IT General

The Ford F-150 has been the best-selling vehicle in the United States for more than four decades. The 2021 model year brought the most significant redesign in a generation, with new exterior styling, a reworked interior, and a powertrain lineup that expanded to six options.

TL;DR: Amazon has Magic: The Gathering's Avatar The Last Airbender Jumpstart Booster Box on sale for $85.43, with $9.03 taken off its $94.46 list price. As a  24-pack display box, this means you’ll be paying around $3.56 per Jumpstart Booster before tax.

Opens in a new window Credit: Magic: The Gathering Magic: The Gathering Avatar The Last Airbender Jumpstart Booster Box $85.43 at Amazon
$94.96 Save $9.53 Get Deal

Avatar: The Last Airbender expansion is still one of the most fun crossovers with the Magic: The Gathering trading card game in recent memory, and you can now grab two dozen packs for the equivalent of just over $3.50 each. 

As of June 8, Magic: The Gathering's Avatar The Last Airbender Jumpstart Booster Box is on sale at Amazon for $85.43. That's 10% off its usual $94.46 price, saving you $9.03 on a sealed display shipped and sold by Amazon. 

This even undercuts other sellers on the site with the next-lowest pricing listed for $94.33. At $85.43, this 24-pack box equates to you paying only $3.56 per pack. 

If you want to save as much money as possible, however, TCGplayer goes even lower — with listings as low as $82.65. That’s actually $1.01 below its market price of $83.66. 

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In each of the box’s 24 packs are 20 Avatar-themed Magic cards. For those newer to Magic: The Gathering, the whole point of Jumpstart is speed: take two boosters, shuffle them together, and you have a playable deck with all the Lands already included. 

The Avatar expansion even has 46 themes altogether, letting you mix scenes, characters, and elemental ideas from the show into different quick-play combos. The boosters are compatible with other Jumpstart packs as well, so you can keep the mash-ups going once you have worked through the Avatar box.

For more boxes of MTG packs, you can preorder the 30-pack Marvel Super Heroes Play Booster Box for under $140. What’s more, the anticipated Magic: The Gathering's Reality Fracture Play Booster Box is available to preorder for $154.99 — still on sale at Amazon, too. 

If you’re also a Pokémon TCG fan, although currently not available on Amazon, the newly announced Pitch Black expansion — Booster Packs, ETBs, Display Boxes, and Booster Bundles — is available to preorder at TCGplayer.

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Cloud-based coding assistants are definitely helpful, but they come with recurring subscriptions or pay-as-you-go costs, and you're putting potentially proprietary information onto the internet.

There's nothing quite like a good movie night. A projector and screen combined with a surround sound system give me a taste of the real movie experience, and a bowl of popcorn adds to the impression. What's missing is a movie poster for whatever I'm watching, so I decided to see if I could find a way to make that happen, too.

TL;DR: Amazon has the Pokémon TCG Mega Evolution — Ascended Heroes Mega Feraligatr ex Box on sale for $69.79, with a 15% slice off its base $81.89 price. With that $12.10 saving included, you’ll be getting a sealed box with four valuable Ascended Heroes Booster Packs, one foil Mega Feraligatr ex promo card, and one oversize lenticular card.

Opens in a new window Credit: The Pokémon Company Pokémon TCG Ascended Heroes Mega Feraligatr ex Box $69.79 at Amazon
$81.89 Save $12.10   Get Deal

Ascended Heroes is still one of the most pricey expansions in the Pokémon TCG right now, but you can get a lower cost per pack by taking advantage of grabbing one of the coveted ex Boxes on sale right now. 

As of June 8, Amazon has cut the Pokémon TCG’s Ascended Heroes Mega Feraligatr ex Box to $69.79 — $12.10 down from its current $81.89 price. This 15% discount, with the listing shipped and sold by Collectors Expedition, also comes with free delivery estimated for June 12-15 at the time of writing, while the fastest delivery option is currently shown for June 9. 

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At $69.79, the box works out to about $17.45 per Ascended Heroes Booster Pack before you even factor in the playable foil promo card or oversize lenticular card. 

