IT General

The following article contains an extract from Kink Curious: A Guide to Exploring Your Kinks, Dispelling Shame, and Staying Safe by Gigi Engle.

For many of us, getting kinky sounds very exciting. The idea of being tied up (or tying someone up) and spanking them into oblivion while wearing a leather corset and thigh-high boots is enticing, but we’re just not even sure where to begin with such a fantasy. This is because we have no idea if we’re actually into something or just like the idea of it. This disconnect can be further aggravated by feelings of shame and a lack of solid educational materials available for the kink-curious among us.

SEE ALSO: The best sexting apps for discreet NSFW chats

Further still, you might not even have fully formed fantasies or desires quite yet. It is possible (and normal) to have vague inklings of wanting to be submissive and degraded, but not be entirely sure how that would look for you. Or maybe you want to step into your power as a Dom who enjoys doling out spankings and punishments, but you’re scared sh*tless because you don’t know what kind of Dom you’d be or how you'd even be a Dom in the first place. And what kind of implements would you even want to use, anyway?

How do you begin to figure out what you’re into?

Honestly, a lot of kink educational materials that are available kind of miss this piece of the puzzle: How do you begin to figure out what you’re into?

Now, you might be 100 percent sure what kinds of kink play you’re into and what you want to try, and that’s fantastic. But I would still invite you to look a bit deeper with conscious curiosity to figure out if there are more kinks you’re into that you’re just not aware of yet, understand what it is about your kinks that gets you going, and consider how you might want to explore these kinks in your own erotic life.

Another pivotal question worth pondering: How important are these kinks to you? You might not have the answer right now (and that’s totally OK!) but if you’re here reading this, you might have very strong kinky predilections. The first place to start is a little self-reflection.

Questions to ask yourself

• How important are my kinks?

• Where do they fit into my identity as a human being?

• How might my life or happiness be affected (or not affected) if I weren’t able to explore my kinks?

Understanding this can help you formulate a blueprint for how you want to incorporate kink into your life. For some people, kink is part of their sexuality. For others, it’s just something they take part in, according to Rea Pearson, a sex-positive BACP-accredited counselor and relationship therapist.

If your kinks are an essential component of your happiness and fulfilment, this isn’t anything to be ashamed of. It’s entirely valid. It’s just a matter of figuring out a way to incorporate them into your sex life in a way that works for you (and possibly a current or future partner).

Feel free to save this bigger existential question on the importance of kink until later down the road. You don’t need to have the answers yet. I only wanted to introduce it here so you could start to think about it as we unpack your desires.

Using erotic content for inspiration

Using porn and other erotic content is such an amazing way to start exploring different kinds of kink play and figuring out what gets you going.

It’s important that when we’re choosing erotic content, you’re looking for content that isn’t, well, sh*t. Mainstream porn (think free tube sites) is a form of highly stylized entertainment that is geared toward cis-het men. There are all kinds of questionable practices going on behind the scenes as well as in them. If you’ve ever watched a mainstream gang bang scene, you’ll probably know what I’m talking about. There is a lens placed on men dominating women, punish-f*cking them, with questionable consent (if consent is present at all).

Which is why we want to be sure that what we’re consuming is ethical. Now, you might be thinking: There’s an ethical way for me to watch a woman be turned into a human chandelier in a rope harness and be anally penetrated that is considered above board? Yes, this is correct.

With the rise of ethically made porn, stricter standards (standardized, fair pay for actors, STI testing, collaborations over scripts and scenes that take the actors’ boundaries into account, and so forth, just more human respect) are slowly being implemented in smaller indie studios. And this is super important for everyone involved—from the viewer, to the crew, to the actors.

Why is this important for you? Because you want to be sure that the kink content you’re consuming is high quality, with everyone enjoying themselves and practicing safely. Porn is not education — so don’t take it as a substitute for workshops, classes, or reading this book. This is meant to serve as inspiration.

SEE ALSO: Top 5 NSFW sites to learn what porn didn't teach you Ethical erotic content for inspiration

OK, where do I find good ethically made material?

CrashPad Series

CrashPad Series is a queer, non-binary, and female-focused studio with authentic, playful, genuine connections and sexual expression with a diverse array of body types, presentations, identities, and expressions.

Royal Fetish Films

Royal Fetish Films is run by King and Jet Setting Jasmine and is setting a high industry standard in ethical porn with inclusive, beautifully made, and incredibly kinky content.

Bellesa

Bellesa is free-to-consume, curated porn made by and for women and femmes, with something for everyone, including plenty of kink.

Cheex

Cheex includes carefully curated erotic films from independent artists and production companies, plus erotic audio stories and educational resources with articles and interviews around sexual wellness and pleasure.

