IT General

TL;DR: Get a Babbel Language Learning Lifetime Subscription (all languages) for just $139.97 (reg. $599) through September 29 and expand your horizons.

Opens in a new window Credit: Babbel Babbel Language Learning: Lifetime Subscription (All Languages) $139.97
$599.00 Save $459.03 Get Deal

Imagine having the power to communicate in 14 different languages for travel, business, or just personal growth.

That dream is within reach — get a lifetime subscription to Babbel Language Learning (all languages) for only $139.97 (reg. $599). This deal gives you forever access to every language Babbel offers, so you can explore new cultures, connect globally, and continuously learn at your own pace.

The beauty of a lifetime subscription is that it never expires, meaning you can dip into Spanish for your next trip, brush up on German for business, or finally learn Italian to impress your friends — all at your own pace. With Babbel’s structured lessons, you’ll find that learning new languages can be a continuous journey of personal growth and intellectual stimulation.

Mastering languages goes beyond just knowing the words — it’s about connecting with the world. Babbel’s all-language subscription opens the door to meaningful conversations with people from different cultures. Whether navigating a street market in Morocco, negotiating a deal in China, or simply making new friends abroad, your language skills will always be an asset.

Language proficiency isn’t just for travel. Knowing multiple languages can give you a serious edge in your career, unlocking global business opportunities and strengthening relationships with international clients. Whether you’re negotiating deals or working abroad, Babbel helps you gain the skills to succeed in a globalized world.

Babbel uses cutting-edge technology to make language learning both efficient and fun. With features like speech recognition and adaptive learning, the lessons adjust to your progress, ensuring you improve every step of the way. And because Babbel is built for busy professionals and lifelong learners alike, it fits perfectly into any schedule, allowing you to learn anytime, anywhere.

Don’t miss out on this opportunity to become a global citizen. Get a Babbel Language Learning Lifetime Subscription (all languages) for just $139.97 (reg. $599) through September 15 at 11:59PM.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

TL;DR: Live stream Minnesota Vikings vs. San Francisco 49ers for free on 7plus. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The NFL began with a bang in the first round, and we're expecting more of the same in round two. The Minnesota Vikings were one of the most impressive sides from the first round of fixtures, beating the New York Giants comfortably. Can they secure another win against San Francisco 49ers?

If you're interested in watching Minnesota Vikings vs. San Francisco 49ers for free, we have all the information you need.

When is Vikings vs. 49ers?

Minnesota Vikings vs. San Francisco 49ers starts at 1 p.m. ET on Sept. 15. This fixture takes place at the U.S. Bank Stadium.

How to watch Vikings vs. 49ers for free

Minnesota Vikings vs. San Francisco 49ers is available to live stream for free on 7plus.

7plus is geo-restricted to Australia, but anyone can access this free streaming platform with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in Australia, meaning you can bypass geo-restrictions to access 7plus from anywhere in the world.

Access free live streams of the NFL by following these simple steps:

1. Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)

2. Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)

3. Open up the app and connect to a server in Australia

4. Visit 7plus

5. Live stream Minnesota Vikings vs. San Francisco 49ers for free from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Year Subscription + 3 Months Free) $99.95 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but top VPNs do tend to offer free-trial periods or money-back guarantees. By making the most of these deals, you can access free live streams of the NFL without actually spending anything. This is obviously a quick fix, but it gives you enough time to watch Minnesota Vikings vs. San Francisco 49ers before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for the NFL?

ExpressVPN is the best service for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream the NFL live, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries including Australia

• Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is always secure

• Fast connection speeds

• Up to eight simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $99.95, saving you 49% on list price. With this limited-time deal you'll also get an extra three months at no additional cost, a whole year of unlimited cloud backup for free, and a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Live stream Minnesota Vikings vs. San Francisco 49ers for free from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

Quick links: How to watch 'Challengers' online BEST OVERALL Prime Video only $8.99 per month (save $6) Get Deal BEST NON-STREAMING OPTION Rent on Prime Video $2.49 at Amazon (save $1.50 with Prime) Get Deal LONG-TERM DEAL Prime Annual Free 30-day trial, then $139 per year (save 22%) Get Deal MOST AFFORDABLE MGM+ via Sling TV $5 per month (save $1.99 per month) Get Deal BEST MGM+ DEAL MGM+ annual subscription Free 7-day trial, then $58.99 per year (save $24.89) Get Deal

Challengers set the internet aflame with its sexy love triangle drama. As Mashable Tech Reporter Elena Cavender noted, "It's got everything you want in a movie: a steamy love triangle between incredibly good-looking people (West Side Story's Mike Faist, La Chimera's Josh O'Connor, and Dune's Zendaya), thrilling tennis sequences, and an electrifying score from Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross." What's not to love?

The film hit theaters at the end of April and it's still making headlines. The movie initially made its streaming debut on MGM+, but as of Sept. 19, it's heading to Prime Video. You can finally see what director Luca Guadagnino is serving up in Challengers and discover whether you're Team Art, Team Patrick, or Team Tashi. Here's everything you need to know about how to watch Challengers at home.

What is Challengers about?

Zendaya stars as a teenage tennis star on the rise, Tashi Duncan, who has what it takes to turn pro until an injury pitches her to the sidelines. Best friends and tennis players Art Donaldson (Mike Faist) and Patrick Zweig (Josh O’Connor) are both in love with Tashi. She dates one, then marries the other, but who she'll end up with remains an ongoing question throughout the film. The love triangle plays out in and around the tennis court, with the audience getting smacked back and forth like a ball across a net.

Here's the official trailer:

Is Challengers worth watching?