Compared to buying single Ascended Heroes Booster Packs, currently as low as $18.94 on Amazon, you’re saving at least $1.49 per pack — saving you $5.96 in total for all four, with the Feraligatr promo trading cards as essentially a free bonus. 

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TCGplayer is still cheaper overall if you’re comfortable buying from marketplace sellers. Its lowest unopened listing is $20.01 plus $29.99 shipping, while higher-feedback sellers are closer to $54 with shipping included — all fitting well within the range of the box’s $53.74 market price. 

Scarce since launch, Ascended Heroes still packs some amazingly valuable chase cards you can pull (or buy individually on TCGplayer) — including SIR Mega Gengar ex, SIR Pikachu ex, and SIR Mega Dragonite ex. 

If you’re also hunting cards from the newest expansion, you can buy the Pokémon TCG’s Chaos Rising Elite Trainer Box for $91 in its newest sale.  For an even lower cost per pack, you can grab the 36-pack Chaos Rising Booster Display Box for under $265 — equal to around $7.35 per pack.

Although currently not available on Amazon, the Pokémon TCG’s newly announced Pitch Black expansion — Booster Packs, ETBs, Display Boxes, and Booster Bundles — is available to preorder at TCGplayer.

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The 2026 World Cup is drawing closer, and scams are on the rise.

With people scrambling to buy tickets, the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center has issued a public service announcement about the number of fake websites out there. The short version? There are a lot. And they're after your data and money.

"Threat actors create a deceptive version of a legitimate website (www.fifa.com) with the goal of tricking users into believing they're interacting with an official brand," the FBI release states. "The FBI has identified actors engaging in this activity to collect personal information, sell fake World Cup tickets and hospitality products, and to possibly facilitate other malicious activity. If a threat actor gains access to a victim's PII, they can create new accounts in a victim's name and ultimately defraud the victim."

SEE ALSO: How to watch the 2026 FIFA World Cup online for free

Here's a list of scam websites the FBI has identified so far:

• www.fifa[.]cab

• www.fifa[.]pink

• www.fifa[.]blue

• www.fifa[.]pub

• FIFA[.]city

• Fifa[.]bio

• fifa[.]beer

• fifa[.]click

• fifa[.]cam

• fifa[.]ceo

• fifa[.]help

• filfa[.]org

• fifa-online[.]com

• https://fifa-2026[.]xyz

• jobs-fifa[.]com

• fifa-hr[.]com

• fifa-careerhub[.]com

• fifaworldcup-careers[.]com

• fifa-hiring[.]com

• fifahiring[.]com

• fifa-ticket[.]live

• fifastore.us[.]com

• fifaworldcup26[.]sale

• fifaworldcup26.xcover-staging[.]com

• worldcup2026-tickets.com[.]mx

• worldcup26ticket[.]com

• 2026fifaworldcuptickets[.]online

• fwc2026[.]net

• fwc2026.web[.]app

• www.fifa2026p[.]com

• fifa2026fworldcup[.]com

• wvvw-fifa[.]com

• ww-fifa[.]com

• fifa-com[.]com

• www.fifa-com[.]services

• quiniela-fifa-2026.pages[.]dev

How to safely buy World Cup tickets

There's only one way to do it: through FIFA's official website. The URL is www.fifa.com, and you need to watch out for typos — often scam sites will target speedy typers who've swapped out a character by mistake.

The FIFA site has a hub for ticket sales, which currently has three options: last-minute sales, marketplace (this allows ticket resales), and hospitality packages. Users must sign in to book.

If you'd rather watch the World Cup games at home for free, though, then we've got you covered.

SAVE $101: As of June 8, the Garmin vívoactive 5 is on sale for $198.99 at Amazon. That's a 34% discount on the list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Garmin Garmin vívoactive 5 $198.99 at Amazon
$299.99 Save $101   Get Deal

Looking for a new fitness tracker to assist your workout and lifestyle goals? Look no further than the Garmin vívoactive 5. This is an ideal offering from Garmin that gives you both advanced fitness tracking stats and health, wellness, and lifestyle features. And it looks good, too.

