Technology

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I've been fascinated by eclipses ever since reading the classic Tintin comic Prisoners of the Sun. In the story, Tintin escapes death by convincing his captors that he can command the Sun, ordering it to disappear at the exact time that a solar eclipse is about to happen.

Among the eerie, slow-moving horrors of the 2014 film It Follows, the image I can't stop thinking about years later is that famous seashell e-reader. Unfortunately, its genius design was made just for the movie, but a new e-reader just debuted that may get us one step closer.

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This week, Taiwan-based company Readmoo debuted its latest color e-reader at the 2025 Touch Taiwan Exhibition. The mooInk V is a color e-reader that has a center hinge (à la the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7) so it folds in half. This reminds us of another innovative technology — something called a book.

While specific dimensions of the e-reader have yet to be revealed, based on images released from the event, it appears to fold up smaller than a paperback book. However, it is slightly heavier than a Kindle at 225 grams, likely due to the mechanics of its hinged aluminum-magnesium alloy build. While we can't testify to its durability, the company claims it can handle more than 200,000 bends.

The mooInk V can bend at a 90-degree angle or lay flat. Credit: Readmoo

Press photos from the mooInk V's debut show an ultra-saturated color screen, but I'm cautiously optimistic about just how bright it will actually be. So far, the color e-readers on the market don't quite live up to their vibrant hype.

Current color e-reader models like the Kobo Libra Colour and Kindle Colorsoft use a Kaleido 3 display, which is a color filter layered on top of a black and white E-Ink panel. That limits the shades that those e-readers can display, usually resulting in slightly muted tones.

Another look at the mooInk V from Readmoo Credit: Readmoo

The mooInk V will instead feature E Ink's Gallery 3 display, which contains colored ink capsules to produce up to 50,000 shades. Like Kindle and Kobo e-readers, the mooInk V will have a screen resolution of 300ppi.

There's still a lot we don't know about the mooInk V, like its specific dimensions, cost, and release date, but we're curious about its promises.

UPDATE: Apr. 18, 2025, 12:15 p.m. EDT This post has been updated with additional information on tariff-related price hikes from Nintendo and Loftie.

President Donald Trump's tariff policies are causing chaos. Last week, the White House announced steep new tariffs, announced an exemption for some electronics, and then walked back the exemption almost immediately. Despite the uncertainty, we're already seeing some price hikes across consumer tech.

President Trump has imposed a huge reciprocal tariff on China, where many tech products are manufactured. Some Chinese goods may face a levy of 245 percent, and smaller global tariffs on most other countries remain in effect. That means importing goods to the United States is now much more expensive than it was two weeks ago. Several companies across multiple product categories, from laptops to GPUs and TVs and even toilet paper, have announced higher-than-normal prices.

Without wasting any more time, here are the confirmed tariff price increases in the tech world so far.

SEE ALSO: Nintendo Switch 2 tariff impacts: What we know so far Nintendo Switch 2 accessories

In an April 18 press release, Nintendo announced that while the Nintendo Switch 2 console itself and a handful of launch titles won't receive any price increases, the same can't be said for the new handheld's accessories. In particular, the Joy-Con controllers and Switch Camera will see small price increases. The statement reads, "Nintendo Switch 2 accessories will experience price adjustments from those announced on April 2 due to changes in market conditions...Other adjustments to the price of any Nintendo product are also possible in the future depending on market conditions."

This news comes after a temporary pre-order delay for the Switch 2, which the company implemented in response to the volatile tariff situation. The console was originally supposed to go up for preorder on April 9, but Nintendo paused U.S. orders just days after the Switch 2's official announcement. At the time of this writing, preorders for the console are back on — you can secure yours beginning on April 24.

SEE ALSO: Nintendo confirms Switch 2 pre-orders are back on, and the price is unchanged Loftie Lamp

Lofite announced that its award-winning smart Lamp will experience a price increase due to tariffs. At the time of writing, Loftie's popular alarm clock has not been affected.

"The U.S. is imposing steep new taxes on products made in China—including ours. Starting May 1, the tariff on each Loftie Lamp will increase to 175%. That means we’ll need to raise prices to account for the new taxes. We have fewer than 900 lamps left in inventory, and once they’re gone—or once May arrives—our pricing will reflect this new reality. Future production is on hold while we wait for clarity on what comes next," the company wrote on the Loftie Lamp product page.

