IT General

Razer makes a whole bunch of PC peripherals, not just keyboards and mice. This new range of webcams has a few cool features that will supercharge your next video calls—or even your next Twitch stream.

You can snag a 4-pack of Apple AirTags right now for an absolute steal at just $65 on Amazon. This is a massive 34% discount off the original $99 price tag. This is the perfect time to grab them, especially since these trackers make keeping tabs on your most important items incredibly easy.

Search news articles about being "chronically online" and you’ll mostly dig up fluff pieces on celebs who spend too much time on X or TikTok (Joe Jonas just can't be without his phone!). Yet "chronically online" is also used by media outlets to describe people like Tyler Robinson, the man charged with killing right-wing activist Charlie Kirk. 

"Investigators say Robinson is what some would call chronically online — a person who spends an inordinate amount of time on messaging platforms, on social media, and playing video games,” according to NPR.

Is being chronically online simply a goofy trait or, rather, a gateway to loneliness, delusion, or even violence? The word "chronic" makes the description seem clinical, like a diagnosed disease, but chronically online is an unscientific term — and a descriptor open to much interpretation.

"I don’t think there is an agreement on how much online time is 'too much,' because it also depends on what one does on the internet," Carlos Gershenson-Garcia, an empire innovation professor at the State University of New York at Binghamton, tells Mashable. "I mean, many people work only using the internet, so they use it 40+ hours a week, plus for personal time. But then, if one [spends] the same amount of time on social media, that is a different story. Or playing online games. Or doomscrolling."

SEE ALSO: New California law hopes to stop AI-assisted suicide among teens

The phrase "chronically online" became somewhat ubiquitous during COVID when there was little to do besides walking, baking bread, and staring at the internet. As CNET (a sister site to Mashable) pointed out in 2021, certain millennials and members of Gen Z loved pointing out chronically online behavior among their peers, like regularly using verbiage exclusive to the internet (e.g., IRL, OOMF) or getting involved in debates with strangers. While those examples seem relatively innocuous, chronically online people can also gravitate from offline connections toward parasocial relationships, and get overly vested in disputes involving celebrities (Nicki Minaj v. Cardi B. seems to be a prime example).

Still, needlessly getting vested in a movie star's divorce may not be the best use of someone’s time, but it’s a far cry from being radicalized on Reddit to commit violence. 

"I think the key here is ‘chronically,' which, to me, denotes a medical condition," says John Fitzgerald, PhD, an associate professor of English at Salem State University who has written about technology for publications like the New York Times. "I think it has less to do with how much time a person spends online or even what they’re looking at and more to do with their immersion in online spaces."

Utah governor Spencer Cox described Robinson’s online behavior as traversing "that deep dark internet, the Reddit culture and these other dark places of the internet where this person was going deep."

SEE ALSO: Explaining the phenomenon known as 'AI psychosis'

Not mentioned by Cox was whether or not Robinson utilized AI chatbots, which have come under scrutiny for allegedly encouraging suicidal ideation among young people. The term AI psychosis has emerged as a way to describe someone who's lost connection to reality due to their relationship with an AI chatbot — but "AI psychosis," like "chronically online," is not a clinical term. Would clarification from medical experts on when online behavior crosses from simply unhealthy to downright dangerous help people before it’s too late? Maybe, but currently there is scant information on unhealthy internet behavior on HHS.com, the website of the government's Health and Human Services department. (The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration department, a division of HHS, does provide suggestions for kids and youth navigating the internet.)

Dangerous online behavior can emerge when a mix of unhealthy factors is at play, says Saed D. Hill, PhD, a psychologist and masculinity coach.

"Some signs [of dangerous online behavior] include when one's online engagement starts to really fuel social isolation, rigid belief systems, it's always us versus them, or aggression against certain groups...then it is probably shifting from basic coping and escapism to full-on radicalization or potential for violence," Hill says. "Social isolation, mixed with aggression, and having trouble with relationships is a big sign, though. This is exacerbated by things like drugs, alcohol, and access to weapons."

Hill encourages those concerned about a loved one's online behavior to join them in offline activities and simply engage with them more. Counseling and therapy are also beneficial for those struggling with online attachment; connecting with other humans to explore unmet needs is always a better solution than "turning to the digital echo chambers that tech companies profit and thrive off," says Hill. 