As of June 8, this smartwatch is currently on sale for $101 off the list price, bringing it down to $198.99. This deal is for the ivory colored watch, but you can browse other colors, too (although currently this is the only option on sale).

This Garmin has a bright and colorful AMOLED display that offers up to 11 days of battery life in smartwatch mode (or up to 5 days with the display always on). It is controlled both by a touchscreen and buttons, which makes use during workouts nice and easy.

With this watch, you'll get access to advanced Garmin features like Body Battery (a stat that monitors your energy levels), sleep tracking with a sleep score, personalized sleep coaching, and other metrics, including HRV (heart rate variability) status.

It also includes more than 30 indoor and GPS sports apps, ranging from walking and running to cycling and HIIT. It also includes a wheelchair mode, which tracks pushes instead of steps and provides tailored workouts and activities for wheelchair users, including strength and cardio.

Health monitoring is another big plus, with features like wrist-based heart rate, stress tracking, morning reports, fitness age, and menstrual cycle all included.

Find this Garmin deal at Amazon now.

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The NYT Connections puzzle today is not too difficult if you love being by the water.

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.

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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 June 8, 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: By the sea

• Green: Noggin

• Blue: Pointed

• Purple: Popular films

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Here are today's Connections categories

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

• Yellow: Landforms by water

• Green: Slang for head

• Blue: Things that can be spiked

• Purple: "The ___ Man" movies

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 #1093 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• Landforms by water: DELTA, ISLAND, ISTHMUS, PENINSULA

• Slang for head: COCONUT, DOME, MELON, PATE

• Things that can be spiked: MOHAWK, PUNCH, SEA URCHIN, VOLLEYBALL

• "The ___ Man" movies: COCONUT, DOME, MELON, PATE

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 June 8, 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 today's Connections.

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

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 June 8, 2026 NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: Play time

The words are related to gaming.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

These words describe popular games.

NYT Strands spangram hint: Is it vertical or horizontal?

Today's NYT Strands spangram is vertical.

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NYT Strands spangram answer today

Today's spangram is Game Night.

NYT Strands word list for June 8

• Spinners

• Tokens

• Dice

• Game Night

• Cards

• Tiles

• Boards

• Chips

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 today's Strands.

Today's Wordle answer should be easy to solve if you're part of a clan.

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 June 8, 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 June 8, 2026 Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

A gang.

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

The letter A appears twice.

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

Today's Wordle starts with the letter M.

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...

MAFIA

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.

As much as I love tinkering in the garage and mowing, trimming, or edging the lawn, not everyone enjoys the process or has the time. And as a new dad with a toddler running around the house, my time is limited. After using the latest Segway Navimow X430 robot lawn mower, I'm convinced this is the future.

SAVE $10.99: As of June 8, the Roku Streaming Stick 4K Plus is on sale for $29 at Amazon. That's a 27% discount on the list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Roku Roku Streaming Stick Plus $29 at Amazon
$39.99 Save $10.99   Get Deal

Streaming devices are a simple and affordable way to make your entertainment setup easier. Whether you have an older TV that doesn't have built-in streaming options, or you travel a lot and don't want to sign in and out of unfamiliar devices, a streaming device can be the way to go.

And as of June 8, one of the most popular models, the Roku Streaming Stick 4K Plus, is on sale at Amazon. Right now, you can save $10.99 on the list price, which is currently down to $29.

The Roku Streaming Stick Plus gives you 4K streaming with HDR support in a compact device that plugs directly into the TV’s HDMI port. Unlike many streaming devices, this one doesn't need a wall outlet to run. It's powered directly through the TV, so there is far less cable clutter to endure.

It comes with a remote that lets you control both the TV and streaming device so you don't need lots of remotes hanging around, either.

And, of course, with this TV stick you'll get access to a huge range of streaming apps (including Netflix, Prime Video and more), and you'll find them all together in one place, on a home screen that is designed for easy navigation.

Get this streaming deal online at Amazon now.

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TL;DR: Amazon has the Pokémon TCG Mega Evolution — Chaos Rising Elite Trainer Box starting at $91 through a third-party seller, down from its $119.99 list price. This saves you $28.99 on the ETB’s lowest Amazon listing yet, while the Elite Trainer Box sold and shipped directly by Amazon is only slightly higher at $92.55 with faster delivery. 