Loftie has the remainder of its lamp inventory listed at just $274.99 right now, which is $175 off the original price.

Asus laptops

Taiwanese tech giant Asus announced price hikes on several of its Zenbook and Vivobook laptops back in March, before Trump's "Liberation Day" shenanigans set most of these other price hikes in motion. So far, these price increases aren't massive, per se; they range between 5 and 10 percent for each affected laptop. For instance, the Zenbook A14 went from $1,099 to $1,199.

Asus told Mashable at the time that more Asus products could receive tariff-related price increases as the situation evolves. Since the tariffs on China are now substantially larger than they were in late March, don't be surprised if some prices go up even further.

Dame

Sexual wellness brand Dame is calling out President Trump directly with its price increases. In an Instagram post, the company announced that it will be adding a $5 "Trump Tariff Surcharge" on all of its products made in China. "Yes, that’s a “Trump Tariff Surcharge” in your cart. We’re sorry, really. But a 54% tariff on goods made in China is hitting us hard. So we’ve made the tough call to adjust prices," the Instagram caption reads. Dame also added artwork of the president's signature hairstyle to its shopping cart.

View this post on Instagram Framework laptops

Framework may not be as big of a name as Sony or Asus, but tech enthusiasts should know it as the maker of uniquely easy-to-repair laptops. They're designed to be taken apart, even by the hands of a casual user, with intuitive repair/replacement instructions baked into the machines themselves.

On Wednesday, Framework announced a flat 10 percent increase on laptop prices... and then Trump instituted a 90-day pause on all non-China tariffs. Since Framework manufactures its devices in Taiwan, prices were then reduced back to their normal states. However, Framework indicated in a company blog post that some components like bezels and expansion cards are made in China, so there will be price increases on those.

GPUs

Rather than going company-by-company, it's easiest to just say that graphics cards for PCs could see blanket price increases across the board, according to our friends at PCMag.

Since they're largely made in China, the 145 percent tariff on that country could hit the GPU import market very hard. One online retailer, Newegg, hiked prices on certain Nvidia GPUs by as much as $400 because of the Trump tariffs. While this will be an inconvenience (to put it lightly) for anyone building a custom PC, these kinds of GPUs are also necessary for the development of generative AI on an enterprise level. This will affect both consumers and businesses, in other words.

Anker products

Anker, a Chinese company that makes a lot of different electronics, including phone cases, charging cables, and portable chargers, has instituted a tariff price hike on many of its products on Amazon. So far, 127 different Anker products have been affected, with average price increases of 18 percent.

Since Anker's portable power banks are generally of pretty high quality and (until now) fairly affordable, this one hurts. Now might be the time to get a smartphone with a longer-lasting battery...if you can, at least, until tariffs affect those, too.

Sony TVs

This is a bit of an odd one in that the company hasn't confirmed that tariffs are responsible for the price increase, but it sure seems that way.

To be more specific, The Verge found that some of Sony's new Bravia OLED TV models have had around $500 tacked onto their U.S. prices, compared to a currency conversion of the Canadian prices. To be clear, even before tariff increases, these TVs weren't cheap. The 65-inch Bravia 8 II TV costs $3,999 in the United States; at Canadian outlets, the price converts to about $3,500 in U.S. dollars. It's hard to imagine Sony plopping $500 onto the price of a TV in the U.S. for any reason other than increased import costs.

Foreo

Foreo is a Swedish beauty company that makes a popular line of facial massagers and brushes. We've seen multiple reports that Foreo plans to increase its prices by 20 to 30 percent beginning April 22. At this time, we haven't been able to independently confirm this increase, and we've reached out to Foreo for comment. We'll update this story if we learn anything new.

Jolie

Jolie, the maker of a filtered showerhead, is one of the first companies to confirm the addition of a line item for tariffs during the customer checkout process. First reported by The Information, the DTC brand will soon add a "Trump liberation tariff" surcharge to its bills.

In a statement posted to LinkedIn, Jolie Skin Co. CEO Ryan Babenzien said, "We think transparency is the way to go here and I am giving Trump full credit for his decision to add this Tariff to all US consumers."

Combustion Inc.

Combustion Inc. announced on its Instagram that tariffs would impact the pricing of its Predictive Thermometer, its accessories, and the Giant Grill Gauge. The company says that it has a limited inventory of Predictive Thermometer products that will continue to be offered at pre-tariff pricing. Once the inventory is depleted, the restock will reflect a new, increased price.

