Technology

Pornhub has blocked access in France as of yesterday, the BBC and other news outlets reported. The tube site reportedly exited the country, which is its second biggest market according to CNN, because of a French age-verification law.

The law states that, by June 7, porn sites must install a technical system to verify users' ages beyond a "yes or no" checkbox, according to Radio France Internationale. This must be done by a third party and comply with "double anonymity," meaning the porn site doesn't know the user's exact age and the verification system doesn't know what sites the user visits. The system requires a user's credit card or a government ID.

SEE ALSO: How to unblock Pornhub for free in France Why is Pornhub blocked in France?

Pornhub, along with YouPorn and Redtube (all owned by parent company Aylo, formerly MindGeek), restricted access in France on June 4.

"We've made the difficult decision to suspend access to our sites (user-uploaded content platforms, including Pornhub, YouPorn, Redtube) in France and instead use our platforms to speak directly to the French people," Pornhub's VP of brand and community, Alex Kekesi, said in a statement.

"For years, we have attempted to collaborate with the government, by consultation, data sharing and offering pilot project participation," Kekesi continued. "The results of all of this have been clear — site-based age verification does not work. It does not protect children, and it exposes the data of millions of French people to privacy breaches and hacks."

The statement goes on to advocate for device-based filtering, and argues that people won't stop looking for porn, and will instead go to non-complying websites.

"The Aylo group has chosen to shirk the imperative of protecting minors by suspending access to its content in France, including for adults, even though there are numerous technical solutions on the market that allow users' age to be verified while ensuring the protection of their personal data," Arcom, France's communication regulator, stated in its own press release.

"Au revoir," France's minister for gender equality, Aurore Bergé, wrote on X, stating that Pornhub, YouPorn, and Redtube refuse to comply with the law.

Age-verification laws in the U.S. and abroad

Age-verification laws have swept the U.S. in recent years, with nearly a third of states enacting them. Typically, these laws require a proof of age like a facial scan or a government ID. As with France, Pornhub has blocked itself from most of those states, citing the burden to comply.

But free speech advocates that Mashable has spoken to claim that age-verification laws won't function as intended as they can be worked around with software like VPNs, and can cause privacy and security risks. A recent study out of NYU suggested age-verification laws don't work for these reasons.

In January, the Supreme Court heard about the constitutionality of Texas's age-verification law. The decision is expected this month.

Mashable has reached out to Pornhub for comment.

SAVE $100: As of June 5, grab the Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 in 44mm for just $229.99. That saves you $100 for 30% off. Shop now at Amazon.

Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Samsung Galaxy Watch 7, 44mm $229.99 at Amazon
$329.99 Save $100 Get Deal

As you get ready for summer adventures, whether it be heading out on vacation, trying new hiking trails, or jumping in the ocean, you may want to track all that activity and its impact on your body. A smartwatch puts all that information on your wrist, while also delivering texts, answering phone calls, and recording all your health data.

Earlier this week, we spotted the Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 in the 40mm size on sale for its lowest price ever. As of June 5, find the 44mm Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 on sale as well. It's down to $229.99, taking $100 off of its $329.99 list price. That saves you 30%, which isn't quite as good savings as the 40mm Galaxy Watch Deal, but it's still the lowest price ever on the 44mm.

The Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 is the latest smartwatch from the brand. It was released in 2024 alongside the Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra. The Galaxy Watch 7 is one of the most advanced smart watches available, offering a sleep apnea sensor, blood pressure monitor, and electrocardiogram. But beyond the the clinical health data, the watch will also report on daily activity, workouts, and sleep to produce a daily energy score with Galaxy AI.

Shop the Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 in 44 mm for $229.99 at Amazon now and save $100.

SAVE 43%: The 32-inch Samsung M8 Smart Monitor (M80D, warm white) with an adjustable stand is on sale for just $399.99 at Amazon, down from the normal price of $699.99. That's a savings of $300.

Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Samsung M8 Smart Monitor (32-inch, M80D, warm white) $399.99 at Amazon
$699.99 Save $300 Get Deal

We all have so many pieces of tech and gadgets to keep track of. The phone, tablet, work laptop, personal laptop, TV, smart speakers, and the list continues. Instead of adding to the chaos, streamline your collection by scoring a versatile monitor that ticks several boxes.

As of June 5, the 32-inch Samsung M8 Smart Monitor (M80D, warm white) is on sale at Amazon for $399.99, marked down from the usual price of $699.99. That's a major 43% discount that shaves $300 off the price.

In the world of monitors, not all of them are smart enough to earn a spot on our desk, but the Samsung M8 is a worthy addition. For starters, this sale model comes with an adjustable stand that pivots and rotates. Raise it up, turn it into a vertical display, or angle it out to your liking. It also comes with a remote control that has solar charging.