Opens in a new window Credit: The Pokémon Company Pokémon TCG Mega Evolution Chaos Rising Elite Trainer Box $91 at Amazon
$119.99 Save $28.99   Get Deal

Chaos Rising prices have been steadily falling in the Pokémon TCG market since launch, and Amazon’s latest listings have now taken the expansion’s Elite Trainer Box to its lowest price with the retailer yet.

As of June 8, the Pokémon TCG Mega Evolution — Chaos Rising Elite Trainer Box is available at Amazon from $91 via Prime Picks, with free delivery currently listed for June 13-15. With this 24% discount from its $119.99 list price, you'll save $28.99 on the sealed collector box. 

As confirmed with price tracker camelcamelcamel, this is indeed the lowest price we've seen for the ETB on Amazon so far.

If you’re willing to put up a slightly higher amount for faster shipping, the Chaos Rising ETB is sold and shipped directly by Amazon itself and is priced at $92.55 — with free delivery scheduled for June 14, with its fastest option currently listed for June 12, at the time of writing.

However, you can save more by buying your trading cards outside of Amazon, if you’re willing. TCGplayer has unopened Chaos Rising ETB listings starting from $83.99, which is only 44 cents higher than its market price of $83.51.

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Inside the Pokémon TCG’s Chaos Rising Elite Trainer Box, you’ll get nine titular booster packs, one full-art foil promo card featuring Fennekin, 65 card sleeves, 40 Energy cards, a player’s guide, six damage-counter dice, one competition-legal coin-flip die, one plastic coin, a collector’s box with six dividers, and a Pokémon TCG Live code card.

Among this expansion, themed around Mega Floette descending Lumiose City into chaos, you’ll have the chance to pull valuable chase cards (also available to buy separately) like Mega Greninja ex, Mega Pyroar ex, and Mega Dragalge ex, and Mega Floette ex itself. 

For even more packs from the expansion, you can also grab the Pokémon TCG’s six-pack Chaos Rising Booster Bundle for under $60. 

To get the lowest cost per pack, though, you can score the 36-pack Chaos Rising Booster Display Box for under $265 — equalling $7.35 per pack. 

Although currently not available on Amazon, the Pokémon TCG’s newly announced Pitch Black expansion — Booster Packs, ETBs, Display Boxes, and Booster Bundles — is available to preorder at TCGplayer.

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As governments and tech companies shape the future of online privacy, sex workers around the world are organizing to push back against threats to our freedom of speech and data ownership.

"We know from experience that sex workers are the beta testers for taking away people's digital rights," says Ana Ornelas, digital policy officer at the European Sex Workers' Rights Alliance (ESWA). ESWA represents more than 100 member organizations in 30 countries in Western, Eastern, and Central Europe and Central Asia.

SEE ALSO: Adult creators are still getting debanked — but it doesn't just impact them

Take FOSTA/SESTA, twin laws in the U.S. passed in 2018 to ostensibly stop online sex trafficking, but in actuality, made it harder for sex workers and others who work in adult industries to exist online. Big Tech platforms cracked down on sexual content, resulting in bans and shadowbans that persist today. Multiple studies have found that this makes adult workers less safe.

Today, age-verification laws (that require users to give their identity over to tech companies before accessing adult content) have led to sex workers losing income, all while initial studies suggest that they don't actually work to keep minors off porn sites.

Sex workers, unionized and not, continue to fight against bad tech policy. Ornelas, for instance, recently met with an official working on new EU regulations about artificial intelligence that are "simpler" and "innovation-friendly." Ornelas brought up how the proposal leaves room for tech-facilitated gender-based violence. 

"I'm very worried about the exceptions," says Ornelas, referencing the allowances the package makes for generating non-consensual deepfake sexual content for artistic reasons or when subjects are unidentifiable. "Images can be scraped from someone's Instagram bikini pictures. I think that we should be focusing a lot more on transparency around the big tech companies and what's in their databases. You don't need to be completely nude for this technology to be dangerous."