SPIT 

SPIT incorporates photos, audio erotica, and videos from naked story time to partnered play, highlighting diverse sexual expression and taking viewers on an authentic journey through desire and exploration.

Erika Lust

Erika Lust produces movie-quality ethical porn and remains one of the top producers in the industry.

Dipsea

Dipsea is an audio erotica app with countless steamy stories and is a fabulous option for anyone who doesn’t enjoy visual representations of sex.

Afterglow

Afterglow is brand-new on the scene and offers inclusive, high-quality ethical porn for a wide range of desires.

You can also subscribe to OnlyFans creators that you particularly like. This is a great way to support your local sex workers — and find content that you want to see.

SEE ALSO: Your guide to audio erotica apps and websites Using journaling to explore desire

Journaling is such a fantastic tool for figuring out what it is you’re into. Figuring out what you’re into is not about landing on a perfectly curated list of kinks or arriving at a fixed sexual identity. It’s about learning how to listen to yourself without judgment, letting curiosity replace shame, and giving your desires room to breathe. The internet can be a powerful mirror when used intentionally, reflecting back patterns, themes, and emotional truths you might not yet have words for.

What turns you on today may deepen, shift, or surprise you tomorrow.

You don’t need to rush this process, and you don’t need to have it all figured out before you start exploring. Desire evolves. Context changes. What turns you on today may deepen, shift, or surprise you tomorrow. By pairing ethical erotic content with reflection and self-inquiry, you’re not just discovering kinks, you’re building a relationship with your own desire that’s rooted in awareness, consent, and self-trust. And that, more than any specific act or label, is the foundation of a fulfilling erotic life.

Kink Curious: A Guide to Exploring Your Kinks, Dispelling Shame, and Staying Safe by Gigi Engle, published by Jessica Kingsley, is out now.

SAVE $500: The DJI Mini 5 Pro Fly More Combo is on sale at Amazon for $1,099, down from the normal price of $1,599. That's a 31% discount that matches the record low at Amazon.

Opens in a new window Credit: DJI DJI Mini 5 Pro Fly More Combo $1,099 at Amazon
$1,599 Save $500   Get Deal

Despite the FCC ban on foreign drones, you can still get yourself a DJI drone. The fine print of the ban explains that any drone already in the country are excluded from the new legislation, which means they're fair game for ownership and operation. However, that means stock is dwindling, so if you're searching for a DJI drone, check out this latest deal.

The DJI Mini 5 Pro Fly More Combo is on sale for $1,099 at Amazon, marked down from the standard price of $1,599. That's a 31% discount that takes a hefty $500 off the price. It also matches the record low at Amazon.

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The DJI Mini 5 Pro is a premium drone and the Fly More Combo makes it just that much more appealing. The bundle includes the DJI Mini 5 Pro drone itself, the DJI RC 2 camera-drone remote controller, a set of filters, three DJI Mini 5 Pro Intelligent Flight batteries, three propeller sets, a shoulder bag, and more. Boiled down, this is everything you'd want for an epic drone set-up.

In terms of performance, the DJI Mini 5 Pro is a stellar model. It has a one-inch CMOS camera with 4K HDR filming at 60fps. You can also go with 4K 120fps for slow-motion filming. DJI also made this model especially appealing for night flying thanks to the 360 degree Nightscape Omnidirectional Sensing and Nighttime return-to-home function. DJI's ActiveTrack 360° technology is a must-have feature if you'll be filming moving subjects like a cyclist, skier, or surfer.

While it's still in stock and on sale for a record-low price, snag the DJI Mini 5 Pro Fly More Combo. The bundle is packed with advanced accessories while still being a perfect model for beginners.

This content originally appeared on Mashable for a US audience and has been adapted for the UK audience.

If we can get a movie, an album, or Amazon purchase with the tap of a smartphone — hell, even get a takeaway delivered directly to your door — there’s no reason you shouldn’t be able to get a date in the same way. Indeed, this is the age of on-demand apps and instant gratification. That’s hardly news. Online dating and dating apps have dominated the romantic landscape for the best part of 20 years. But things are changing within the online dating world.

According to the sex-perts at Lovehoney — everyone’s favourite progressively-minded sex toy brand — these are horny-but-wholesome times. They’ve declared that 2026 is "The Year of Pleasure."

That doesn’t mean one-night stands and flippant flings. According to research, one-night stands are on the decrease. Prospective daters are actually looking for "purposeful pleasure" and "meaningful connections". In other words, hookups that have some actual substance. We're still hooking up, but we're getting more selective. That’s why using the right dating app is so important. Every dating app has something slightly different to offer, and you need the tools to find someone you actually want to share your time (and more) with. Getting a date might be as easy as tapping your phone, but it has to be the right date. To help you, we’ve looked at the top apps and taken advice from sex and relationship experts.