SEE ALSO: The Samsung Galaxy Watch FE is back to its best-ever price at Amazon

In terms of performance, the Samsung M8 also aims to please with UHD resolution. You can also stream content directly to the monitor to take advantage of the 4K AI upscaling. That's especially useful since the Samsung monitor comes with Samsung TV Plus, giving you a dashboard for all your favorite streaming platforms. If you live in an apartment and are short on space, or simply want to cut down on your electronics, the Samsung M8 is ready to serve as your work monitor by day and your TV by night.

The ports on the Samsung M8 are also noteworthy since they consist of two USB-A options, an HDMI, and a USB-C which gives you more options for connecting other devices or charging up from the monitor.

Plus, the Samsung M8 is built for low-vision users, offering several tools to help with visibility like screen magnification, color switching, and audio descriptions.

If you're in need of an upgraded monitor, or you're looking for a model that's worthy of serving as your TV, snag the Samsung M8 while it's on sale at Amazon. You'll be grabbing a 32-inch model with tons of features and upgraded like a USB-C port and a pivoting stand.

The best tech deals to shop this week

• Roku Ultra 4K Ultimate Streaming Player (2024 Release) — $79.99 (List Price $99.99)

• Beats Pill Bluetooth Speaker — $99.95 (List Price $149.95)

• Roborock Qrevo Master Robot Vacuum and Mop — $899.99 (List Price $1599.99)

• Apple AirTag (4-Pack) — $74.99 (List Price $99.00)

• DualSense Edge Wireless Controller — $169.00 (List Price $199.99)

Each year, the internet births a new lexicon, one that's as fast-moving and unpredictable as the online trends that fuel it. 2025 is no different, with a fresh crop of viral slang that’s quickly become shorthand for everything from viral moments to internet culture’s quirks.

More than words, these phrases are creative expressions of identity in an ever-evolving digital landscape. Whether you're on TikTok, Twitch, or the latest meme loop, these are the terms that have dominated conversations among Gen Z and Gen Alpha this year.

SEE ALSO: The cult and community of Labubu

Buckle up, because we’re about to break down the slang that’s defining 2025. You're about to hear these words everywhere, whether you’re ready or not.

Aura farming

Aura farming is the art of cultivating an undeniable, magnetic energy that draws people in. It’s all about crafting a vibe so strong and captivating that others can’t help but be pulled into your orbit. Whether it's exuding confidence, radiating charm, or just owning the room, aura farming is often used to elevate one’s status and influence.

While the phrase technically evolved from a 2024 meme, it truly peaked this year. A prime example? Sung Jinwoo, the protagonist of Solo Leveling, who’s become the internet’s unofficial king of aura farming. His journey is all about leveling up, both in power and presence, as he faces stronger dungeon bosses. In a sense, the entire anime is one big exercise in aura farming, a constant evolution of strength and influence, perfectly embodying the idea.

Cook, cooking, cooked

When someone says "let me cook," they’re preparing to flex their skills or impress with a creative idea or a solution. It’s the digital equivalent of saying, "Let me show you what I can do." Whether it’s a fire take or a dope outfit, you’ll know they’re about to serve something incredible.

But cooking isn’t always a win. In a different context, when someone says they’re "cooked," it means they're out of options, overworked, or done for — like they’ve been taken to their limit. In a way, it’s the inverse: where "let me cook" invites success and flair, "I'm cooked" signals that it's all over for them. Alternatively, you could also say, "I'm fried."

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

If you're not familiar with this quirky phrase, don’t worry, you’re not alone. Born from the antics of Twitch streamer and former AMP collective member Fanum, "Fanum tax" is a silly way to describe that cheeky act of snagging a bite of someone else’s food, without asking. (You gotta pay the Fanum tax!) Explaining the phrase to GQ, Fanum simply said, "Feed your friends, bro."

But beyond the simple act of food theft, this term has morphed into a bit of a phenomenon, extending its reach to describe everything from friendship dynamics to viral TikTok trends. It's become a phrase to insert, often ironically, into just about anything.

Clock it

"Clock it" is all about drawing attention to something noteworthy. It’s a call to remember, an invitation to keep something in mind for later, like a spoiler for a big twist or a prediction that’s about to come true. It's the ultimate way of saying, "I told you so," but with a more stylish flair.

Ate, chewed, nibbled

When something "eats," it means it was so good that there’s nothing left to improve upon. Eating and leaving no crumbs means absolute perfection, whether we’re talking about a performance, a look, or a viral moment. It’s a way of giving top-tier praise, acknowledging that what just went down was next level.

SEE ALSO: A parent's guide to Skibidi Toilet: What is it and why is it so popular?

Originally coined within LGBTQ+ communities, particularly Black and Latinx ballroom culture, "ate" was a term used to describe moments of excellence. Over time, it made its way into the mainstream lexicon, where it now signifies a flawless execution. But here's where things get interesting: the evolution of "ate" has introduced new internet phrases like "she chewed" and "she nibbled." These are used when something is still impressive, but maybe not quite as flawless. It’s a tiered approach to praise — "she chewed" is close, but not quite the perfect "ate," and "she nibbled" signals that it was good, but there’s room for more.