Five thousand miles away from ESWA's campaign, workers at Sheri's Ranch, a legal brothel in Nevada, are fighting a battle on another digital frontier. In Dec., the brothel workers received a contract from management, which included turning over ownership of their likeness and intellectual property to their workplace. In response, the workers reached out to the Communication Workers of America for support and began the process to form a union.

I worked at Sheri's so that I can chase my dreams, but that shouldn't mean they own those dreams too. - Adalind Gray

"The language was big enough that the Ranch could argue that they own anything that we've ever created," says Adalind Gray, one of the seven workers at Sheri's Ranch who were fired since they began their union campaign. The newly founded United Brothel Workers (UBW) has filed unfair labor practices with the National Labor Relations Board on behalf of Gray and the other workers. 

"I have big dreams with my band. I worked at the Ranch in order to fund the studio costs," says Gray. "That is the reason why I do what I do. I think there would also be potential for them to argue they own my online sex work as well, the content I make for OnlyFans."

The use of workers' digital likeness for profit or AI training sets a dangerous precedent for workers in any industry. "Anybody that has cultivated an online following, or has a podcast, substack, any independent work that they care about at all, should be worried that their employer wants to own a piece of all of anything that they do in perpetuity," says Scott Goodstein, a spokesperson for the UBW. "These types of contracts need to be stopped immediately."

"I worked at Sheri's so that I can chase my dreams, but that shouldn't mean they own those dreams too," says Gray.
"No employer is entitled to a slice of my entire community that I spent years building solely because I work there."

The fight against age verification

In the UK, Australia, and the United States, sex workers are leading the fight against age-verification legislation, too. According to the Age Verification Providers Association, nearly 30 countries have introduced age-verification legislation, with at least four more countries on track to introduce legislation in the next one to two years.

"Regulations in one country impact the web for everyone," says Mish Pony, the CEO of Scarlet Alliance, the national peak body representing sex workers across Australia. "When tech companies are creating their terms and conditions, they are developing those based on the regulatory environment that they are based in. So legislation in the U.S. and EU have disproportionate power globally." 

"Our government once issued a fine to X, which doesn't have a physical presence in Australia. How can we actually force them to pay that fine?" Pony asks.

Tech companies are incentivized to play it safe relating to powerful countries' regulations, fueling censorship of not only adult content, but health and education content related to sexuality as well. 

"We've developed a community response every time somebody has a profile taken down," says Kitt Turner, the external communications officer for the UK Sex Workers' Union (SWU). "Everybody rallies around to try and like file reports and try and push to have them reinstated. Sometimes that's effective, sometimes it's not. But we kind of share any knowledge that we can pick up in terms of what makes it more likely for someone to have their profile."

"We've spoken with [Australia's] eSafety commissioner, and we've done a postcard campaign with health professionals who are concerned about the impact of these regulations on people's access to information online," says Pony. "We're just trying to make sure that people are aware of these harmful consequences."

In the United States, Sasha Bee, an organizer for the Sex Worker Action Alliance and Erotic Professionals & Allies United, currently leads campaigns in multiple states to educate and push back against age-verification legislation. Age verification laws are now in effect in over half the states in the United States. "We're fighting against what is fundamentally a free speech violation," says Bee.

Why we must listen to sex workers

Dating back to the earliest days of the internet, sex workers are credited with driving technological adoption and innovation, with contributions including the first online credit card verification systems.

"Adult content creators created the internet," Bee confirms, and research supports this claim. "If you like the fact that you have fast bandwidth, can stream Netflix and Hulu on the same WiFi, thank a sex worker. The demand for their work created the internet that we see today," says Bee.

In the age of Big Tech like X and Meta, however, it's difficult to contest what they do, Turner says.

But that hasn't stopped sex workers from campaigning and collaborating to change the tech landscape. SWU works closely with Decrim Now UK, a coalition fighting for the decriminalization of sex work in the UK. For around the last two years, Decrim Now has been trying to organize a sex worker strike against AdultWork, a platform where they can advertise their work, due to increased costs and reduced profit, says organizer Audrey Caradonna. Decrim Now has also participated in sex work strikes during International Women's Day since 2018.