"While it may be too much for some audiences to handle, there's no doubt Challengers is hands down one of the best and sexiest movies of the year," declares Mashable Entertainment Editor Kristy Puchko. And she's not alone, as the film currently holds an 89% critic rating at Rotten Tomatoes.

It earned 15 million at the box office on its opening weekend and has gone on to earn about $47 million domestically, meaning it's still going strong a month later.

While many of the film's WTF moments are certainly a hit on social media, the film is more than just a collection of memes. As Puchko noted, "Challengers is not just a sexy love story or a suspenseful sports movie. Imbued with adrenaline in every frame, note, and beat, it is a breathtaking cinematic experience that thrusts you into the center of this love triangle, bounces you about like a ball that lives for the racket's smack, and leaves you breathless with a finale that is indulgent yet deeply satisfying."

Read our full review of Challengers.

How to watch Challengers at home We're pretty sure the entire internet has seen this movie still by now. Credit: MGM Amazon Studios

Just a month after its theatrical debut, Challengers officially made its video-on-demand debut on sites like Prime Video and Fandango at Home (Vudu). You can rent it from any of the retailers below for 30 days. Just remember: once you start watching a rental, you'll only have 48 hours to finish before you lose access. You're also able to purchase the film from the same retailers and add it to your digital library.

As of May 17, you can rent the film at the following retailers:

• Prime Video — rent for $3.99 with Prime / buy it for $19.99 with Prime

• Apple TV — rent for $5.99 / buy it for $19.99

• Fandango at Home (Vudu) — rent for $3.99 / buy it for $19.99

• YouTube — rent for $3.99 / buy it for $19.99

Is Challengers streaming?

Challengers is an Amazon MGM Studios film, so originally we thought it would make its streaming debut on Prime Video. Instead, the film actually kicked off its streaming life on MGM+ in July. As of Sept. 19, though, Challengers will finally be available to stream on Prime Video. We're uncertain if the film will leave MGM+ altogether or will live on both platforms, so we've included the best deals below for both.

Can I get MGM+ for free?

Yes! If you're new to MGM+, you can sign up for the streaming service for free for a week through MGM+ directly or as an add-on via Prime Video. If you're a Prime member and want to condense your streaming services (and future payments) to one place, the add-on is a great option.

Opens in a new window Credit: MGM+ MGM+ monthly subscription free 7-day trial, then $6.99 per month Watch Now Best MGM+ streaming dealsSave $24.89: MGM+ annual subscription

As a relatively unknown streaming service compared to Prime Video or Netflix, MGM+ isn't exactly brimming with great deal options. All hope isn't lost, though. If you want to score the streamer for a deal, your best option is to sign up for the annual subscription versus the monthly subscription. You can save 30% by paying for a year up front — more savings than annual subscriptions at most other streamers.

Opens in a new window Credit: MGM+ MGM+ annual subscription $58.99 per year (save $24.89) Watch Now Save $1.99/month: Sign up for MGM+ via Sling TV

Another option to save some money is to sign up for MGM+ through Sling TV. No need to pay for a base plan of Sling — you can get access to all of the MGM+ content for only $5 per month if you sign up through Sling. If you do want to sign up for a base package through Sling (Orange or Blue), you can even score a free month of MGM+.

Opens in a new window Credit: Sling TV MGM+ via Sling TV (no base plan needed) $5 per month Watch Now Can I get Prime Video for free?

If you've never been a Prime member before, or you're returning after some time away, Amazon offers a free 30-day trial to test things out. With that trial, you'll have full access to the Prime perks — including Prime Video. After your trial, you'll be charged the full price for a Prime membership, which is currently $14.99 per month. So, be sure to cancel before the month is up if you wish to avoid charges.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Prime monthly subscription Free 30-day trial, then $14.99 per month Get Deal The best Prime Video streaming dealsSave $6/month: Prime Video only

If you don't want or need all of the extra Prime member perks, you can simply subscribe to Prime Video as a standalone service instead for just $8.99 per month. That's $6 per month cheaper than a full Prime membership. Of course, Amazon makes it unnecessarily complicated to sign up for Prime Video alone. When you go to sign up for a subscription, you'll have to select the option to "see more plans" or "change plans" and navigate to the option for Prime Video on its own. Like a Prime membership, you can still cancel whenever you want with no strings attached.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Prime Video only $8.99 per month Get Deal Save 22%: Amazon Prime annual membership

Another way to save would be to sign up for an annual Prime membership, as opposed to a monthly one. You'll enjoy all of the perks of being a Prime member, including access to Prime Video, for an entire year. And instead of paying the $14.99 monthly fee, you'll pay $139 up front, which works out to about $11.59 per month. That ends up saving you about 22% total.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Prime Annual Free 30-day trial, then $139 per year Get Deal Save 50%: Prime for Young Adults

Amazon's Prime Student subscription has now evolved into Prime for Young Adults. Whether or not you're a college student, you can score a free six-month trial to Prime, then pay just $7.49 per month if you're between the ages of 18 and 24. That's 50% in savings. You'll just have to verify your age or student status, but after that, the world of Prime is yours — including Prime Video.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Prime for Young Adults Free 6-month trial, then $7.49 per month Get Deal

TL;DR: Live stream New England Patriots vs. Seattle Seahawks for free on RTL+. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The New England Patriots and Seattle Seahawks both started the new NFL season with a victory, but the winning run can't continue into the second week of fixtures. Which side will secure their second win of the campaign? You can find out without spending anything.

If you're interested in watching New England Patriots vs. Seattle Seahawks for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Patriots vs. Seahawks?

New England Patriots vs. Seattle Seahawks starts at 1 p.m. ET on Sept. 15. This fixture takes place at Gillette Stadium.

How to watch Patriots vs. Seahawks for free

New England Patriots vs. Seattle Seahawks is available to live stream for free on RTL+.