What to know before you swipe

Before you start downloading apps, it’s good know just how to approach online dating. We advise that you’re completely up-front about who and what you’re looking for. And maybe pass on those mainstream dating apps that are all about romance and happily ever afters (we're looking at you, eharmony). The best hookup apps make chatting quick and easy (messaging, video calls, all that good stuff), and even the free ones should have features like profile verification to help keep you safe. But most importantly, be sure to stick to apps that are purpose-built for hookups, casual fun, and satisfying your kink. It can be freeing, not to mention productive, to be open about specific desires. The ways in which we understand sex and relationships are changing all the time — just looking at fast-growing "heteroflexible" sexuality — and hookup apps allow you to explore curiosities with no judgement or social anxiety.

SEE ALSO: The best sexting apps for discreet NSFW chats

It doesn’t matter what you’re looking for, whether it's the chance to explore a new sexual frontier, a friends-with-benefits situation on the reg, or an old school one-night stand (the one-night stand might be going out of fashion, but it’s still fun as long as it’s safe and on your terms). Whatever you're after, we’ve got your back with this guide on the best hookups apps, all based on Mashable’s own real-world testing and expert input. We’ve broken down each of the best hookup apps, selecting an option for every type of dater and every dating desire.

These are the best hookup apps for 2026.

I've spent a good part of my life commuting in cold weather, the kind where the roads aren't plowed yet and the forecast is already wrong. I've driven through blizzards, across mountain passes, and on mornings where the hardest part of the drive was just getting the car to cooperate long enough to leave the driveway. After enough winters like that, you stop thinking about cold as a seasonal inconvenience and start treating it as a mechanical stress test. It's also a big part of why I live in Florida now.

Stephen Colbert's monologue on Monday had a far more serious tone than usual, with the Late Show host discussing ICE's killing of nurse Alex Pretti in Minneapolis on Saturday.

"Masked government agents disarmed an American citizen and then executed him in the streets," says Colbert, describing what videos of the shooting showed despite what the Trump administration has tried to claim.

Colbert goes on to respond to Trump officials trying to reframe the shooting with contradictory statements, including Border Patrol chief Greg Bovino, who described the federal agents as "the victims" on CNN.

"Bulls***!" responds Colbert. "Masked secret police shooting innocent people with impunity in the streets are not victims. The only way they could ever even be considered close to victims is that they are, at best, weak-minded individuals full of anger who have been led to the darkness by Donald Trump and are now participating in an evil system that will stick to them like hot black tar for the rest of their lives."

Elsewhere, Jimmy Kimmel and Jon Stewart both had similar thoughts.

TL;DR: Magic: The Gathering Final Fantasy Play Booster Packs are down to just $8.99 at Amazon. That's a 25% drop from their usual $11.99 list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Magic: The Gathering The Magic: The Gathering Final Fantasy Booster Pack $8.99 at Amazon
$11.99 Save $3 Get Deal

Magic: The Gathering’s Final Fantasy expansion is one of the best crossover expansions in recent years, and Amazon has cut the cost so you can jump right in for less. As of Jan. 27, Amazon has dropped Magic: The Gathering Final Fantasy Play Booster Packs down to $8.99, marking their lowest price in the past 30 days and a solid 25% discount on list price.

Each Play Booster pack includes 14 Magic trading cards, with a rarity breakdown designed to keep openings exciting: 1-4 rares or higher, 3-6 uncommons, and 6-9 commons. Every pack also guarantees at least one Traditional Foil card, with a small chance of pulling a foil borderless mythic rare. These packs are fun to crack open, even if you’re purely collecting.

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The Final Fantasy set has been especially popular thanks to its massive scope, pulling characters, spells, and locations from all 16 mainline Final Fantasy games. That wide appeal has kept prices relatively steady across most retailers, making this Amazon dip notable. On TCGplayer, individual Play Booster packs are currently listed as low as $7.96, but those prices come with hefty shipping fees that can push the real total well past Amazon’s $8.99 asking price.

For more from the latest Magic: The Gathering sets, you can still score over $50 off the Magic: The Gathering Bloomburrow Play Booster Box at Amazon. What’s more, you can also get at least $14 off the new Magic: The Gathering Lorwyn Eclipsed Play Booster Box.

SAVE OVER $100: As of Jan. 27, the Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 Classic is down to its lowest-ever price of $399.99 at Amazon. This is $150 off its list price of $549.99.

Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 Classic (2025) $399.99 at Amazon
$549.99 Save $150   Get Deal

If you've been thinking about buying a smartwatch but want an option with a bit more of a fashionable design, the Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 Classic is worth a look. This stylish smartwatch boasts a sleek design alongside plenty of health and fitness features, and it's on sale for a limited-time right now at Amazon.

The Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 Classic (46mm) has dropped to $399.99 at Amazon, a $150 discount from its original list price of $549.99. What's even better is this marks a return to its lowest-ever price. You'll want to be quick, as Amazon has a timer counting down the hours on this deal.

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No matter if you want the Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 Classic to help with your fitness goals or for health tracking, it's stacked with great features. Some of these include Advanced Sleep Coaching to give you a better idea of your sleeping patterns, a Running Coach feature to push you toward your running goals, and it can even track your vascular load by analyzing sleep, diet, activity, and stress levels. So not only will it keep you informed, but it looks good while doing it.

The timer is already counting down on this deal, so now is the time to scoop up the Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 Classic for its lowest-ever price. Curious to see other smartwatches on sale? Amazon is also offering a nice discount on select models of the Apple Watch Ultra 2.

Visual Basic for Applications (VBA) was long the undisputed king of the spreadsheet, but its dominance is finally waning. From security nightmares to the rise of modern tools, the era of legacy macros is coming to an end. It's time to embrace the new Excel.

Jimmy Fallon's Tonight Show is normally packed with celebrity guests, but it's not often one interrupts him mid-monologue to tell a joke.

In the clip above Fallon is running through a series of gags about how cold it is in New York City, when Mayor Zohran Mamdani suddenly appears next to the host to ask if he can "try one."

"It's so cold in New York City the rent froze itself," Mamdani says, nodding to his campaign promise of freezing rent for stabilised tenants. He then offered a serious message about the severe weather conditions. "But seriously, stay inside, stay warm, stay safe."

Updated on Tuesday, Jan. 27 at 5:11 p.m. ET — Clawdbot has officially changed its name to Moltbot, for very predictable reasons.

Yesterday, we wrote about Clawdbot, a new AI personal assistant that's achieved viral status in Silicon Valley. Many AI agents have been criticized for over-promising and under-delivering, but early users are raving about Clawdbot. That would be impressive enough, but this open-source tool is also completely free — no purchase price, no subscriptions, no nothing.

So, what's the catch?

Clawdbot's creator Peter Steinberger is transparent about the fact that running Clawdbot comes with certain security risks. As he writes on GitHub, "Running an AI agent with shell access on your machine is… spicy."

Before you install Clawdbot and start running it on your device (or before you buy a whole new Mac Mini to power it), you should understand the security risks.

SEE ALSO: Clawdbot users are snapping up the Mac Mini — and it’s under $500 at Amazon What is Clawdbot?

First, let's quickly explain what this tool is. Clawdbot is an AI agent that runs on your device. You can give it access to AI models like Claude or ChatGPT, as well as your email, Slack, browser, and calendar. Clawdbot also has an extensive memory, and it remembers your past conversations and preferences. Because it has wide-ranging access to your computer and apps, it's able to take proactive action and execute tasks.

As an open-source tool, you can download it and customize it for free.

Clawdbot AI: How secure is your data? Credit: Clawdbot

With Clawdbot, your system is as secure as your security practices. That might seem obvious, but stick with us.

Clawdbot isn't a normal piece of software, which is also why installing and running it isn't as easy as downloading Zoom or Microsoft Word onto your Mac or Windows PC. Beginners can find step-by-step instructions, but you'll need some technical competence to use it properly and keep it secure. That's because Clawdbot has the ability to read and write files, run commands, and execute scripts on your device. It can also control web browsers, giving it the ability to make purchases, reserve hotels, or check into flights.

In short, everything that makes Clawdbot unique and helpful also makes it potentially risky. Generally, AI processes that happen on your device are much more secure than cloud-based AI processes. In this regard, Clawdbot is a step up from many AI tools. However, its system-level access also leaves you vulnerable.

As Steinberger writes, "There is no 'perfectly secure' setup."

Prompt injection is one of the major risks, but there are others outlined in the Clawdbot security page on GitHub. Before using Clawdbot, be aware of risks such as:

• Bad actors could use prompt injection to get Clawdbot to misbehave

• Bad actors could use social engineering to get access to your private data and learn information about your device

• It could make purchases you didn't intend

• It could damage your device by rewriting important files

How to keep Clawdbot secure:

Luckily, you can find an entire guide to securely using Clawdbot, available for free on GitHub. There's even a security audit you can periodically run to make sure your setup is as secure as possible.

However, another word of warning: If terms such as config file, remote admin API, sandboxing, localhost, reverse proxy, and legacy models don't mean anything to you, then Clawdbot may not be the right AI assistant for you.