Adult content creators created the internet. - Sasha Bee

In Dec., Scarlett Alliance published a study on the Impacts of Online Regulation. One of their findings was the negative impact that Australia's Online Safety Act had on youth and marginalized people by restricting access to critical sexual and reproductive health education and drug harm reduction information. Decrim Now UK, ESWA, and industry research firm SWR Data are also currently engaged in collecting similar data to observe the impacts of new tech policies on sex workers. Using their data on sex workers' lived experiences, these organizations are able to inform policymakers how their legislative decisions could impact everybody else on the internet.

"So much of what we're seeing happen to activists and marginalized people in countries like the United States and Germany are taken straight out of the playbook of how sex workers have been treated for the past years," says Ornelas. "We've seen that come true with digital rights activists here in Germany who were put on a no-fly list to the U.S. It's exactly how sex workers have been treated — they've been denied entry in the U.S. based on the fact that they are sex workers or performers. Border control has the data, and suddenly they find themselves taken into a private room to explain themselves."

With their digital privacy on the line, sex workers have strategies on how to mitigate these risks and leverage the community to protect each other, Ornelas says. Amongst other resources, ESWA offers recommendations for social media platform accountability and will soon publish the results of a survey on sex work and deepfake technologies. Mashable also has a breakdown of top digital security tips from sex workers.

Civilians, or non-sex workers, should learn from the community how to protect themselves online, Ornelas says. "Because the way things are headed, it's gonna come in handy."

TL;DR: Stop struggling against PDFs forever with this lifetime subscription to PDFToolKit Starter Plan, on sale now for $39 (reg. $204).

Opens in a new window Credit: PDFToolKit PDFToolKit - Starter Plan: Lifetime Subscription $39
$204 Save $165   Get Deal

Imagine a world where it’s easy to work with PDFs — and you can do it all in your browser window without any extra apps. That’s what PDFToolKit delivers, letting you conquer this pesky file format once and for all.

Right now, you can snag a lifetime subscription to a PDFToolKit Starter Plan for just $39 (reg. $204).

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Don’t let PDFs derail your workflow. PDFToolKit lets you conquer these files once and for all, making it easy to convert, edit, and sign them instantly.

Unlike most PDF editors on the market, PDFToolKit is a browser tool that runs entirely in your browser, so you don’t have to hop around different apps to get help. You don’t have to download anything, and since everything is processed locally, your data stays private and secure.

PDFToolKit gives you access to a fleet of AI-powered tools, so you can modify text and images, merge and split files, and sign documents quickly. You can also convert file types in a few clicks, including Word, PowerPoint, JPG, and PNG.

This tool is built to handle larger files efficiently, and if you need to work with multiple files, there’s speedy batch processing available. Working with sensitive information? PDFToolKit offers password protection and makes it easy to redact information if needed.

Compatibility isn’t an issue with PDFToolKit; you can access it on any browser. This Starter Plan lets you enjoy it for life, with updates included and five PDF uploads available per month.

Lock in this lifetime subscription to PDFToolKit Starter Plan for just $39 (reg. $204).

StackSocial prices subject to change.

TL;DR: Pok Pok’s lifetime subscription is down to $44.97 through June 14, giving families ad-free, Montessori-inspired educational play without another recurring subscription.

Opens in a new window Credit: Pok Pok Pok Pok: Lifetime Subscription $44.97
$250 Save $205.03   Get Deal

If you’ve ever handed your toddler a tablet and instantly regretted it, Pok Pok might just restore your faith in screen time. This innovative, Montessori-inspired app turns digital play into something that actually feels okay for both kids and parents.

Designed for ages 2 to 8, Pok Pok replaces those noisy, overstimulating apps with calm, open-ended play that encourages creativity, independence, and curiosity.

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Kids explore a beautifully hand-drawn world filled with toys that grow alongside them — from early cause-and-effect puzzles to more advanced STEM-style challenges. It’s like a digital game sandbox for little minds.