RTL+ is geo-restricted to Germany, but anyone can access this free streaming platform with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in Germany, meaning you can bypass geo-restrictions to access RTL+ from anywhere in the world.

Access free live streams of the NFL by following these simple steps:

1. Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)

2. Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)

3. Open up the app and connect to a server in Germany

4. Visit RTL+

5. Live stream New England Patriots vs. Seattle Seahawks for free from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Year Subscription + 3 Months Free) $99.95 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but top VPNs do tend to offer free-trial periods or money-back guarantees. By making the most of these deals, you can access free live streams of the NFL without actually spending anything. This is obviously a quick fix, but it gives you enough time to watch New England Patriots vs. Seattle Seahawks before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for the NFL?

ExpressVPN is the best service for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream the NFL live, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries including Germany

• Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is always secure

• Fast connection speeds

• Up to eight simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $99.95, saving you 49% on list price. With this limited-time deal you'll also get an extra three months at no additional cost, a whole year of unlimited cloud backup for free, and a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Live stream New England Patriots vs. Seattle Seahawks for free from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

TL;DR: Live stream Kansas City Chiefs vs. Cincinnati Bengals for free on RTL+. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The Kansas City Chiefs are looking to gain momentum after their first-round victory, as they seek a historic Super Bowl three-peat. The problem with this mission is that every other NFL team will be desperate to overcome the defending champs, including the Cincinnati Bengals.

If you're interested in watching Kansas City Chiefs vs. Cincinnati Bengals for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Chiefs vs. Bengals?

Kansas City Chiefs vs. Cincinnati Bengals starts at 4:25 p.m. ET on Sept. 15. This fixture takes place at Arrowhead Stadium.

How to watch Chiefs vs. Bengals for free

Kansas City Chiefs vs. Cincinnati Bengals is available to live stream for free on RTL+.

RTL+ is geo-restricted to Germany, but anyone can access this free streaming platform with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in Germany, meaning you can bypass geo-restrictions to access RTL+ from anywhere in the world.

Access free live streams of the NFL by following these simple steps:

1. Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)

2. Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)

3. Open up the app and connect to a server in Germany

4. Visit RTL+

5. Live stream Kansas City Chiefs vs. Cincinnati Bengals for free from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Year Subscription + 3 Months Free) $99.95 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but top VPNs do tend to offer free-trial periods or money-back guarantees. By making the most of these deals, you can access free live streams of the NFL without actually spending anything. This is obviously a quick fix, but it gives you enough time to watch Kansas City Chiefs vs. Cincinnati Bengals before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for the NFL?

ExpressVPN is the best service for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream the NFL live, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries including Germany

• Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is always secure

• Fast connection speeds

• Up to eight simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $99.95, saving you 49% on list price. With this limited-time deal you'll also get an extra three months at no additional cost, a whole year of unlimited cloud backup for free, and a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Live stream Kansas City Chiefs vs. Cincinnati Bengals for free from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

TL;DR: Live stream Denver Broncos vs. Pittsburgh Steelers for free on 7plus. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The second round of NFL fixtures includes some really interesting matchups, including Denver Broncos vs. Pittsburgh Steelers. The Broncos lost in round one, but the Steelers looked strong in a win over the Falcons. Can they secure a second win of the season in Denver?

If you're interested in watching Denver Broncos vs. Pittsburgh Steelers for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Broncos vs. Steelers?

Denver Broncos vs. Pittsburgh Steelers starts at 4:25 p.m. ET on Sept. 15. This fixture takes place at the Empower Field at Mile High.

How to watch Broncos vs. Steelers for free

Denver Broncos vs. Pittsburgh Steelers is available to live stream for free on 7plus.

7plus is geo-restricted to Australia, but anyone can access this free streaming platform with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in Australia, meaning you can bypass geo-restrictions to access 7plus from anywhere in the world.

Access free live streams of the NFL by following these simple steps:

1. Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)

2. Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)

3. Open up the app and connect to a server in Australia

4. Visit 7plus

5. Live stream Denver Broncos vs. Pittsburgh Steelers for free from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Year Subscription + 3 Months Free) $99.95 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but top VPNs do tend to offer free-trial periods or money-back guarantees. By making the most of these deals, you can access free live streams of the NFL without actually spending anything. This is obviously a quick fix, but it gives you enough time to watch Denver Broncos vs. Pittsburgh Steelers before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for the NFL?

ExpressVPN is the best service for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream the NFL live, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries including Australia

• Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is always secure

• Fast connection speeds

• Up to eight simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $99.95, saving you 49% on list price. With this limited-time deal you'll also get an extra three months at no additional cost, a whole year of unlimited cloud backup for free, and a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Live stream Denver Broncos vs. Pittsburgh Steelers for free from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

TL;DR: As of Sept. 15, you can get a lifetime subscription to Headway Premium for just £34.28 instead of £228.57 using the discount code HEADWAY— that's a savings of 85%.

Sitting down to read a whole book may be rewarding, but it might not have the same instant gratification you get from flipping through TikTok. Instead, why not have a micro-learning session with Headway? Get the main ideas and key lessons from all the books you don't have time to read with this bite-sized learning app.

Headway's library includes summaries of thousands of best-selling books, with 30-50 new titles added every month. And for a limited time, when you use the code HEADWAY at the Mashable Shop, you can get a lifetime subscription for just £34.28 (reg. £228.57).

Learn a new skill on your lunch break 

Wanting to learn something and actually doing it are usually two very different things. Headway can't replace the experience of reading a full book, but it does give you a condensed version packed with knowledge and insights. You could even use it as a way to see if a book is worth reading before you buy it. Plus, you can access Headway summaries in audio or visual formats, too.