Like Jimmy Kimmel and many of the other late night hosts, Jon Stewart's monologue on Monday was largely focused on ICE's deadly shooting of nurse Alex Pretti by a federal immigration officer in Minneapolis on Saturday.

Over the course of 23 minutes, the Daily Show host unpacks what happened and the massive difference between the video footage and the Trump administration's description of events. Then, Stewart plays more footage of various officials on the right characterising Pretti as being at fault for carrying a weapon — the White House is now walking back this "deny and attack" tactic after public backlash.

"Are you f***ing kidding me right now? Are you saying that the problem was the guy had a gun? Are you saying that the guns are the problem?" says a stunned Stewart, before going on to give his view on what happened.

"They're lying. We saw it. And that's how brazen they lie, when they know we've seen the truth. That's how they lie when they know we know. Imagine how they lie when there's no evidence to contradict them? And that, more than anything, explains why Alex Pretti really was a threat. Because he was brandishing a weapon: A handheld aluminum, 1080p, 60fps, weapon of mass illumination. Because there is nothing more dangerous to a regime predicated on lies than witnesses who capture the truth."

OnlyFans has become synonymous with porn. So much so that, a few years ago, when the platform announced it was banning explicit content, it received such backlash that it reversed course.

But not all OnlyFans models have sex on camera — and some don't even get naked. Sophie Annaston is one of these creators, and she's built a six-figure-a-year business on the platform. (Annaston shared a screenshot of a month's OnlyFans earnings with Mashable to verify.)

SEE ALSO: What it takes to make six figures a month on OnlyFans, according to Tiffany Wisconsin

"There's nothing nude on my feed," Annaston told Mashable. "I share try-ons," or videos of her trying on different clothes. "I'll share toy hauls — but my panties always stay on."

Annaston spoke to Mashable about how she scaled her OnlyFans so high while doing softcore and her many other streams of income.

From TikTok to OnlyFans

Annaston's fiancé actually got into content creation before she did. He started YouTube in 2017, and when the pandemic hit, he quit his full-time job; YouTube matched his previous salary, and he started making even more.

"That was really motivating for me," Annaston said.

At the time, she struggled to figure out what she wanted to do. During the peak of the COVID pandemic, she dropped out of school and quit her job to pursue a career on TikTok. While building her following, she began offering eBooks, such as an IBS Trigger Checklist, and eventually launched a crowdfunding campaign to fund a wellness journal. 

Around two years later, she started posting to YouTube, where she had a Shein brand deal and tried on the site's bikinis. She became so overwhelmed with the response (100,000 views in two days, according to Annaston) that she deleted the video.

Around that time, a friend of hers told her how much money she was making on OnlyFans — so she asked her fiancé if it was OK to do it herself, and she set up her OnlyFans as a "call to action" for future YouTube videos. She kept uploading try-on videos and got millions of views, which really established her OnlyFans following.

Annaston kept posting on mainstream social media, kept up the wellness journal business, and independently published a book, called A Book About Wellness, in 2024.

"I want to have just a bunch of different directions," she said. "My OnlyFans […] allows me to fund creative projects," she said. 

On top of all of this, Annaston has a Patreon page where she teaches other women the ins and outs of OnlyFans. "I have a female audience who really trusts me and values my advice on Patreon," she said, who find her from YouTube and even Reddit.

There, she writes in-depth articles about the psychology behind her OnlyFans strategy — topics include why posts work or don't, how to build a scalable strategy, and how she can do this without crossing her boundaries — those boundaries being nudity and sex on camera. So what does Annaston actually post on OnlyFans?

What Annaston posts on OnlyFans

"I'm basically a big tease," Annaston joked, "which, for a lot of my fans, from what I've heard, is actually [more fun] than full visibility. So I focus on suggestive content, partial nudity."

"I'm basically a big tease."

She'll post strip teases and get her fans to buy what she wears — like the viral $450 panty advent calendar from SKIMS. Annaston ran a fundraiser on OnlyFans for fans to buy; they did so "immediately," and she made content with that for the entire month of December.

Annaston posts PPVs (pay-per-view videos) a couple of times a week, and her fans can request videos, but she doesn't sell custom 1-1 videos.

And she doesn't use an agency or management like many top OnlyFans creators do; she's a one-woman show. So she answers messages on OnlyFans, but emphasizes that fans need to tip if they want her attention.

"Fortunately, it really works," she said, "and my subscribers love the fact that they know that they're helping me […] for all my creative projects. I'm not here buying a sports car or something."

Why not nudity?

Porn and its creators are highly scrutinized in our society. Project 2025, a far-right blueprint for President Trump's second term, calls for porn to be banned and its makers imprisoned. And while no laws stating this have been passed yet, several have been introduced in the United States.