If you're feeling suicidal or experiencing a mental health crisis, please talk to somebody. You can call or text the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988, or chat at 988lifeline.org. You can reach the Trans Lifeline by calling 877-565-8860 or the Trevor Project at 866-488-7386. Text "START" to Crisis Text Line at 741-741. Contact the NAMI HelpLine at 1-800-950-NAMI, Monday through Friday from 10:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m. ET, or email info@nami.org. If you don't like the phone, consider using the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline Chat at crisischat.org. Here is a list of international resources.

Bluetooth speakers come and go, and you might be about to throw out an old one so that you can unwrap the latest, shiniest model to take to the beach or install in your study.

T-Mobile is officially retiring its JUMP! On Demand (JOD) leasing program on December 1, 2025. However, the company is throwing in a huge, unexpected bonus for existing customers. For those of you currently on a JOD lease, T-Mobile is going to forgive your remaining lease balance.

If you keep an eye on PC hardware releases, you’ve probably noticed that companies—looking at you, AMD—release new graphics cards or processors for last-gen platforms. This has been happening for years, and I think it’s great for consumers. Here’s why.

Artists and creators love Pinterest for its ability to fuel creativity. It's the homepage for anyone who needs to brainstorm a theme for a party, wants to create a mood board for their upcoming year, or want to curate characteristics for a new cast in a novel they're writing. Over the past few years, though, Pinterest has become inundated with AI slop.

But this week, Pinterest gave its users the ability to filter out AI content, and fans are elated.

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It's fairly simple to do. Not everyone has access to the setting in their mobile app, so head to the desktop Pinterest app and follow the next few steps to remove as much AI from your Pinterest account as you can.

Total Time

• 1 min

What You Need

• Pinterest account on desktop

Step 1: Click the settings gear

On your Pinterest homepage, click the settings gear in the bottom left.

Credit: Pinterest screenshot

Step 2: Refine your recommendations

In the settings dropdown menu, click "refine your recommendations."

Credit: Pinterest screenshot

Step 3: Click GenAI interests

In the small menu underneath "refine your recommendations," click "GenAI interests."

Credit: Pinterest screenshot

Step 4: Toggle off GenAI interests

As pinterest says, here you can "Choose GenAI interests you’d like to see in your recommended Pins." Toggle off all of the GenAI interests you don't want to see, and keep the interests you want to see on. When you toggle an option off, Pinterest will pop up with the notice: "Turned off! You’ll start seeing fewer GenAI ideas for [topic] soon."

Credit: Pinterest screenshot

It's important to note that even if you turn off all of the GenAI interests, you still might see some AI-generated images on your Pinterest. After all, the popup reads: "You’ll start seeing fewer GenAI ideas for [topic] soon." Key word: fewer.

Mint Mobile, the super-affordable MVNO, is now offering 5G home internet with prices starting at $30 a month. "MINTernet," as it's called, appears to be a very competitive home internet service with zero contracts or equipment fees, though the pricing is actually more obscure than it should be.

Chromebooks already cater to the lowest budget segments in the laptop market, but why pay full price for a new Chromebook when you can buy a used one for even less?

Anthropic announced Claude Haiku 4.5 on Wednesday, the latest version of its compact AI model designed for speed, affordability, and safety. The company says Haiku 4.5 delivers near-frontier-level performance — matching the coding capabilities of Claude Sonnet 4 at one-third the cost and twice the speed.

It’s now available across Anthropic’s apps, Claude Code, and through Amazon Bedrock and Google Cloud Vertex AI. Pricing is set at $1 per million input tokens and $5 per million output tokens.

SEE ALSO: Say hello to Claude Sonnet 4.5, which Anthropic calls 'the best coding model in the world'

Haiku 4.5 is also Anthropic’s safest model yet, according to the company’s internal evaluations. It scored lower on misalignment behaviors than even the flagship Claude Sonnet 4.5 and carries an AI Safety Level 2 classification — a less restrictive rating than the ASL-3 label given to Anthropic’s more advanced models. The lightweight model is aimed at developers and companies building real-time AI applications like chat assistants, coding copilots, and customer service tools.

But the timing of the launch is notable. Just this week, Bloomberg reported that Anthropic has become a target for criticism from the Trump administration’s AI czar, David Sacks, who accused the company of "regulatory capture" and "fear-mongering" over its support for California’s new AI transparency law. Cofounder Jack Clark pushed back, saying the company is aligned with the White House on most issues but continues to advocate for responsible federal oversight.

Taken together, the release of Haiku 4.5 could be seen as a balancing act. One that's trying to prove that AI safety and progress don’t have to be at odds — even as the political climate around those principles grows more hostile.