Instead of crawling through social media as soon as your alarm clock wakes you up, get your morning going with daily insights from worldwide bestselling non-fiction titles. Headway even turns personal improvement into a game with achievements you can earn by mastering new skills. 

Turn growth into a habit 

This subscription lets you install Headway Premium on one iOS, Mac, or Android device for life (the device's life, not yours). Updates are included. 

Until Sept. 28 at 11:59 p.m. PT, get a lifetime subscription to Headway Premium for £34.28 (reg. £228.57) at the Mashable Shop. Just use the code HEADWAY during checkout.

Prices subject to change.

Opens in a new window Credit: GTHW App Limited Lifetime subscription to Headway Premium £34.28
£228.57 Save £194.29 Use code 'HEADWAY' Get Deal

TL;DR: Live stream Tottenham Hotspur vs. Arsenal in the Premier League for free with a seven-day trial of Fubo. Access Fubo from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

There are a bunch of exciting Premier League fixtures this weekend, but Tottenham Hotspur vs. Arsenal is the standout game. The North London derby is always entertaining, and we're expecting a close contest between two strong sides.

If you want to watch Tottenham Hotspur vs. Arsenal in the Premier League for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Tottenham Hotspur vs. Arsenal?

Tottenham Hotspur vs. Arsenal in the Premier League kicks off at 2 p.m. BST on Sept. 15. This fixture takes place at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

How to watch Tottenham Hotspur vs. Arsenal for free

Tottenham Hotspur vs. Arsenal is available to live stream for free with a seven-day trial of Fubo.

Fubo offers coverage of all 380 matches of the 2024-25 Premier League season in Canada, but anyone can access this package with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in Canada, meaning you can unblock free live streams of the Premier League from anywhere in the world.

Access free live streams of the 2024-25 Premier League by following these simple steps:

1. Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)

2. Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)

3. Open up the app and connect to a server in Canada

4. Sign up for a seven-day free trial of Fubo

5. Watch Tottenham Hotspur vs. Arsenal for free from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Year Subscription + 3 Months Free) $99.95 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but most do offer free-trials or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can watch Tottenham Hotspur vs. Arsenal in the Premier League without committing with your cash. This isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to stream this weekend's Premier League fixtures before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for the Premier League?

ExpressVPN is the best choice for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries including Canada

• Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

• Fast connection speeds free from throttling

• Up to eight simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $99.95 and includes an extra three months for free — 49% off for a limited time. This plan also includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee.

Live stream Tottenham Hotspur vs. Arsenal in the Premier League for free with ExpressVPN.

TL;DR: Live stream Arizona Cardinals vs. Los Angeles Rams for free on TVNZ+. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The Arizona Cardinals and Los Angeles Rams are both looking for their first win of the new NFL season. Both teams suffered disappointing defeats in the opening round of fixtures, but that's in the past. All that matters is the next game, and we're expecting an entertaining battle between two interesting teams.

If you're interested in watching Arizona Cardinals vs. Los Angeles Rams for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Cardinals vs. Rams?

Arizona Cardinals vs. Los Angeles Rams starts at 4:05 p.m. ET on Sept. 15. This fixture takes place at the State Farm Stadium.

How to watch Cardinals vs. Rams for free

Arizona Cardinals vs. Los Angeles Rams is available to live stream for free on TVNZ+.

TVNZ+ is geo-restricted to New Zealand, but anyone can access this free streaming platform with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in New Zealand, meaning you can bypass geo-restrictions to access TVNZ+ from anywhere in the world.

Access free live streams of the NFL by following these simple steps:

1. Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)

2. Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)

3. Open up the app and connect to a server in New Zealand

4. Visit TVNZ+

5. Live stream Arizona Cardinals vs. Los Angeles Rams for free from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Year Subscription + 3 Months Free) $99.95 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but top VPNs do tend to offer free-trial periods or money-back guarantees. By making the most of these deals, you can access free live streams of the NFL without actually spending anything. This is obviously a quick fix, but it gives you enough time to watch Arizona Cardinals vs. Los Angeles Rams before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for the NFL?

ExpressVPN is the best service for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream the NFL live, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries includingNew Zealand

• Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is always secure

• Fast connection speeds

• Up to eight simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $99.95, saving you 49% on list price. With this limited-time deal you'll also get an extra three months at no additional cost, a whole year of unlimited cloud backup for free, and a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Live stream Arizona Cardinals vs. Los Angeles Rams for free from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

If you're reading this, you're looking for a little help playing Strands, the New York Times' elevated word-search game.

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

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

By providing an opaque hint and not providing the word list, Strands creates a brain-teasing game that takes a little longer to play than its other games, like Wordle and Connections.

If you're feeling stuck or just don't have 10 or more minutes to figure out today's puzzle, we've got all the NYT Strands hints for today's puzzle you need to progress at your preferred pace.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Here's the answer hints for September 15 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections today: See hints and answers for September 15 NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: On the rocks

These words are served with ice.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

The answers all relate to the Old Fashioned cocktail.

NYT Strands spangram hint: Is it vertical or horizontal?

Today's NYT Strands spangram is horizontal.

NYT Strands spangram answer today

Today's spangram is Oldfashioned.

Featured Video For You Strands 101: How to win NYT’s latest word game NYT Strands word list for September 15

• Whiskey

• Bitters

• Oldfashioned

• Sugar

• Cherry

• Water

• Orange

Looking for other daily online games? Mashable's Games page has more hints, and if you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now!

Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

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

Oh hey there! If you're here, it must be time for Wordle. As always, we're serving up our daily hints and tips to help you figure out today's answer.

If you just want to be told today's word, you can jump to the bottom of this article for September 15's Wordle solution revealed. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable Where did Wordle come from?

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

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

What's the best Wordle starting word?

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

What happened to the Wordle archive?