The Giant Grill Gauge will also remain at the same price until the closing of its preorder window in May. After that, a new price will be implemented.

We'll continue updating this post as new tariff price changes are confirmed.

Keep checking Mashable for our latest tariff news and explainers, from delayed Nintendo Switch 2 preorders to reports of iPhone 16 panic buying.

I'm a huge Minecraft fan, but lately I've been trying out other games that scratch the exploration and crafting itch. Satisfactory by Coffee Stain Studios is my latest obsession—here's why.

SAVE $8.25: As of April 18, get the AirFly Pro Bluetooth Wireless Audio Transmitter on white background for $46.74, down from its usual price of $54.99. That's a 15% discount, applied via clipping the on-page coupon.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon AirFly Pro Bluetooth Wireless Audio Transmitter $46.74 at Amazon
$54.99 Save $8.25 Clip 15% off on-page coupon Get Deal

Though we've been steadily moving away from 3.5 mm audio jacks in our electronics (and all but eliminated them from our phones), you can still find some here and there. And they can be instrumental in making your favorite tech, namely headphones, a little more convenient. In fact, they can help give you wireless functionality where it wasn't there previously. That's super helpful when it comes to situations where cords tangling up just doesn't work. And thanks to this Amazon deal, you can always be prepared for if and when it happens.

As of April 18, get the AirFly Pro Bluetooth Wireless Audio Transmitter on white background for $46.74, down from its usual price of $54.99. That's a 15% discount, applied via clipping the on-page coupon.

You can use the AirFly Pro to transmit and receive Bluetooth audio, such as with a pair of Apple AirPods or other headphones, say, on a plane or other location where there is none. From hooking up to in-flight entertainment or gym equipment, it opens up a whole new world of audio, including on gaming consoles and other tech. Best of all, it makes things quick and easy.

The AirFly Pro itself has 25 hours of battery life as well, with a 33 ft reach, so you can listen even when you're not up close and personal. That makes it an affordable and useful addition to your regular travel kit, or your gym bag. Just be sure to clip the coupon so you can have the 15% discount applied when you buy yours.

You're not the only one who turns to Wikipedia for quick facts. Lately, a deluge of AI bots training on Wikipedia articles has put enormous strain on the organization's servers.

To curb the influx of "non-human traffic" scraping the site for training data, Wikipedia is taking a proactive approach: serving up its data directly to AI developers.

On Wednesday, the Wikimedia Foundation announced a partnership with Google-owned company Kaggle to release a beta dataset "featuring structured Wikipedia content in English and French." Uploaded on April 15, the company said the dataset "simplifies access to clean, pre-parsed article data that’s immediately usable for modeling, benchmarking, alignment, fine-tuning, and exploratory analysis."

According to Ars Technica, bots that scrape Wikipedia and Wikimedia Commons pages have consumed 50 percent of its bandwidth, putting a massive strain on the nonprofit's entire operation. Wikimedia hopes that serving up data to developers will dissuade them from deploying bots all over its pages.

The rise of generative AI has let loose a flood of scraping bots hungrily crawling all corners of the internet for more data. To compete against rivals, AI companies have a seemingly insatiable appetite for data. This has included copyrighted works, a contentious issue with artists. Authors, artists, and musicians are arguing in court that this training violates copyright law when it's done without credit, compensation, or consent.

That's why companies like Meta and OpenAI are currently embroiled in legal battles over copyright infringement from plaintiffs like the Authors Guild and The New York Times, who argue this practice is not protected by the fair use doctrine.

But the difference here is that all Wikipedia content is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike license, which means its content is free to use as long as it's properly attributed and distributed under the same license. The Wikimedia Foundation told Gizmodo that Kaggle paid for the data through the Wikimedia Enterprise, and AI companies "are still expected to respect Wikipedia’s attribution and licensing terms."

The partnership between Wikimedia and Kaggle represents a more nuanced way forward, allowing AI companies to train models on internet data that's been legally and, at least more ethically, obtained.

SAVE UP TO 30%: Celebrate Earth Month with up to 30% off at Grove Co. Shop dish soap, laundry sheets, multipurpose cleaner, and more.

Opens in a new window Credit: Grove Co. Grove Co. Earth Month Sale Save up to 30% on household essentials Get Deal

I didn’t think there’d be a day when buying cleaning supplies and other household essentials would take such a big chunk of my paycheck, but it’s 2025, and here we are. But there are still ways to save and be environmentally conscious.