Twitch might not be known for its offline prowess, but every year, streamers and their fans gather at a convention center to discuss everything from learning how to shape a stream's story to meeting their favorite creators.

Let's talk about this year's TwitchCon.

What is TwitchCon?

Launched in 2015, TwitchCon is the biggest convention for Twitch creators and streamers and their fans. It brings together creators, influencers, industry professionals, and audiences for panels, performances, meet-and-greets, and behind-the-scenes conversations.

A decade later, people are still showing up.

SEE ALSO: Top Twitch streamers by follower count: See the list. How much does TwitchCon 2025 cost?

To attend TwitchCon 2025, you'll have to log in and verify your Twitch account and choose which ticket makes the best sense for you.

A three-day ticket costs $249, but individual day tickets, each costing $169 or $159, depending on the day, are also available. You'll have to pay a bit more for the TwitchCon Block Party and the Family Bundle.

When is TwitchCon 2025?

This year's TwitchCon will take place Oct. 17-19 in San Diego, California. Mashable will be at the San Diego Convention Center, talking to your favorite streamers and covering all the most interesting panels.

Which creators will be at TwitchCon 2025?

Hundreds of streamers will be at TwitchCon 2025, including bbno$, Ludwig, emiru, fuslie, TheSushiDragon, Trixie Mattel, Pearl Teese, Jessu, KreekCraft, Maya, Sajam, Swagg, aldo_geo, bbnogames, Cinna, deusamir, ExtraEmily, fanfan, farrahrized, and so many more.

What kind of panels are at TwitchCon 2025?

Programs are broken down into 15 different sections: Glitch Stage, Twitch Rivals, Community MeetUp, Creator Camp, Community Session, Brand Session, Interactive Workshop, Music Session, Block Party, Expo Hall, GDQx, LAN, Meet & Greet, Tabletop, and Twitch Treats.

The panels cover everything from how to best moderate a chat to how to tell a story with your stream, securing partnerships and making money, playing games, networking, and meet-and-greets. Of course, if that's not really your vibe, there will also surely be plenty of things to do on the expo floor.

As TwitchCon said, "From showdowns and live streams to meetups, panels, and unforgettable moments — TwitchCon’s got it all."

Can I watch any of the TwitchCon panels if I'm not there?

The panels aren't livestreamed, but you can follow TwitchCon's social media accounts on Instagram and X to keep up to date on everything happening during the convention. Plus, Mashable will be there.

What has made TwitchCon controversial in the past?

TwitchCon has been under fire for safety issues time and time again. In 2024, TwitchCon was rife with harassment after Kick streamers crashed the event. In 2022, Twitch streamer Adriana Chechik broke her back after jumping into a foam pit.

According to Tubefilter, Twitch CEO Dan Clancy said: "I want to be very clear; we take security at our events, like TwitchCon, extremely seriously. Every year, we build on successful approaches to TwitchCon safety and security, particularly as we become aware of new or emerging security or safety challenges."

SAVE $200: The Acer Nitro V 16 AI is on sale for $699 at Walmart at the time of writing. That's 22% off its suggested retail price of $899.

Opens in a new window Credit: Acer Acer Nitro V 16 AI (AMD Ryzen 5 240, Nvidia GeForce RTX 5050, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) $699 at Walmart
$899 Save $200   Get Deal

I saw newer gaming laptops with Nvidia RTX 50 series GPUs get quite cheap during last week's October Prime Day sales (think $899.99 to $1,049.99 for RTX 5060 models). But as of mid-October, Walmart's managed to scrounge up an even cheaper option.

The Acer Nitro V 16 AI with a GeForce RTX 5050 graphics card, 16GB of memory, and 512GB of storage is now on sale for just $699, or $200 off its usual sticker price — a 22% savings. I've never seen an RTX 50 series gaming laptop dip so low before; this pushes it into Chromebook price territory.

We tested a $999 Nitro V 15 gaming laptop with RTX 4050 graphics back in 2023 and thought it offered great performance for the price. This updated 16-inch model has a newer AMD Ryzen 5 240 processor, a better 1080p webcam, a higher-res 1920 x 1200 display with a 180Hz refresh rate, and a cleaner, more subdued look.

The Nitro V 16 AI also comes with an MUX Switch that shuts off its dedicated GPU and enables its integrated graphics, which is really nice to have if you want to use it like a normal Windows laptop for non-gaming tasks. I don't expect it to be a battery life champ, but you should get a little more juice out of it this way.