The entire archive of past Wordle puzzles used to be available for anyone to enjoy whenever they felt like it. Unfortunately, it has since been taken down, with the website's creator stating it was done at the request of the New York Times.

Is Wordle getting harder?

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

SEE ALSO: NYT's The Mini crossword answers for September 15 Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

To occur again and again.

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

There is one letter that appears twice.

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

Today's Wordle starts with the letter R.

SEE ALSO: Wordle-obsessed? These are the best word games to play IRL. The Wordle answer today is...

Get your last guesses in now, because it's your final chance to solve today's Wordle before we reveal the solution.

Drumroll please!

The solution to today's Wordle is...

RECUR.

Don't feel down if you didn't manage to guess it this time. There will be a new Wordle for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we'll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints.

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

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

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

Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to today's Wordle.

Connections is the latest New York Times word game that's captured the public's attention. The game is all about finding the "common threads between words." And just like Wordle, Connections resets after midnight and each new set of words gets trickier and trickier—so we've served up some hints and tips to get you over the hurdle.

If you just want to be told today's puzzle, you can jump to the end of this article for September 15's Connections solution. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable What is Connections?

The NYT's latest daily word game has become a social media hit. The Times credits associate puzzle editor Wyna Liu with helping to create the new word game and bringing it to the publications' Games section. Connections can be played on both web browsers and mobile devices and require players to group four words that share something in common.

Tweet may have been deleted

Each puzzle features 16 words and each grouping of words is split into four categories. These sets could comprise of anything from book titles, software, country names, etc. Even though multiple words will seem like they fit together, there's only one correct answer. If a player gets all four words in a set correct, those words are removed from the board. Guess wrong and it counts as a mistake—players get up to four mistakes until the game ends.

Tweet may have been deleted

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

SEE ALSO: NYT's The Mini crossword answers for September 15 Here's a hint for today's Connections categories

Want a hit about the categories without being told the categories? Then give these a try:

• Yellow: Being in a home

• Green: Shrink

• Blue: Silly little man

• Purple: A group of seven

Featured Video For You Connections: How to play and how to win Here are today's Connections categories

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

• Yellow: Reside

• Green: Decrease

• Blue: Doofus

• Purple: Member of a Septet

Looking for Wordle today? Here's the answer to today's Wordle.

Ready for the answers? This is your last chance to turn back and solve today's puzzle before we reveal the solutions.

Drumroll, please!

The solution to today's Connections #462 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• Reside: DWELL, INHABIT, LIVE, STAY

• Decrease: DECLINE, DROP, DWINDLE, EBB

• Doofus: CLOWN, DWEEB, SAP, TURKEY

• Member of a Septet: DWARF, SEA, SIN, WONDER

Don't feel down if you didn't manage to guess it this time. There will be new Connections for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we'll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints.

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

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

Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to today's Connections.

I've always been a "Pro Max," "Ultra," and "XL" stan. Whether it's an Android or iOS device, I want the latest and greatest offering from Samsung, Google, and Apple.

For example, the Google Pixel 9 Pro XL is a beast of the phone, with a "can't stop, won't stop" battery life runtime that blew us away. Plus, its Super Res Zoom is pretty sick. Meanwhile, I wouldn't even look at the cheapest Pixel 9. The Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra sports an S Pen that I would never give up for a stylus-less base model.

As for the iPhone 15 Pro Max, I love that I can experiment with Apple Intelligence, which is currently in a super early beta version of iOS 18, while the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus models lack Apple's new suite of AI features. Yawn!

Now that the iPhone 16 has dropped, I thought I'd lean more toward the iPhone 16 Pro Max, but for the first time ever, the entry-level model (i.e., non-Pro iPhone 16) caught my eye.

SEE ALSO: Apple Event 2024: Everything announced, including iPhone 16, Apple Watch Series 10 iPhone 16: Why it's more attractive than ever

Apple has been known to reserve its spotlight new features for Pro models (before, at times, rolling it out to the lower-tier models the following year.)

For example, on the iPhone 13, the Pro-only headliner was debatably the LiDAR scanner, which supports augmented-reality (AR) capabilities that lets users play around with apps that blend their real-world surroundings with fun virtual overlays.

LiDAR was the hot new thing when iPhone 12 launched. Credit: Mashable

On the iPhone 14, Dynamic Island was the hot new feature exclusive to the Pro models while the lower-tier models kept their yawn-worthy notches.

Dynamic Island had everyone talking. Credit: Mashable / Stan Schroeder

Last year, the Action Button was arguably the most eye catching new feature on the iPhone 15 series, allowing users to assign their favorite apps to the new upper-left side key for easy access.

Credit: Apple

Another striking perk that hit the iPhone 15 line last year? The new "tetraprism" telephoto feature, which is just marketing mumbo jumbo for a new 5X optical zoom capability (up from 3X). This feature was reserved for the iPhone 15 Pro Max, so the iPhone 15, iPhone 15 Plus, and iPhone 15 Pro were left out of the party.

This time around, with the launch of the iPhone 16, Apple is a little less stingy. The marquee feature for this current-generation of iPhones is Camera Control, a new button on the lower-right side of the iPhone that lets you quickly use intuitive gestures to access popular Camera app features, like zoom, Photographic Styles, and more.

Using the Camera Control button Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

Surprisingly, Camera Control isn’t a Pro-only feature — it’s available across the entire lineup. I hope Apple isn’t reading this (because I don’t want them getting any ideas), but as someone who always snaps up the pricier Pro Max, Ultra, or XL models for that "crown jewel" feature, I have to admit — for the first time in years — I don’t feel the need to with the new iPhone 16.

I suspect I'd be "complete" with the iPhone 16, which is a rare feeling when it comes to entry-level smartphones these days.