And online censorship of sexual content has been going on for longer than the release of Project 2025. Online sex workers (as well as LGBTQ creators, erotic artists, and other non-sex workers) have told Mashable over the years that their social media accounts have been banned or shadowbanned (deprioritized, unable to be searched for). 

And since 2022, age verification laws have swept the United States and the Western world. These laws typically require proof of age like a government ID or a facial scan to view websites that host a certain amount of explicit content. This has resulted in a decrease in sex workers' income. 

Between societal sex shaming and legislative censorship, it's no wonder that OnlyFans creators may not want to delve into porn. Even on YouTube, where Annaston racked up millions of views with try-on hauls, cracked down on this type of content in the last year. YouTube's nudity and sexual content policy states that even clothed genitals, breasts, or buttocks "that are meant for sexual gratification" can't be posted on the platform.

Annaston deleted several try-on videos with millions of views and discussed it in a separate YouTube video, calling it the "end of an era." (Annaston has a separate try-on YouTube channel that she's uploaded to recently, but usually she sticks to trying on pajamas.)

SEE ALSO: 'We're all sinners': the Conservative tradwife who does OnlyFans

Annaston said that if she started posting explicit content, she would lose out on other opportunities — which, given our prudish society, is likely true. In addition to OnlyFans, Annaston has brand deals, her wellness journal, and her Patreon. 

"Working with brands, it is really fulfilling, being able to work with big brands and have a media kit and then just, have a book and a journal, and maybe down the road, I can have my book in bookstores, all these different things where it's like, if I, if I branched out into explicit content, extreme content, like, all those Things would just disappear out of my reach," she told Mashable.

There's a niche for everything, and while her niche of non-nude softcore is smaller, it exists — and she has leverage over not posting nude, she said. 

"It's just a very slippery slope, because once you set expectations, your audience is going to feel entitled to a certain type of content, and then you kind of lose that leverage," she said.

Annaston doesn't shame explicit creators, though. "We're all in very different lanes," she said. "I don't try to compare myself to those types of creators, adult creators, celebrity creators, who have these huge built-in audiences."

Business success from an OnlyFans creator

Annaston views her OnlyFans success the same way she views her social media success. "I think they're hand in hand," she said. "OnlyFans is an extension of my social media." And she believes success is determined by social media, not how extreme one's content is.

In business, she continued, the best way to learn is hands-on experience and trial and error. "There have been so many things I tried and failed," including a lash business, "and then I just found something that worked." 

"I just found a way to branch out and not limit myself to just OnlyFans or just brand deals," she said.

And Annaston doesn't mind spilling her secrets, as she does on her Patreon. She said, "As much as I think I'm a very unique creator, I think, to some degree, anyone could replicate my strategy."

SAVE OVER $70: As of Jan. 26, the DJI Mini 4K drone is on sale for $225 at Amazon. That's over $70 off and the lowest-ever price for this drone.

Opens in a new window Credit: DJI DJI Mini 4K Drone $225 at Amazon
$299 Save $74   Get Deal

DJI drones are selling fast. Is this buying frenzy driven by the FCC ban on foreign drones? Or are shoppers simply buying up all these drones because DJI is the top choice of TikTokers, YouTubers, and filmmakers? Both things are probably true.

With interest continuing to spike, we're keeping close tabs on the prices of these drones. Any discount is good right now, but a record-low price? We're all over it. As of Jan. 26, the DJI Mini 4K drone is on sale for $225 at Amazon. That's over $70 off and the lowest-ever price for this drone.

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The DJI Mini 4K really is a perfect partner for content creation. It offers crystal-clear 4K resolution and thanks to the three-axis gimbal, you can get cinematic-quality footage of all your adventures. The brushless motors enhance power and get you into the air at altitudes of up to 4,000 meters. You're probably not going to be climbing that high, but it's nice to know that you have the option.

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The NYT Connections puzzle today is not too difficult to solve if you love making people laugh.

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

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

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

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

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Each puzzle features 16 words and each grouping of words is split into four categories. These sets could comprise of anything from book titles, software, country names, etc. Even though multiple words will seem like they fit together, there's only one correct answer.

If a player gets all four words in a set correct, those words are removed from the board. Guess wrong and it counts as a mistake—players get up to four mistakes until the game ends.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

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

SEE ALSO: NYT Pips hints, answers for January 27, 2026 Here's a hint for today's Connections categories

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

• Yellow: Class clown

• Green: Hockey players

• Blue: Popular animated characters

• Purple: Sports equipment

Here are today's Connections categories

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

• Yellow: Quite the character

• Green: NHL team members

• Blue: First words of Robin Hood character names

• Purple: Starting with baseball gear

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 #961 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• Quite the character: CARD, CHARACTER, CUTUP, JOKER

• NHL team members: DEVIL, FLYER, PENGUIN, RANGER

• First words of Robin Hood character names: FRIAR, MAID, ROBIN, SHERIFF

• Starting with baseball gear: BALLROOM, BASEMENT, BATMOBILE, CAPSTONE

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.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for January 27, 2026

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

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

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

Today's NYT Strands hints are easy if you're a dog owner.