Right now, you can get up to 30% off sitewide during Grove Co.’s Earth Month Sale. This includes refills and dispensers for laundry detergent, dish soap, hand soap, and all-purpose cleaner, as well as products like toilet paper, paper towels, and more. You can also get free shipping when you spend $29 or more.

SEE ALSO: Grove Co. makes eco-friendly cleaning product swaps easy

That being said, Grove Co. is one of many companies affected by the recent tariff changes. They've announced that starting Tuesday, April 22, 2025, prices on a number of its products will increase. (If you’re a current Grove subscriber, you might want to check your cart to make sure you’re still happy with your scheduled order!)

So, what's the takeaway? Now’s the time to take advantage of the current Earth Month Sale (with up to 30% off sitewide and free shipping on $29+) and stock up on your favorite Grove Co. essentials before the new prices kick in on April 22.

Don't have time to squeeze in a full-length film into your busy schedule? There's an easy solution to fix that entertainment itch: try out some of Netflix's short films when you're short on time.

The Apple iPad 11th Gen and the Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 FE are excellent tablets. However, they differ from each other in a few key aspects that can either make or break your decision.

Electric vehicles are clearly the future of transportation, or they are at least the next step. The government has been creating more and more incentives to make the switch to electric vehicles. To this end, the EPA released a list of every vehicle in the U.S. eligible for a $7,500 tax credit.

SAVE $35.97: As of April 18, get 3 months of Kindle Unlimited for 99 cents at Amazon. That's a discount of 97%.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Get 3 months of Kindle Unlimited for 99 cents $0.99 at Amazon
$35.97 Save $34.98 Get Deal

Thinking about reading more books? It's a noble goal that many of us end up setting, but many also fall short. Books can be expensive, after all, and it always feels like there's just no time in the day to do everything you really want to do. But if you have tons of books at your disposal for a low price, that could change things significantly. Amazon's Kindle Unlimited subscription is a great option in that respect, and right now you can try it out for a significant discount.

As of April 18, get 3 months of Kindle Unlimited for 99 cents at Amazon, down from its usual price of $35.97 ($11.99 monthly). That's a discount of 97%. This offer only applies to Amazon Prime members joining Kindle Unlimited for the first time. You will need to be logged in to a Prime account without a subscription to be eligible (or to see the discount). After your 99 cent subscription ends, you must cancel or your subscription will raise to $11.99 monthly.

Kindle Unlimited allows you to read as many books, magazines, and audiobooks you want from Amazon per month. While not all of Amazon's books are included, there's plenty to choose from, with tons of NYT bestsellers, classics, and favorites to download and read on your Kindle. It's like checking a book out from the library without having to leave your home.

You can borrow up to 20 titles at a time and use your subscription across multiple devices. There are no due dates, so all you need to do is "return" a book when you're done and just get another one. It's a simple and affordable way to read more, and you can use it anywhere you can access your Kindle books. If you want to do all this on the cheap, be sure to snag this offer while it's available.

Best early Amazon Book Sale deals: Best Kindle deal Kindle Scribe (64GB) $364.99 (save $85) Get Deal Best subscription deal Three Months of Audible Premium Plus $0.99 (save $42) Get Deal Best book deal 'The Good Girl' by Mary Kubica $7.87 (save $11.12) Get Deal

Amazon’s annual book sale kicks off on April 23 and runs through April 28, but if you’re itching to get your hands on some new reading material, you can shop early deals now.

Here are the best early Amazon book sale deals we could find as of April 18:

Best Kindle deal Opens in a new window Credit: Kindle Kindle Scribe (64GB) $364.99 at Amazon
$449.99 Save $85 Get Deal Why we like it

The Amazon Kindle Scribe (64GB) has returned to its all-time low price of $364.99, down from $449.99. That’s a 19% discount and $85 in savings.

The Amazon Kindle Scribe (64GB) doubles as an e-reader and a digital notebook that you can literally write on (with the included Premium Pen). The “paper” is designed to feel and function like real paper, and with a 10.2-inch glare-free screen and 300ppi resolution, you can read and write comfortably in any light.

Write in the margins your favorite books (or textbooks), jot down notes, create to-do lists, and more. Then, convert your handwritten notes into text and email them to colleagues, friends, family, or yourself.