Sure, I'll lose out on the iPhone 16 Pro Max's new features like 4K video capture at 120Hz, studio-quality mics, a spacious 6.9-inch display, audio track layering in Voice Memos, and more, but I could live without those.

Holding an iPhone 16 Pro model in Desert Titanium Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

At just $799, the entry-level iPhone is more attractive than ever with the following new perks:

• Apple Intelligence

• Visual Intelligence

• Camera Control button

• Tougher Ceramic Shield display for increased durability

• Vivid colors

Colorways of recent iPhone generations have been too "blah" for me, but the new Pink, Ultramarine, and Teal shades finally have that punchy vividness I've been looking for.

iPhone 16 in Pink Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

Even though the iPhone 16 doesn't a telephoto sensor, Apple discovered a way to somewhat compensate for this, so much so that you can reportedly get high-quality zoomed-in photos by up to 2X. Not as appealing as the 5X optical sensor on the iPhone 16 Pro models, but it'll do.

iPhone 16 in Ultramarine Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

The only thing that gives me pause is the fact that the iPhone 16 Pro Max, in terms of battery life, will reportedly have the longest runtime of any iPhone. I'm a sucker for power efficiency, but without performing an in-house test first, I'm not quite sold yet.

Anyone else leaning toward the entry-level iPhone for the first time? Leave a comment down below.

The iPhone 16 entry-level models start at $799. The iPhone 16 Pro variants start at $999.

Opens in a new window Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable iPhone 16 Pro Max $999.00
Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable iPhone 16 $798.99
Get Deal

Crew onboard the Russian Soyuz capsule, a flight to the International Space Station (ISS) that took place on Sept. 11, became record-breaking space residents this week, as humanity waves up to the now 19 humans living and working in space.

It's the largest group living in space concurrently in history.

Tweet may have been deleted SEE ALSO: Webb telescope peers into our galaxy's outskirts, sees stunning scene

The mission included NASA astronaut Don Pettit and cosmonauts Alexey Ovchinin and Ivan Vagner, who joined nine people already living in the space lab: NASA astronauts Michael Barratt, Tracy Caldwell-Dyson, Matthew Dominick, Jeanette Epps, Barry Wilmore and Suni Williams, and cosmonauts Nikolai Chub, Alexander Grebenkin, and Oleg Kononenko.

Another three people — Li Cong, Li Guangsu, and Ye Guangfu — are aboard China's Tiangong space station, and there's a four-person crew onboard the Crew Dragon Resilience, part of SpaceX's Polaris Dawn mission. The four include civilians Anna Menon, Scott Poteet, Sarah Gillis, and Jared Isaacman. Gillis and Isaacman conducted a historic first-ever civilian spacewalk on Sept. 12.

All this history-making isn't entirely good news, though. Two of the record-breaking group aboard the ISS, Wilmore and Williams, were previously set to return to Earth aboard Boeing's Starliner vessel. Surprise propulsion issues left them stranded in space before they were boarded with the ISS crew. The Starliner was sent back to Earth solo, and the two will return aboard a SpaceX vessel.

The previous record of humans in space, 17, was put up last year, after the successful launch of the three-person team aboard China's Shenzhou 16 mission.

Spotify is introducing a new way for young listeners to discover music, announcing a new Premium membership pilot tailored explicitly to kids.

Unlike Spotify Kids — a child-friendly app that offers singalongs, soundtracks, and playlists curated by Spotify — the new offering is a parent-managed Premium membership for users under 13, giving them access to more of the app under the supervision of their caregivers.

SEE ALSO: Why is Gen Z trauma-dumping on TikTok using candy salad?

"As young listeners embark on a journey of music exploration with a managed account, through this new pilot they will get to enjoy many of the features and functionality that Spotify users know and love, including personalization features that make music discovery on Spotify so exciting and unique," wrote Spotify.

Premium Family users would be able to add a managed account to their plan, which can then be tailored by the parents via in-app controls. This would allow parents to block specific songs or artists, or manage playback of explicit content, including visual media accompanying songs themselves.

Spotify says the updated Family plan would also be a solution for parents' who have had their account recommendations (and annual Wrapped data) commandeered by their children's music — Users have long asked for a kind of "Parent Mode" that could be turned on to filter out kid content.

The pilot is only available to users in Denmark, New Zealand, and Sweden, for now.

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 Friday, September 13, 2024:

AcrossShortens, as a skirt 

• The answer is HEMS.

What each word in "My Very Educated Mother Just Served Us Noodles" is a stand-in for

• The answer is PLANET.

Puzzling question

• The answer is RIDDLE.

Nonhuman "child"

• The answer is PET.

"You reap what you ___"

• The answer is SEW.

Feats for gymnasts or bowlers

• The answer is SPLITS.

What some teachers claim to have in the backs of their heads

• The answer is EYES.

Down"I've ___ it up to here with you!"

• The answer is HADIT.

Calls off the relationship

• The answer is ENDSIT.

Cantaloupes and the like

• The answer is MELONS.

Hearty soup

• The answer is STEW.

Like polo shirts and varsity jackets

• The answer is PREPPY.

Minuscule

• The answer is LITTLE.

Cat or cow, in yoga

• The answer is POSE.

Feminine family nickname

• The answer is SIS.

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.

OpenAI may be overhauling its complex nonprofit structure in favor of a traditional for-profit push in 2025, the key to a potential $150 billion valuation as the AI leader veers down a similar profit-seeking path to that of its Silicon Valley peers.

The news was first reported by Fortune, based on comments made by CEO Sam Altman in a weekly OpenAI employee meeting. Altman gave employees little detail, but reiterated that OpenAI was "set" to move away from non-profit control as it had "outgrown" its founding arrangement.