The Nitro V 16 doesn't sport any RGB lighting — just amber backlighting under its keyboard — but that's hardly surprising at this price point.

Yesterday, Kim Kardashian's clothing brand SKIMS announced its latest product on Instagram: faux hair panties. "The Ultimate Bush." Thongs that feature a patch on the front that resembles pubic hair — available in several colors!

"Your carpet can be whatever color you want," declared a model in SKIMS' Instagram video. "Match, don't match, or switch it up mid-day."

Similar to the SKIMS nipple bra that debuted two years ago, these tongue-in-cheek products seemingly highlight parts of women's bodies that are traditionally kept hidden. They also showcase the hypocrisy of Instagram's policies.

SEE ALSO: Instagram Teen Accounts are now rated PG-13 The great shadowbanning

For years, sex workers — as well as LGBTQ creators, sex educators, activists, and others — have said that their accounts have been disabled, banned, or shadowbanned (unable to be found via Search or Explore) on Instagram, despite posting content that fits within the platform's community guidelines. 

This is something a variety of creators have been battling on the platform since 2019, Dr. Carolina Are, platform governance researcher, content creator, and then innovation fellow at Northumbria University's Center for Digital Citizens, told Mashable back in 2023. 

Many of these creators have claimed that Instagram uses rules against nudity and sexual solicitation against them, even if their posts don't contain these things. 

The problem still persists. Adult performer and activist, Siri Dahl, told Mashable back in June, when discussing censorship on the internet, that she's on her eighth Instagram account and the platform is becoming more strict. It even extends to link services like Linktree (which has booted sex workers in the past) and GetAllMyLinks. Dahl claimed that links adult creators like herself have in their bio are starting to get "blacklisted" by the platform. (Instagram didn't respond to Mashable's request for comment at the time.)

Meta, Instagram's parent company, which also owns Facebook and WhatsApp, has rejected period care ads for being adult or political, Mashable reported in 2023. A Meta spokesperson told Mashable at the time that advertisers can run ads promoting sexual health, wellness, and reproductive products and services — but as a global company, it needs to account for the diverse range of people who see ads to avoid potential negative experiences. Meta's Adult Products or Services Ads Policy restricts these ads — like saying they must focus on health and medical efficacy. Ads can't promote products that focus on arousal.

Yet, SKIMS can post about its pubic hair underwear without penalty.

Ultimate Bush? Ultimate Hypocrisy 

On Tuesday, SKIMS shared three videos advertising The Ultimate Bush to its Instagram feed and stories. They were shot in vintage style, featuring 1970s game show aesthetics and hairstyles. (It's important to note that these are not sponsored posts or paid advertisements, as the ads above were. SKIMS was merely posting freely to Instagram to promote its product.)

Instagram didn't ban, restrict, or shadowban SKIMS for this, nor did it for their nipple bra posts. Instagram also hasn't done so to the Kardashians, despite what they wear in their Instagram posts.

But if a small creator — say, an OnlyFans model — posted themselves in The Ultimate Bush, there's a high chance their post would be restricted. Instagram could claim that the post counted as sexual solicitation or nudity.

Double standards in social media moderation have been studied. Back in 2023, researcher and founder of content moderation service Reliabl, Annie Brown, told Mashable that while Instagram supposedly allows for artistic representations of nudity, many users observe that larger accounts — such as those of the Kardashians — can get away with it, while non-celebrities are at risk of having their accounts hidden from non-followers.

As of this writing, every $32 pair of SKIMS' Faux Hair Micro String Thong is on backorder, suggesting that the videos were widely seen. This simply wouldn't be the case with smaller creators.

Mashable has reached out to SKIMS and Instagram for comment. 

SAVE $50: As of Oct. 15, the JBL Tune Flex 2 noise-cancelling earbuds are on sale for just $59.95 at Amazon. That's a 45% discount and their best price on record.

Opens in a new window Credit: JBL JBL Tune Flex 2 $59.95 at Amazon
$109.95 Save $50   Get Deal

The earbuds deals during Prime Big Deal Days earlier this month definitely impressed us, but if you missed out on grabbing a pair, you can still get a really good deal.

As of Oct. 15, the JBL Tune Flex 2 noise-cancelling earbuds are on sale for an all-time low price of $59.95 at Amazon. That's a 45% discount from their usual cost of $109.95.