Best subscription deal Opens in a new window Credit: Audible Three Months of Audible Premium Plus $0.99 at Amazon
$14.95 Save $13.96 Get Deal Why we like it

If audiobooks are more your speed, you can get three months of Audible Premium Plus for $0.99 per month. It’s regularly $14.95 a month, so you’re saving about $42 over the three months.

With Audible Premium Plus, you’ll get one credit per month to pick any title from the premium selection (including bestsellers and new releases) to keep forever. You also get unlimited access to the Plus Catalog, featuring thousands of included audiobooks, podcasts, and Audible Originals.

This deal is available through April 30.

Best book deal Opens in a new window Credit: MIRA 'The Good Girl' by Mary Kubica $7.87 at Amazon
$18.99 Save $11.12 Get Deal Why we like it

Tons of Editors’ Picks are on sale right now, including The Good Girl by Mary Kubica.

This book has sold over one million copies worldwide, and you can get your hands on the paperback version for just $7.87. That’s a 59% discount and a savings of $11.12.

The Good Girl is a thriller novel, but if you’re a fan of Gone Girl, you’ll probably like it.

By default, Microsoft Excel's cells are named by their column-row references, like A1 or B2. However, you can assign a more specific name to a cell or range of cells to improve navigation, make formulas clearer, and save time in the long run.

SPEND $30, GET $5 CREDIT: As of April 18, spend $30 on home essentials at Amazon and get a $5 credit.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Get a $5 Amazon credit when you spend $30 on home essentials Get Deal

Are all your home essentials running low? Need to stock up on everything you use regularly? Don't run to the department stores or put in a hasty DoorDash order. Amazon has a deal that could make filling your shelves a much less expensive and frustrating ordeal.

As of April 18, spend $30 on home essentials at Amazon and get a $5 credit. Add the products you want to shop from the Amazon promotion page to your cart. Be sure to add a total of items that add up to $30. When you're finished, simply check out. Your offer will automatically be applied at checkout.

SEE ALSO: Nintendo Switch 2 preorder guide: Everything you need to know ahead of time

This sale isn't just about goodies for your pantry, though. It encompasses a wide variety of things, from beauty products to outdoor goods and baby items and much more. The luxurious Eos Shea Better Body Lotion is included, as is the popular Tree Hut shea sugar scrubs that come in several different scents. It's mostly a sale that nets you home items instead of food, however, so keep that in mind when shopping.

You can shop multiple orders with the credit, so if you need to grab items for different addresses, or you want to get away with saving more money, you can do that. Just be sure to grab the items specifically from the landing page to make your life easier.

Nintendo confirmed on its website today that Switch 2 pre-orders in the U.S. will officially start on April 24, two weeks after the originally scheduled April 9 start date.

Two weeks ago, Nintendo showed off the Switch 2. Just a few days later, pre-orders in the U.S. were shut down because of Trump's tariffs.

That's all over, for now, anyway. Besides the pre-order announcement, the biggest news here is that the console's price, after weeks of speculation, is not changing. At this time, the Switch 2 will launch in the U.S. for the original listed price of $449.99, with a Mario Kart World bundle going for $499.99.

SEE ALSO: 'Mario Kart World' Nintendo Direct: 3 big takeaways from the stream

With the chaotic situation surrounding U.S. tariffs in recent weeks, it was reasonable to expect a price bump on the console itself, but Nintendo was able to find a way to avoid that. However, not everything is so rosy. To compensate for not increasing the console's price, Nintendo has increased the prices of several accessories, but only by $5 to $10 per product, as far as I can tell. Some of the new prices include:

• Switch 2 Pro Controller: $84.99

• Switch 2 Joy-Con 2 set: $94.99

• Switch 2 camera: $54.99

• Switch 2 dock set: $119.99

Those are all big prices for video game accessories, but given everything we've been hearing about tariff price impacts over the past few weeks, it's almost a pleasant surprise that they aren't higher. Of course, there's every possibility these prices fluctuate over time (and not always in the right direction), so keep an eye out. Regardless, you now know when you can finally lock down a Switch 2.

It's been a whirlwind year for the iPad lineup, with every model getting a refresh within the last year. In 2024, Apple introduced the M4 iPad Pro and M2 iPad Air, and less than a year later, the iPad Air already got an M3 chip upgrade. Plus, we finally got a new iPad Mini and the iPad 11th generation. That's a lot of new Apple tablets.

