Technology

Creating automations in Home Assistant can be a long and time-consuming process. You don't have to reinvent the wheel, however. There are some useful blueprints that you can use to create complex automations in next to no time.

The pressure is mounting on social media companies to enforce their rules and protect children on the platforms. Australia recently instituted a ban on children under the age of 16 from social media platforms. Gaming platforms like Roblox are now using facial recognition technology to prevent kids from interacting with adults in chats.

And now TikTok, the social media platform well known for its popularity with young people, will be rolling out its own age verification system in Europe to detect underage users on its site, according to a Reuters report.

TikTok's age-detection system analyzes a user's profile information, published videos, and behavioral signs to estimate if a user is under the age of 13. Per TikTok policy, users must be at least 13 to sign up for the platform. Once the age detect system flags an account, the user will be reviewed by specialist moderators. User accounts will not be banned automatically.

TikTok told Reuters the age-detection system will be rolled out across Europe in the coming weeks after testing the program in Britain for the past year. The system was specifically designed to comply with European regulatory requirements.

EU regulators have been pushing for social media platforms to act on child safety issues, including ensuring users are of the minimum age required for a platform. The European Parliament is looking into potentially instituting a social media ban similar to the one in Australia for children under the age of 15.

As Mashable covered earlier this week, some online platforms are discovering the difficulties with online age verification. Roblox users, for example, have been uncovering simple workarounds to the platform's age verification, which involved simply uploading animated avatars or even drawing facial hair on their image with a Sharpie.

TikTok's method is bound to pick up some false positives on users who are over 13 but mistakenly get flagged or even removed for being underage. We'll have to see just how accurate it is, and how many disgruntled users it leaves in its path once it rolls out more broadly.

Another weekend arrives, and lucky for us, so does another opportunity for a cozy binge with some of the best shows Amazon Prime Video has to offer—two of which I’ve seen and did not regret watching. My top recommendation, though, is the first thing I’ll be diving into this weekend, right along with you. It’s hard for voracious consumers like me to avoid shows that boast a 100% Rotten Tomatoes score.

I’m tired of trying to plug my printer in and failing multiple times because of the archaic USB-B connector on it. That connector is 30 years old, and it’s time to ditch it. Arduino did, even on its lowest-cost microcontrollers. If Arduino can embrace USB-C, so can printer manufacturers.

Storage prices have been steadily climbing over the past few months, with no slowdown in sight, while files keep getting bigger. Windows doesn’t always make it easy to manage your drive, and before you buy more of that expensive storage space, there’s an easier solution.

The 2026 K4 Hatchback takes everything Kia learned from the K4 Sedan and wraps it in a tighter, more playful shape. After seeing it in the flesh at the 2026 Detroit Auto Show, it’s clear this five-door was built with Civic shoppers in mind.

Smart home devices being discontinued and turned into bricks is a common occurrence, but larger companies like Google and Amazon usually keep their devices running for a long time. That's not true for the Fire TV Blaster, which is getting killed only a year after Amazon stopped selling it.

I was very late to the party with Notion. I tried the all-in-one workspace app a couple of years ago and didn't really get the hype. I recently tried it again, and now that I know just how much you can do by combining Notion with the automation software n8n, I kind of wish I'd left it alone. It's awesome—and that's the problem.

The latest Windows 11 security update from January 2026 is causing a frustrating bug that makes some PCs refuse to shut down or hibernate after installation. This issue stems from the monthly Patch Tuesday bundle, specifically update KB5073455, on devices running Windows 11, version 23H2.

Excel's fill handle is fine for a few rows, but in a big dataset, it's an error waiting to happen. Why drag and drop when you can automate? The MAP function lets you write a single formula that spills logic across your whole sheet, keeping your data clean and your workflow streamlined.

Elon Musk's X may still be permitting the posting of Grok-generated, sexualized images of real people, despite the company’s recent announcement that such content had been banned, according to reporting by The Guardian.

The British newspaper reported that its journalists were able to generate and upload videos depicting real women being undressed into bikinis, using images of fully clothed individuals.