Every sound, color, and motion in Pok Pok is crafted to feel soothing and natural — no flashing ads, no pressure to “win,” and no hidden purchases. It’s also fully COPPA-certified, meaning it meets strict safety standards for children’s digital content. Parents can relax knowing their kids are learning, not zoning out.

Perfect for travel, quiet time, or rainy afternoons, Pok Pok runs offline, so playtime never depends on Wi-Fi.

At this low price, this lifetime subscription is the kind of tech investment that doesn’t come with a side of parental guilt — giving your child a fun, educational start in a calm digital space built just for them.

Get lifetime access to Pok Pok while it’s on sale for just $44.97 (reg. $250).

StackSocial prices subject to change.

TL;DR: Go from beginner to advanced with this Claude AI Professional E-Degree, now for just $19.99 (reg. $49).

Opens in a new window Credit: Eduonix Learning Solutions Claude AI Professional E-Degree $19.99
$49 Save $29.01   Get Deal

AI models aren’t created equal. You’ve probably been hearing a lot about Claude AI, but if you’ve yet to master this model, you’re in luck. The Claude AI Professional E-Degree is packed with four courses ready to school you on everything from agentic coding to workflow animation.

Right now, you can snag them all for $19.99 (reg. $49) — just $5 a course.

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Let the Claude AI Professional E-Degree school teach you about this rising AI model. These four courses are taught by Eduonix Learning Solutions, a team of industry professionals who teach technology the way it’s actually used and are ready to walk you through over 8 hours of video content.

This hands-on eDegree’s four modules show you how to use Claude beyond your basic conversations. It’s great for beginners, and helpful for everyone from developers and entrepreneurs to creators and freelancers, taking them all from novices to experts.

You’ll learn how to provide more effective prompts and master chain-of-thought workflows to help improve Claude’s responses. It also covers AI-assisted coding workflows and debugging techniques.

Want to work on your workflow automation? This course teaches you how to connect Claude with Gmail, Google Drive, Calendar, Chrome, MCP connectors, and productivity tools.

You’ll get hands-on schooling as you build practical projects for marketing workflows, AI websites, automatic systems, and more. There are also quizzes available to test your skills, and you’ll receive a professional eDegree certification after completion.

Become a Claude expert with the Claude AI Professional E-Degree, now only $19.99 (reg. $49).

StackSocial prices subject to change.

An advertiser paid for editorial consideration of this deal. Our editorial experts vetted the deal using their independent expertise. Because we determined that the deal will save money for the consumer, we wrote the content.

TL;DR: HelloFresh is offering 10 free meals plus a free Zwilling Dragon Wok when you sign up for an active subscription with the exclusive discount code CNET10WOK.

Opens in a new window Credit: Hello Fresh HelloFresh: Get a free Zwilling Dragon Wok + 10 free meals with code CNET10WOK   Get Deal

If you have a busy schedule and planning out food for the week feels too stressful, a meal kit delivery service can be a helpful investment. These take the worry out of prepping and planning out meals every day, and HelloFresh does that and more.

For a limited time, Mashable readers can score 10 free meals plus a free Zwilling Dragon Wok with the exclusive discount code CNET10WOK. This is an excellent way to test (and taste) the service and see if it's a good fit for you and your household. However, there's a few important things to keep in mind when applying this discount.

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The first is that this offer is only valid for new customers who have a qualifying auto-renewing subscription. The second is that the 10 free meals are based on a total discount that's applied over a one-week period for a four-person, five-recipe subscription. If you purchase a plan of greater value, you'll get more than 10 free meals, whereas if your plan is of lesser value, you'll receive fewer than 10. And third, it also expires 21 days after purchase.

The other exciting element of this deal is the free Zwilling Dragon Wok. Normally this 12-inch carbon steel wok costs $179.99, so this is an excellent offer to jump on that nets you a fancy new pan for your kitchen. You'll have to wait a little bit before you can use it, though. After paying for your fifth box, you'll receive a link via email within 14 days of receipt that will allow you to redeem. Because it's tied in to the fifth box, that box must be ordered before 11:59 p.m. ET on Sept. 4 and the wok redeemed by Sept. 19.