At this point, iPads can do anything your laptop can do. Whether you want to stream, browse the internet, illustrate, or edit videos, you can do it on the iPad’s HDR display. Recent developments in the Pro and Air models also set them up as gaming devices.

The rapid pace of iPad updates makes shopping for a tablet all the more difficult. We've tested every model in Apple's iPad collection to help you decide which is right for you.

SEE ALSO: Every new Apple product rumored for 2025 Which iPad model should I buy?

The right iPad for you depends purely on your needs. Do you want something that has enough storage and speed for streaming? Do you want to use it to read? Do you want to use a tablet as your primary workstation? Your answers should factor into your decision.

To get you started, we believe the best iPad for most people is the new M3 iPad Air (2025). It has exceptional performance but is also in the middle range for both price and capability.

Entertainers can't be tariffed — at least not yet — but content creators, especially those who double as small business owners, are in a world of their own when it comes to the impacts of President Donald Trump's sweeping global tariffs.

We're in a trade war. Last month, Trump announced a 10-percent levy on nearly all imports, plus steeper tariffs targeting specific countries like China, Vietnam, and Japan. The president even placed tariffs on a remote, uninhabited island called home by a bunch of penguins. As it stands, there's a 145-percent tariff on all Chinese goods bound for the U.S., with some exceptions, and a 25-percent tariff on all goods from Mexico and Canada. 

The tariffs have been a bit of a moving target, causing economic distress for business owners and people who buy things from businesses, which is pretty much everyone. And for those who are part of the ever-growing $250 billion creator economy, these tariffs can have a pretty steep effect. Influencers, content creators, and entrepreneurs make money online in a variety of ways, and sometimes a combination of them all: selling their own goods, signing onto brand deals to sell other companies' goods, entertaining us, and, of course, using TikTok — a social media giant whose parent company is based in China and is already at the center of other U.S.-China debates.

SEE ALSO: Trump's China tariffs reportedly tanked the TikTok deal

It seems like the tariffs are affecting every industry. So what do they mean for the tens of millions of people who work within the creator economy?

How tariffs might affect small business owners — and how they can leverage social media to fight back

The line between small business owner, content creator, and influencer might seem blurred, but the tariffs can really put things into perspective. Take Chelsey Brown, founder of Curio Blvd, a home goods brand known for its sentimental items like the Time Capsule Journal and the Keepsake Case, which Brown said "went viral" a year ago and is built in China. She doesn't identify as an influencer, and actively does not send her products to influencers to review, but she's a savvy user of social media when it comes to getting the word out about her products.

Now, due to the tariffs, she’s had to take out a loan to keep her business going, and she's even considering closing Curio Blvd.

"We found out about the tariff on April 2, and by that time, the tariff went from 20 to 54 percent," Brown told Mashable. She already had inventory en route from China well before Trump announced the tariffs in April, and, by then, it was too late to pull her product. Now, she says, "We have a bunch of Keepsake Cases and our new bedding line headed to the U.S." That means that even though she purchased them before the tariff went into effect, Brown will now have to pay the tariff on those items.

Even worse, her remaining inventory is stuck in China because she can't afford to pay the tariff on those goods. She refuses to increase prices, wanting to keep her goods accessible, but that leaves her stuck in what she calls a “weird stalemate.”

Some of the comments on her TikTok have suggested she simply move production to the U.S., but that’s easier said than done. According to Brown, U.S. manufacturers can’t replicate the same quality, and charge significantly more when they come close. She argues that the materials and factories she needs simply aren't available in the U.S., and it would take far longer to begin producing her products. "Honestly, making it in the U.S. is actually more expensive than what the tariffs would be," Brown said. For now, she's just hoping the tariffs decrease because they're "essentially destroying small businesses like mine."

And that's just small businesses that handle product sales themselves. Brown doesn't use TikTok Shop or any third-party seller, but for those who do, there's another looming change: The "de minimis" exemption, which allows packages worth less than $800 to enter the U.S. tax-free, will no longer apply to Chinese shipments starting May 2. That means sellers using platforms like TikTok Shop, Temu, or Shein will face a 120-percent tariff on items, with a $100 “postal item” charge increasing to $200 by June 1.

"Many influencers aren’t just promoting products; they are the small businesses, often relying on affordable overseas manufacturing to run lean [direct-to-consumer] brands," Captiv8 Co-Founder and CEO Krishna Subramanian told Mashable. "If tariffs drive up costs, some creators may need to rethink pricing or product strategy." But it's not all gloom and doom. "Creators are uniquely agile," she said. "They’ve built loyal communities, and that direct connection gives them room to adapt faster than traditional retailers."