SEE ALSO: Grok ban: The nations considering blocking AI chatbot over nonconsensual sexual content

In its reporting, The Guardian wrote:

"The Guardian was able to create short videos of people stripping to bikinis from photographs of fully clothed, real women. It was also possible to post this adult content on to X’s public platform without any sign of it being moderated, meaning the clip could be viewed within seconds by anyone with an account."

According to the newspaper, the sexualized images were created using the standalone Grok app and then successfully posted to X. Earlier this week, X said it had banned AI-generated, sexualized images of real people.

"We have implemented technological measures to prevent the [@]Grok account on X globally from allowing the editing of images of real people in revealing clothing such as bikinis," the X safety account wrote in an update. "This restriction applies to all users, including paid subscribers."

X has faced criticism in recent weeks over the circulation of sexualized, AI-generated images on the platform. Earlier this month, governments in multiple countries said they were investigating or moving to restrict Grok following reports that it had enabled the creation of sexualized images of minors. X's safety update also stated that the company maintains a "zero tolerance for any forms of child sexual exploitation, non-consensual nudity, and unwanted sexual content."

The Steam Deck is my go-to platform for retro gaming; I’ve even dedicated a 1TB microSD card to it. But it’s ill-suited to multiplayer sessions and non-portable use. Though I could invest in yet another USB hub, I’d rather make use of hardware I’ve already got, like my under-utilized Raspberry Pi.

LibreELEC is a Linux-based operating system that’s designed purely with media consumption in mind. Pair it with an old (or new) Raspberry Pi and hide it behind the TV for an invisible and highly capable media center setup.

Minivans and off-road capability don’t usually belong in the same sentence, but one American people-mover concept is challenging that assumption. With a focus on rugged design, enhanced traction systems, and adventurous styling cues, it pushes the idea of what a family van can do, not just on pavement, but on unpaved backroads too. It turns heads not because it debuted at a major show, but because it signals a new direction in how minivans can be configured for modern lifestyles.

SAVE $35: As of Jan. 16, the Soundcore C30i open earbuds are on sale for only $34.99 at Amazon. That's a 50% discount from their usual cost and the lowest price on record.

Opens in a new window Credit: Soundcore Soundcore C3i open earbuds $34.99 at Amazon
$69.99 Save $35.00   Get Deal

Open earbuds are everywhere at the moment. Several new pairs debuted during CES 2026, but they've been on the market for awhile now (check out our roundup of the best ones). If you've been curious about these air conduction-based earbuds, but don't want to spend a fortune, the Soundcore C30i open earbuds are majorly discounted at Amazon so you can give them a shot.

As of Jan. 16, the Soundcore C30i open earbuds are on sale for only $34.99 at Amazon. That's 50% or $35 cheaper than usual and their lowest price on record.

Open earbuds are designed for folks who want to actually stay in tune with the world around them and/or find in-ear designs uncomfortable. Instead of sitting inside of your ear canal, they use air conduction to transmit sound to your ears. While they come in several different varieties, the Soundcore C30i feature a clip design (similar to the popular Bose Ultra Open earbuds). They attach to the outer edge of your ears like a cuff and stay in place with the help of attachable ear grips.

Since they don't sit in your ear canal, the C30is don't offer noise cancellation. So in order to boost sound, they offer a surround sound mode through the Soundcore app to make listening more immersive. If you're a runner, cyclist, commuter, or anyone who wants to stay in tune with the outside world, the Soundcore C30is are a low stakes way to see if open earbuds are right for you (without breaking the bank).

SAVE $199.01: As of Jan. 16, get the Alienware AW3423DWF QD-OLED gaming monitor for $499.99 at Amazon, down from its usual price of $699. That's a discount of 28% and the lowest price we've seen.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Alienware AW3423DWF QD-OLED gaming monitor $499.99 at Amazon
$699 Save $199.01   Get Deal

Now that we're at the start of a new year, we're facing down plenty of new games coming down the pipelines in 2026. Why not be ready with a monitor that can handle all the action with ease? You can do just that with this deal on one of our favorite gaming monitors right now, as it's available for its lowest price yet.

As of Jan. 16, get the Alienware AW3423DWF QD-OLED gaming monitor for $499.99 at Amazon, down from its usual price of $699. That's a discount of 28% and the lowest price we've seen.