This HelloFresh deal won't last for long. You've got until July 31 to use code CNET10WOK to take advantage of this 10 free meals plus a free Zwilling Dragon Wok offer.

Want to learn more about getting the best out of your tech? Sign up for Mashable's Top Stories and Deals newsletters today.

TL;DR: Watch the 2026 FIFA World Cup for free from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The world will stop this summer for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

16 cities across the U.S., Mexico, and Canada will welcome the best international sides from around the world as they compete for arguably the biggest prize in sport. Huge names like Kylian Mbappé, Vinícius Júnior, and Lamine Yamal are likely to steal the spotlight, but new stars always shine brightly in this prestigious competition. It's going to be a wild ride.

If you're interested in watching the 2026 FIFA World Cup from anywhere in the world, we've got all the information you need.

What is the FIFA World Cup?

The World Cup is an international football competition between senior men's national teams. The 2026 World Cup has been expanded to 48 teams, split into 12 groups of four teams. The top two teams in each group and the eight best third-placed teams will progress to the knockouts rounds.

The defending champions are Argentina. They won their third title at the 2022 World Cup after defeating France in an epic final.

When is the 2026 FIFA World Cup?

The 2026 World Cup is the 23rd edition of this famous competition. This year's tournament takes place from June 11 to July 19.

How to watch the 2026 FIFA World Cup for free

A number of streaming platforms are offering free coverage of the 2026 FIFA World Cup:

• Australia — SBS

• Austria — ORF and ServusTV

• Belgium — RTBF and VRT

• France — M6

• Germany — ARD and ZDF

• Ireland — RTÉ

• Italy — RAI

• Norway — NRK

• Netherlands — NOS

• Spain — RTVE

• UK — BBC iPlayer and ITVX (recommended)

These streaming services are geo-restricted, but anyone can secure access with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in another location, meaning you can live stream the 2026 FIFA World Cup for free from anywhere in the world.

Live stream the 2026 FIFA World Cup for free by following these simple steps:

1. Sign up for a streaming-friendly VPN (we recommend ExpressVPN)

2. Download the app to your device of choice

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

4. Visit BBC iPlayer or ITVX (recommended)

5. Watch 2026 FIFA World Cup for free from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan) $12.99 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but they do tend to offer generous money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can watch the 2026 FIFA World Cup without committing with your cash. This is obviously not a long-term strategy, but it gives you enough time to stream this tournament before recovering your investment.

If you want to retain permanent access to free streaming platforms from around the world, you'll need a subscription. Fortunately, the best VPN for streaming live sport is on sale for a limited time.

What is the best VPN for the FIFA World Cup?

ExpressVPN is the best choice for accessing live sport on free streaming platforms, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries

• 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

• Up to 10 simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A two-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $68.40 and includes an extra four months for free — 81% off for a limited time. This plan includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.99 (with money-back guarantee).

Live stream the 2026 FIFA World Cup for free with ExpressVPN.

SAVE $200: As of June 8, the Google Pixel 10 is on sale for $599 at Amazon. That's a 25% discount on the list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Google Google Pixel 10 $599
$799 Save $200   Get Deal

If you'd rather upgrade your smartphone without committing to a two-year contract, you'll want to keep an eye out for a great deal on an outright purchase. And right now, you're in luck, because as of June 8, the Google Pixel 10 is on sale at Amazon for $200 less. Normally priced at $799, you can make it yours now for $599. And it's unlocked too, so you can use it with the network provider of your choice.

It's a powerful phone (check out our review for a full breakdown), powered by the Google Tensor G5 chip and with built-in features including Gemini AI. It also includes Gemini Live, a function that allows conversations with AI, including using the camera to ask questions about what you are seeing or using your voice to help complete tasks across different apps.

If a strong camera system is an important feature for you, this phone won't disappoint. It has a triple rear camera system with a new 5x telephoto lens with up to 20x Super Res Zoom. It also benefits from Night Sight, a feature designed to take clearer low-light photography.

And if you're someone who drops their phone a lot, no judgment here. The phone is built with scratch-resistant Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2 and has an IP68 rating for both water and dust resistance.

Head to Amazon to grab this Google deal.