SEE ALSO: Can AI lift up struggling nonprofits — or cause them more pain?

Currently, OpenAI operates as a "capped" for-profit LLC controlled by a non-profit. It was this structure that allowed OpenAI's board of directors, part of the non-profit parent structure, to fire Altman as CEO in Nov. 2023. The board accused Altman of lying to and obstructing the work of the non-profit board and OpenAI's safety measures, including omitting the nature of his ownership of the OpenAI startup fund. Altman was later reinstated and took leadership control of OpenAI's revamped internal safety team.

Heading into the new year, Altman and OpenAI's leadership are now navigating a growing, billion-dollar business. Last month, Apple was rumored to be investing in the AI startup, joining other big backers like Microsoft in what would inform the more than $100 billion valuation. According to a Reuters report from the same day as the Fortune story, anonymous sources said investors are making capital injections contingent on OpenAI abandoning its profit cap, which may require the non-profit controlling entity to be changed or abolished.

An OpenAI spokesperson told Fortune and Reuters that the company's non-profit arm is "core to our mission and will continue to exist," as OpenAI stays "focused on building AI that benefits everyone."

TL;DR: Watch the 2024 Azerbaijan Grand Prix for free on ORF, ServusTV, or RTBF. Access these free streaming platforms from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

F1 is having a moment. After what seemed like a lifetime of Max Verstappen dominating every weekend, we've got competitive racing once again. The big question is whether McLaren have enough time to close the gap, and whether they will continue to let their two drivers battle it out with each other.

All eyes will be on Baku City Circuit this weekend. If you're interested in watching the 2024 Azerbaijan Grand Prix for free from anywhere in the world, we've got all the information you need.

When is the 2024 Azerbaijan Grand Prix?

The 2024 Azerbaijan Grand Prix takes place over 51 laps of the 6,003-kilometre Baku City Circuit. The full schedule can be found here:

• Practice 1 — 5:30 to 6:30 a.m. ET on Sept. 13

• Practice 1 — 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. ET on Sept. 13

• Practice 1 — 4:30 to 5:30 a.m. ET on Sept. 14

• Qualifying — 8 to 9 a.m. ET on Sept. 14

• Race — 7 a.m. ET on Sept. 15

It's possible to stream the 2024 Azerbaijan Grand Prix without spending anything.

How to watch the 2024 Azerbaijan Grand Prix for free

You can find free live streams of F1 on these platforms:

• Austria — ORF or ServusTV (12 races each)

• Belgium — RTBF (every race)

ORF, ServusTV, and RTBF are geo-restricted, but anyone from around the world can access these free streaming platforms with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to secure servers in other countries, meaning you can access free live streams of F1 from anywhere in the world.

Unblock free streaming services by following these simple steps:

1. Sign up for a VPN (like ExpressVPN)

2. Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)

3. Open up the app and connect to a server in Austria or Belgium

4. Connect to ORF, ServusTV, or RTBF

5. Watch the 2024 Azerbaijan Grand Prix from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Year Subscription + 3 Months Free) $99.95 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but leading services do tend to offer free trials or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can watch F1 live streams for free. This is clearly not a long-term solution, but it does mean you can stream the 2024 Azerbaijan Grand Prix without actually spending anything.

What is the best VPN for F1?

ExpressVPN is the top choice for live streaming F1 for free, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries including Austria and Belgium

• Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is protected

• Fast streaming speeds

• Up to eight simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $99.95 and includes an extra three months for free — 49% off for a limited time. This plan also includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Watch the 2024 Azerbaijan Grand Prix for free with ExpressVPN.

TL;DR: Live stream Southampton vs. Manchester United in the Premier League for free with a seven-day trial of Fubo. Access Fubo from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The Premier League is back after a painful international break, with a selection of exciting fixtures that should keep fans entertained all weekend. Everything starts with Southampton vs. Manchester United, as the Red Devils look to bounce back after a very disappointing defeat at the hands of Liverpool.

If you want to watch Southampton vs. Manchester United in the Premier League for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Southampton vs. Manchester United?

Southampton vs. Manchester United in the Premier League kicks off at 12:30 p.m. BST on Sept. 14. This fixture takes place at St Mary's Stadium.

How to watch Southampton vs. Manchester United for free

Southampton vs. Manchester United is available to live stream for free with a seven-day trial of Fubo.

Fubo offers coverage of all 380 matches of the 2024-25 Premier League season in Canada, but anyone can access this package with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in Canada, meaning you can unblock free live streams of the Premier League from anywhere in the world.

Access free live streams of the 2024-25 Premier League by following these simple steps:

1. Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)

2. Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)

3. Open up the app and connect to a server in Canada

4. Sign up for a seven-day free trial of Fubo

5. Watch Southampton vs. Manchester United for free from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Year Subscription + 3 Months Free) $99.95 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but most do offer free-trials or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can watch Southampton vs. Manchester United in the Premier League without committing with your cash. This isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to stream this weekend's Premier League fixtures before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for the Premier League?

ExpressVPN is the best choice for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries including Canada

• Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

• Fast connection speeds free from throttling

• Up to eight simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $99.95 and includes an extra three months for free — 49% off for a limited time. This plan also includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee.

Live stream Southampton vs. Manchester United in the Premier League for free with ExpressVPN.

"My name is Gabriella and I spent the first four years of my life in a meth house," says Gabriella as a matter-of-fact, before emptying a bag of Sour Patch candy into a bowl in a TikTok that now has over 9.7M views. The video then cuts between Gabriella and her friend, as they continue offering bouts of open-ended casual confessions laced with varying intensity, while adding layers of Reese Cups, Nerds Gummy Clusters, and other candies to the same bowl. 