SEE ALSO: The Samsung Odyssey G5 ultra-wide gaming monitor just dropped to under $300 at Amazon

This 34-inch curved OLED monitor is all about making you feel like you're right in the middle of your favorite games. It offers a gorgeous, crisp picure with sharp details, deep hues and contrasts, and two HDR modes to offer the best possible performance: HDR 400 True Black and HDR Peak 1000.

It boasts 1,000 nits of brightness with a 0.1ms respnse time as well as AMD FreeSync and VESA AdaptiveSync. It's perfect for twitchier games where you need to make sure you're as precise as possible, so if you need a bit of help improving your game, this very well may do it for you.

You can customize the look and feel of the monitor thanks to its RGB lighting, and adjust and tilt it to your liking when placed on a desk. All of these features come together to give you one of the most comprehensive suites possible in terms of gaming monitors, which almost certainly means you'll be seeing some true improvement with your games. Just be sure you grab it now before it's no longer on sale.

If you've been following me for a while, you know Fedora Linux is not one of my favorite distributions. There are many spin-off distributions though that base themselves on Fedora, though, that I would recommend.

SAVE 18%: As of Jan. 16, the DJI Osmo Mobile 6 is $89, down from $109, at Amazon. That’s an 18% discount, or $20 in savings.

DJI Osmo Mobile 6 $89 at Amazon
$109 Save $20   Get Deal at Amazon Get Deal at Amazon Get Deal at Best Buy

Whether you're determined to become a TikTok star by year's end or you just genuinely like filming life, a gimbal (aka support so your videos don't look like they were filmed during an earthquake) could do you some good.

As of Jan. 16, the DJI Osmo Mobile 6 is $89, down from $109, at Amazon. That’s an 18% discount, or $20 in savings.

SEE ALSO: DJI Osmo Mobile 8 review: A phone gimbal for content creators on a budget

The Osmo Mobile 6 is super easy to use. Just unfold it, and it's ready to go. It uses ActiveTrack 6.0 to lock onto subjects, which is perfect for keeping up with energetic kids or pets. You can even use it to track yourself, making it much easier to film solo without needing someone else to hold the camera.

It features a built-in extension rod for better selfie angles or crowd shots, and it only weighs about 305g, so it’s easy to toss in a bag. And, if you have an Apple Watch, you can use it as a remote to view your camera feed and adjust the gimbal’s angle from your wrist.

SAVE $450: As of Jan. 16, get the 65" TCL QM5K 4K UHD TV for $450 at Best Buy, down from its usual price of $899.99. That's a discount of 50%.

Opens in a new window Credit: Best Buy 65" TCL QM5K 4K UHD TV $449.99 at Best Buy
$899.99 Save $450   Get Deal

If you've been thinking about adding a new TV to your home entertainment setup, Best Buy has your number. A big display can do a lot for you when you want to add a new screen for your favorite shows and movies, and you can get one now for an excellent price.

As of Jan. 16, get the 65" TCL QM5K 4K UHD TV for $450 at Best Buy, down from its usual price of $899.99. That's $450 off and a discount of 50%.

SEE ALSO: Level up your living room with $400 off this TCL 85-inch QLED TV

This 65-inch UHD QD-Mini LED TV boasts 4K resolution (2160p) with a crisp screen that brings you a crystal clear picture. It has up to LD500 precise dimming series with black levels of up to 500 with QLED hues and high HDR brightness as well to give you the most realistic image possible. Thanks to its AIPQ processor, it can even upscale content and control contrast, clarity, color, motion, and more all on its own.

It has an Onkyo 2.1 speaker system with subwoofer built in, and support for Dolby Atmos audio as well, so it's not just your eyes that get a treat. Gamers also get a leg up on the competition with Game Accelerator 144 with a 144 VRR, so games go lag-free.

What's more, all this comes with Google TV support, so you can watch and stream your favorite content directly from the display. That means no need for an additional streaming device or anything of the sort.

If you're ready for a new TV that ticks all the boxes for you while remaining budget-friendly, don't miss out on this Best Buy deal.

A smart home might feel out of reach if you're renting. However, there are several smart home upgrades that you can make that don't involve changing fixtures, drilling holes, or messing with wiring. You may find that there's a lot you can do without violating the terms of your rental agreement, and you can easily take everything with you if you move.