While we haven't tested the JBL Tune Flex 2, we have tested many JBL products and have never been disappointed in the sound quality. I actually own the JBL Endurance Peak earbuds myself and love them. The Tune Flex 2 deliver up to 48 hours of "Pure Bass Sound" and "Spatial Sound," thanks to 12mm dynamic drivers. The adaptive noise cancelling feature lets you block out as much of the outside world as you prefer. Download the JBL app, and you can adjust the noise cancellation, tweak ambient sound control settings, create playlists, check your fit, and even locate your earbuds.

The JBL buds also feature multipoint connectivity, dust and water resistance, and six mics for crystal clear calls. They're not the most advanced earbuds on the market, but if you want noise cancellation without spending an arm and a leg, they won't let you down. They even come in three color options to suit your style.

If I asked you to name a few flagship smartphones in 2025, you would probably mention the Samsung Galaxy S25, the iPhone 17, and the Google Pixel 10. While I completely agree with your inclusion of the Galaxy S25 and the iPhone 17, are you sure the Google Pixel 10 can really be considered a flagship smartphone?

SAVE $18.05: The Lego Minecraft Advent Calendar is on sale at Amazon for a record-low price of $26.94, down from the normal price of $44.99. That's a 40% discount.

Opens in a new window Credit: Lego Lego Minecraft Advent Calendar $26.94
$44.99 Save $18.05   Get Deal

You might still be prepping a Halloween costume and finding the best recipe for popcorn balls, but December holidays are rapidly approaching. If you like to celebrate the season with an Advent calendar and you or someone in your life is a Minecraft fan, check out this deal.

As of Oct. 15, the Lego Minecraft Advent Calendar is on sale for $26.94 at Amazon, marked down from the normal price of $44.99. That's a 40% discount that shaves $18.05 off. It's also a new record-low, beating its sale price during October Prime Day.

The best Advent calendars tend to sell out, and it seems the Lego Minecraft Advent calendar for 2025 is no different. This set is already sold out at Lego, which makes today's sale price at Amazon just that much more exciting.

SEE ALSO: Lego is giving away free Witch models for Halloween — here’s how to get yours on Oct. 26

Minecraft is going all out for the holidays, and even the sheep have opted for red and green dyes this year. There's also an adorable mini Christmas tree, and a lucky villager has donned a Santa suit and hat. All of the 24 mini-Lego builds go great on the included snowy Minecraft diorama. Lego suggests this Advent calendar for those aged seven and up.

Before it sells out, secure your Lego Minecraft Advent Calendar for 2025 while it's on a major 40% discount at Amazon.

Cheap streaming sticks seem like a good way to turn a dumb TV into a smart TV, or add some life to a smart TV that's not supported or running well anymore. However, as I learned, sometimes spending too little on something can end up being an expensive mistake.

SAVE $250: As of Oct. 15, get the GEEKOM Mini PC AX8 Max for $499, down from its usual price of $749. That's a discount of 33% and the lowest price we've seen.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon GEEKOM Mini PC AX8 Max $499 at Amazon
$749 Save $250   Get Deal

If you need a new computer, you might want to consider downsizing. Not in terms of ability, but physical size in general, with a mini PC. They're every bit as capable as their larger counterpart, but they take up much less real estate. If you're interested in taking the plunge, you can score a great mini PC for its lowest price yet at Amazon.

As of Oct. 15, get the GEEKOM Mini PC AX8 Max for $499, down from its usual price of $749. That's a discount of 33% and the lowest price we've seen.

SEE ALSO: Acer Revo Build is a modular mini PC with stackable component blocks

This mini PC boasts an AMD Ryzen 7 processor and Radeon 780M GPU with 32GB of DDR5 RAM, 1TB SSD, and multiple ports to make connectivity a breeze. It houses all of this in a tiny square that's just about the size of a Mac mini, so you can move it around wherever you need without having to rearrange or find a place for a huge PC tower.

It's small but mighty, with a special cooling system that keeps it able to function in such a tiny package and noise levels that are cut by up to 50% even when you're working on heavy tasks or multitasking. It also comes with Windows 11 Pro installed, so everything is already set up for you when you unbox it.

A mini PC is a great way to save money and put together a setup that's easily portable or modular if you want to move things around. If you're interested in giving it a go, now's the best time to do it, thanks to this killer deal.

Roku's latest software update is answering the questions you have about the programs you watch. What started as a simple command tool is evolving into a guide that can keep up with the conversation, and the Roku OS 25 update has a few other great improvements.

Apple just unveiled the M5 chip today, and we got a new MacBook powered by this chip. But it's not the only one. If you're more of an iPad person, Apple has also launched a refreshed iPad Pro, and it's looking like a really powerful one.