benefit-sharing program, which used to let you share free shipping with people outside your household. The company announced the change in an update to its support page, stating that the program is ending on October 1, 2025.