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

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

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

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

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for January 27, 2026 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for January 27, 2026 NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: Canine classics

The words are related to pets.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

These words describe common pet names.

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 Here Boy.

NYT Strands word list for January 27

• Blue

• Champ

• Rover

• Scout

• Here Boy

• Bandit

• Scruffy

• Spot

• Buddy

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.

Today's Wordle answer should be easy to solve if you like dark colors.

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

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for January 27, 2026 Where did Wordle come from?

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

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

What's the best Wordle starting word?

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

What happened to the Wordle archive?

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

Is Wordle getting harder?

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

SEE ALSO: NYT Pips hints, answers for January 27, 2026 Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

Shadowy.

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

There are no recurring letters.

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

Today's Wordle starts with the letter D.

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...

DUSKY

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.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for January 27, 2026

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 the latest Wordle.

Welcome to your guide to Pips, the latest game in the New York Times catalogue.

Released in August 2025, the Pips puts a unique spin on dominoes, creating a fun single-player experience that could become your next daily gaming habit.

Currently, if you're stuck, the game only offers to reveal the entire puzzle, forcing you to move onto the next difficulty level and start over. However, we have you covered! Below are piecemeal answers that will serve as hints so that you can find your way through each difficulty level.

How to play Pips

If you've ever played dominoes, you'll have a passing familiarity for how Pips is played. As we've shared in our previous hints stories for Pips, the tiles, like dominoes, are placed vertically or horizontally and connect with each other. The main difference between a traditional game of dominoes and Pips is the color-coded conditions you have to address. The touching tiles don't necessarily have to match.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for January 27, 2026

The conditions you have to meet are specific to the color-coded spaces. For example, if it provides a single number, every side of a tile in that space must add up to the number provided. It is possible – and common – for only half a tile to be within a color-coded space.

Here are common examples you'll run into across the difficulty levels:

• Number: All the pips in this space must add up to the number.

• Equal: Every domino half in this space must be the same number of pips.

• Not Equal: Every domino half in this space must have a completely different number of pips.

• Less than: Every domino half in this space must add up to less than the number.

• Greater than: Every domino half in this space must add up to more than the number.

If an area does not have any color coding, it means there are no conditions on the portions of dominoes within those spaces.

SEE ALSO: NYT Strands hints, answers for January 27, 2026 Easy difficulty hints, answers for Jan. 26 Pips

Greater Than (5): Everything in this space must be greater than 5. The answer is 5-6, placed horizontally.

Equal (3): Everything in this space must be equal to 3. The answer is 3-2, placed vertically; 3-6, placed horizontally.

Equal (2): Everything in this space must be equal to 2. The answer is 3-2, placed vertically; 3-6, placed horizontally.

Greater Than (4): Everything in this space must be greater than 4. The answer is 2-4, placed horizontally.

Medium difficulty hints, answers for Jan. 26 Pips

Number (12): Everything in this space must add up to 12. The answer is 4-1, placed vertically; 4-4, placed horizontally.

Number (5): Everything in this space must add up to 5. The answer is 4-1, placed vertically; 0-0, placed vertically; 4-2, placed horizontally.

Less Than (4): Everything in this space must be less than 4. The answer is 4-2, placed horizontally.

Equal (1): Everything in this space must be equal to 1. The answer is 1-1, placed vertically.

Less Than (10): Everything in this space must be less than 10. The answer is 4-6, placed horizontally; 4-5, placed horizontally.

Number (12): Everything in this space must add up to 12. The answer is 4-6, placed horizontally; 6-5, placed vertically.

Equal (5): Everything in this space must be equal to 5. The answer is 4-5, placed horizontally; 6-5, placed vertically.

Hard difficulty hints, answers for Jan. 26 Pips

Greater Than (5): Everything in this space must be greater than 5. The answer is 2-2, placed horizontally; 2-0, placed horizontally.

Greater Than (9): Everything in this space must be greater than 9. The answer is 0-6, placed horizontally; 4-2, placed horizontally.

Greater Than (1): Everything in this space must be greater than 1. The answer is 4-2, placed horizontally.

Greater Than (8): Everything in this space must be greater than 8. The answer is 4-1, placed horizontally; 5-6, placed vertically.

Greater Than (0): Everything in this blue space must be greater than 0. The answer is 4-1, placed horizontally.