Some are already adapting by turning the economic fallout into content. Brown’s videos about how tariffs have impacted the financial side of her business have garnered hundreds of thousands of views and a wave of support. Most of the comments are full of empathy and encouragement — many even promise to start buying from Curio Blvd. right away.

"Your video just got you a new customer 🫶🏽 wishing you all the best," one commenter said.

Gartner Director Analyst Claudia Ratterman told Mashable that there's an opportunity for brands and creators to create content "really [highlighting] the value they bring" to connect with their audience during economic uncertainty.

"That kind of message not only grabs [people's ] attention but also makes [them] feel valued and understood. It's a win-win because it boosts engagement in the short term and over time, you’re hopefully nurturing a potential loyal customer," Ratterman said

How tariffs might affect brand deals 

When tariffs are put in place, brands have to either spend more money on their goods or move the production of them, which also costs money. Because of this, we might see brands having to shift their budgets. Usually, when that happens, they'll cut spending in places like marketing and public relations and instead focus on something that might be cheaper — something like influencer marketing.

We've seen these kinds of shifts before. In 2020, there were some short-term economic shocks to the supply chain because of the COVID-19 pandemic. In response, brands shifted their budgets to influencer marketing because it was a cheaper and more effective alternative to traditional ads. Of course, the pandemic isn't a perfect one-to-one parallel — people were stuck in their homes and scrolling with more fervor than ever before. But the spike in prices for many goods made consumers more cautious with their spending, and marketers had to rethink how to win them over.

Instead of taking out loans — an option many companies could pursue — some brands may choose to cut marketing budgets to prioritize production. If they want to market at all, they'll need to spend less, shifting away from costly tactics like TV ads in favor of user-generated content (UGC) and influencer partnerships.

Now, with tariffs driving up costs across multiple levels of business, we may see a similar adjustment. Businesses that can survive these tariffs will need to stay relevant, and one of the best ways to do so is to remain on consumers' For You Pages.

Subramanian told Mashable that rising costs "could trigger a shift in advertising strategy" and cause brands to move dollars towards lower-cost, high-ROI influencer marketing. "Creators offer flexible, authentic ways to engage consumers," Subramanian said, adding that "we’re already seeing brands double down on creator-led content that drives both trust and purchase intent." 

SEE ALSO: Updating: All the tariff price increases in the tech world so far

But it might be important that influencers shift the way they're showing up, too. Layla Revis, the vice president of social, content, and brand at Sprout Social, a social media management tool, told Mashable that empathy and transparency are more important than ever. With tariffs driving up the cost of everyday goods — and putting financial pressure on consumers — brands need to show they understand what people are going through. That’s where influencers play a crucial role.

"Influencers are trusted advocates, they have access to niche communities and they’re on the front lines of the consumer experience," Revis said, adding that the majority of people who shop from influencers are more likely to provide product feedback with an influencer over a brand. "For this reason, influencer marketing not only has an impressive ROI, on average $5.78 for every $1 invested, but it is key for developing long-lasting consumer trust and relevance — two factors brands must have in their strategies right now."

That's a lot to take in, but, ultimately, Revis said, "because of this effectiveness, I suspect we will see brands lean into influencer partnerships during this time."

"With so much skepticism these days, it's more important than ever for brands to leverage influencers and [user-generated content], because people connect with people," Ratterman told Mashable. "However, it must be the right influencer — someone who people genuinely trust — before their recommendation can truly influence buying decisions."

Will tariffs have any effect on content creators who are strictly entertainers?

Pure entertainers in the content creator space likely won't see the effects of the tariffs apart from the general malaise of living within a state of economic turmoil. Ratterman said this time opens up the ability for creators to offer a "fun escape" or dig into the reality of our times and give practical tips. But those creators will still reap the same monetary benefits from things like the Creator Fund that they always have — tariffs aren't going to stop users from watching TikTok videos.

"Overall, while tariffs introduce some short-term complexity, they also reinforce the long-term value of the influencer ecosystem," Subramanian said. "It’s decentralized, adaptive, and built on real human connection, which is exactly what brands need when market conditions are in flux."

Keep checking Mashable for our latest tariff news and explainers, from delayed Nintendo Switch 2 preorders to reports of iPhone 16 panic buying.

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