This is the deceptively simple recipe of a trauma candy salad that involves only two ingredients: equal parts sweet treats and traumatic life experiences. Mix well until combined and serve it piping hot to...the entire internet.

Young people are disclosing their most distressing emotional scars by way of the latest challenge to sweep TikTok. But what makes the trauma candy salad trend different from other GRWM (Get Ready With Me) or sit-down storytime formats is the deliberate lack of context or explanation accompanying said statements. Harrowing personal experiences are compressed in one-minute clips, discussing everything from sexual abuse, eating disorders, divorce, and bad breakups to bullying, health issues, loss, and parental abandonment. Think your emotional baggage is too big to publicize? If confessions like "My name is Kylie and my biological parents left me on a hospital doorstep and abandoned me" and "I’m Anika and my ex choked me while I was sleeping" are anything to go by, nothing is off-limits here.

SEE ALSO: What we can all learn from 'trauma dumping' online

A dystopian spin-off of the candy salad food trend that marched into TikTok’s hall of fame earlier this year, the trauma candy salad is a dark humour-coded manifestation of the younger generation’s mental health struggles. Each revelation and its nonchalant disclosure is meant to make you uncomfortable and dumbstruck; a far cry from other prettily packaged trends like quiet quitting, sad girl walks, or therapy-speak.

One in three Gen Z young adults have posted about their mental health on their social media profiles, as per a 2022 survey. But could it be the contents of these posts are changing gear from subtle to piercingly straightforward? The trauma candy salad could reflect the younger generation’s pushback against trigger warnings that have long accompanied digital mental health discourse, according to Eloise Skinner, a London-based psychotherapist and author. “A platform like TikTok encourages the integration of lightness and humour through challenges like this, even when it comes to sharing sensitive personal trauma. This seems like a rejection of the conventional therapeutic ideals, trigger warnings, and self-care notions that were perhaps first created by millennials in the social media space,” she says.  

Oversharing or trauma dumping can be a coping response to distressing events. Trauma can be a lonely experience, so it makes sense that some creators may — consciously or unconsciously — share their experiences in a bid to feel less isolated. The problem lies in the fact that once something is shared online, we cannot control the reactions or comments of strangers on the internet. But not everyone participating in this trend thinks that far ahead; it’s just not that deep.

"I came across trauma candy salad TikToks not that long ago and found it funny that people were making light of their trauma," explains 25-year old Scotland-based Emma Cassidy. "My best friend and I have been through some situations too so we knew we had to make one. Some people may find these triggering but I think it's all about the 'if you don’t laugh, you'll cry' mindset." 

"We saw someone else do it and knew we had enough trauma to participate,” adds Megan, 23, who filmed a video with her friend while on a camping trip in Washington State. This bonding and community-creating aspect of this challenge is not just fueled by people who’ve gone through similar life experiences and find it relatable, but also by those counting their blessings. "This trend makes me realise that nothing in my life has truly been traumatic and I need to be just grateful," reads one comment.

"Some people may find these triggering but I think it's all about the 'if you don’t laugh, you'll cry' mindset."

Abby Bailey, a 23-year old living in Georgia, has no qualms about admitting that she publicized her trauma because she thought it would pick up traffic. On her TikTok, the 23-year-old bluntly shares that for years she mistook another man as her father and that her biological father has now passed away. “I figured that if there was one thing I could get views on, it would be my backstory or trauma. Not saying that everything I said wasn’t true because it is. I don't have any reservations about sharing my story online, I am an open book. People can judge me all that they want, but I have grown and become the person that I am today because of the things that have happened to me,” she says.

When asked if she’s ever thought of speaking about this with a qualified mental health expert, Bailey says, “I have not shared this with a professional because I don’t think it will be helpful; there’s just so much from my past and I feel as if I would be a burden. I have learned to cope with what has happened in my life and for now I am in a good place. Maybe one day I will talk to someone."

As I've found myself constantly engaging with these videos, first for the purposes of writing this story but later of my own volition, TikTok’s algorithm has steadily fed my consumption urges with an increasing stream of people’s traumatic stories rebranded as entertainment. As I come across newer versions of the trauma candy salad challenge, I’m becoming less taken aback by the disturbing incidents shared, even though the intensity and seriousness of what is shared remains high. I start comparing the stories I’ve heard, unconsciously ranking them by shock factor and I know I’m not the only one experiencing this desensitisation to people’s trauma. 

The approach may not be everyone's cup of tea, but clearly it’s someone’s bowl of candy.

As is the case with all trends, they take on a life of their own, shapeshifting to suit different purposes. The trauma candy salad recipe has also been adapted, giving way to new niches: think healthcare worker edition, couples edition and teacher edition. Instead of filming it with a group of friends, there are also those who chose to go solo. Some have replaced the candy with tablets or medicine they say they take to combat various health issues and illnesses.

Albeit unconsciously, is there a cathartic release or high to be experienced in announcing your most painful memories to strangers online? "Having grown up immersed in the culture of constant social media sharing, the internet feels like the main stage to put their inner turmoil on full display because there's an intense craving to finally have their emotional pain truly seen and validated on a big scale. But ripping your band-aid off in front of the world, without a type of containing personal support system, can simply leave you stuck in an agonizing cycle," says clinical psychotherapist Dr. Daniel Glazer, expressing the need for better and more constructive channels to elevate these conversations. Instead of dumping life's deeply disturbing events into the psyche's trash folder to fester, trends like the trauma candy salad use humour as a crutch, as a processing method.

In some strange way, after all the conversations I’ve had and watching one too many trauma dumps, I do, in some sense, understand how it equips Gen Z and alphas to look back and smile, even for a moment, through their most painful memories. The approach may not be everyone's cup of tea, but clearly it’s someone’s bowl of candy. Do we let the trauma define us or do we define our trauma?