Greater Than (0): Everything in this green space must be greater than 0. The answer is 1-3, placed horizontally.

Greater Than (8): Everything in this space must be greater than 8. The answer is 1-3, placed horizontally; 3-3, placed horizontally.

Greater Than (1): Everything in this space must be greater than 1. The answer is 2-1, placed vertically.

Greater Than (0): Everything in this space must be greater than 0. The answer is 1-5, placed horizontally.

Greater Than (15): Everything in this space must be greater than 15. The answer is 1-5, placed horizontally; 5-6, placed vertically; 0-5, placed horizontally.

Greater Than (0): Everything in this space must be greater than 0. The answer is 2-1 placed vertically.

Greater Than (9): Everything in this space must be greater than 9. The answer is 4-6, placed horizontally.

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

SAVE $200: As of Jan. 27, the Hisense 65-inch Class QD6 Hi-QLED 4K TV is on sale for $299.99 in Best Buy's 48-hour flash sale. This is $200 off its list price of $499.99.

Opens in a new window Credit: Hisense Hisense 65-Inch Class QD6 Series Hi-QLED 4K UHD HDR TV (2025) $299.99 at Best Buy
$499.99 Save $200   Get Deal

Best Buy's short and sweet 48-hour flash sale is on its final day, but there's still plenty of great deals to explore. If you've been searching for a new TV to watch what's new on streaming or the upcoming Super Bowl, the retailer is offering an excellent deal on the Hisense 65-inch Class QD6 Hi-QLED 4K TV.

The Hisense 65-inch Class QD6 Hi-QLED 4K TV is usually listed for $499.99, but has dropped to $299.99 as part of Best Buy's flash sale. This saves you $200, but keep in mind the deal only lasts through the rest of today. Act fast to grab it at this low price.

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No matter what you're watching, this Hisense TV will make images look bright and colorful thanks to its 4K resolution and Hi-QLED Color. It also features Dolby Vision HDR imaging tech that gives the visuals an extra boost thanks to the deep contrast of high dynamic range, alongside Dolby Atmos audio that helps you hear every little sound coming from the screen. Pair all that with its large 65-inch screen size, and you're sure to feel totally immersed in what you're watching.

Again, this deal only lasts through the rest of Jan. 27. If you've been on the hunt for a new TV, don't miss out on this deal on the Hisense 65-inch Class QD6 Hi-QLED 4K TV.

Curious what else has caught our eye from this sale? For a limited time, you can also score great discounts on the 11-inch Apple iPad and AirPods Max at Best Buy.

Today's Connections: Sports Edition will be easier if you know your hockey.

As we've shared in previous hints stories, this is a version of the popular New York Times word game that seeks to test the knowledge of sports fans.

Like the original Connections, 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 the latest 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: Sports Edition?

The NYT's latest daily word game has launched in association with The Athletic, the New York Times property that provides the publication's sports coverage. Connections can be played on both web browsers and mobile devices and require players to group four words that share something in common.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

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.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

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: Wordle-obsessed? These are the best word games to play IRL. Here's a hint for today's Connections: Sports Edition categories

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

• Yellow: Wearing down

• Green: Lifts

• Blue: Shared a player

• Purple: Hockey related

Here are today's Connections: Sports Edition categories

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

• Yellow: Grow exhausted

• Green: Weight exercises

• Blue: Aaron Rodgers teams

• Purple: Found in NHL team logos

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: Sports Edition #491 is...

What is the answer to Connections: Sports Edition today?

• Grow exhausted - FADE, FATIGUE, TIRE, WEAKEN

• Weight exercises - BENCH, CURL, DEADLIFT, SQUAT

• Aaron Rodgers teams - CALIFORNIA, GREEN BAY, NEW YORK, PITTSBURGH

• Found in NHL team logos - LONG ISLAND, MUSICAL NOTE, OIL DROP, WHEEL

Don't feel down if you didn't manage to guess it this time. There will be new sports 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 the latest Connections.

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 SEE ALSO: How to play Pips, the newest NYT game

Here are the clues and answers to NYT's The Mini for Tuesday, Jan. 27, 2026:

AcrossBit of clothing for a snowman

• The answer is Scarf.

"___ is just another defense against the universe": Mel Brooks

• The answer is Humor.

Say without saying

• The answer is Imply.

River whose basin spans 11 countries

• The answer is Nile.

Opposite of WSW

• The answer is ENE.

DownExcel

• The answer is Shine.

Spice in curry powder

• The answer is Cumin.

Spice in curry powder

• The answer is Ample.

Queen Elizabeth I or II, for Helen Mirren

• The answer is Role.

Cook in oil

• The answer is Fry.

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

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.