Mewing

Mewing, a technique originally linked to reshaping your jawline by positioning your tongue in a certain way, has been floating around the internet for a while now, particularly in DIY beauty and wellness circles. But in 2025, it's taken on a new form. Teenage boys, especially, have turned "mewing" into a reason for not participating in class. Essentially, they're too busy mewing to talk or contribute. It’s become a tongue-in-cheek excuse, allowing them to avoid answering questions or doing any actual work.

This unexpected use of the term shows how internet slang can evolve in unpredictable ways, morphing from a niche beauty trend into a full-blown classroom strategy.

Mogger

Mogger is the term for someone who effortlessly makes others look like background characters simply by standing next to them. It comes from the verb mogging, which means to outshine or overshadow someone in terms of looks. If you’ve ever felt like your glow-up evaporated the moment a ridiculously good-looking friend walked into the room, congratulations: you’ve been mogged.

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

A mogger is a person blessed with top-tier genetics, symmetrical features, or a jawline sharp enough to slice through glass. This term floats around in online spaces obsessed with appearance, like "looksmaxxing" (the art of optimizing one’s looks) and mewing (see above).

SAVE $9.95: As of June 5, get the Lego F1 Collectible Race Cars 6-Pack for $19.99 at Amazon. That's down from its usual price of $29.94, saving you 33% on list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Lego F1 Collectible Race Cars 6-Pack $19.99 at Amazon
$29.94 Save $9.95 Get Deal

Ever wish you could have an entire fleet of F1 race cars, but aren't a millionaire? There's a solution to this problem: Lego kits. Yes, you could be the proud owner of several F1-worthy racers with a special deal at Amazon right now. You just have to be quick to claim it for yourself.

As of June 5, get the Lego F1 Collectible Race Cars Six-Pack for $19.99 at Amazon, down from its usual price of $29.94. That's $9.95 off and a discount of 33%.

SEE ALSO: Lego is giving away a free Paddle model ahead of Father's Day. Here’s how to get yours on June 8.

This collection of six mystery F1 Lego building sets comes from an assortment of 12 different models: Aston Martin, Alpine, Williams, Mercedes-AMG, Ferrari, McLaren, VARB, Haas, Sauber, F1, or F1 Academy cars. Each lets you build a complete car, with special team colors, logos, and an included team helmet in the cockpit.

These Lego F1 racers are comically oversized with a fun, "arcade" feel to them. If you want to get the entire set, know that you're going to need to buy multiple kits to try and collect them all. Either display them when finished or get some play in with the kiddos. No matter what you decide to do with them, this Lego kit is a much more realistic way to collect all the F1 cars of your dreams.

The best tech deals right now, hand-picked by Mashable's team of experts

• Roku Ultra 4K Ultimate Streaming Player (2024 Release) — $79.99 (List Price $99.99)

• Beats Pill Bluetooth Speaker — $99.95 (List Price $149.95)

• Roborock Qrevo Master Robot Vacuum and Mop — $899.99 (List Price $1599.99)

• Apple AirTag (4-Pack) — $74.99 (List Price $99.00)

• DualSense Edge Wireless Controller — $169.00 (List Price $199.99)

If you're looking for a peaceful night's sleep, we suggest you stay far, far away from the trailer for FX's Alien: Earth. But if you're looking for grotesque science fiction and the promise of some gnarly new monsters, you've come to the right place.

SEE ALSO: Summer TV preview: All the TV shows you need to know, and where to stream them

Created by Noah Hawley, the Emmy-winning creator of Fargo and Legion, this Alien prequel doesn't take us to the deepest reaches of space. Instead, it brings extraterrestrial terror right to our home planet.

The horrors start when a Weyland-Yutani deep space research vessel crash lands in Prodigy city, named for the Prodigy Corporation. Prodigy CEO Boy Kavalier (Samuel Blenkin) decides he wants to take possession of whatever is on that ship, so he sends a team of soldiers to take stock of the wreckage.

These aren't ordinary soldiers, though. They're hybrids: humanoid robots implanted with human consciousness. That sets them apart from the Alien films' synthetics, which are humanoid robots with artificial consciousness.

Prodigy's team of hybrids may be faster, stronger, and more resilient than other humans, but they're about to meet their match as they explore the crashed USCSS Maginot. As Alien: Earth's trailer reveals, the Maginot collected five monstrous life forms from across the universe. But now they're escaped captivity, meaning Earth is in serious trouble.

Alien: Earth's trailer doesn't spoil too much about its alien adversaries, but there are enough hints at their appearance to send chills up your spine. Tentacled eyeballs, egg sacs, and goo abound, along with flashes of the iconic Xenomorph.

Produced by Alien director Ridley Scott, Alien: Earth also stars Sydney Chandler, Timothy Olyphant, Alex Lawther, Babou Ceesay, Adrian Edmondson, David Rysdahl, Essie Davis, Lily Newmark, Erana James, Adarsh Gourav, Jonathan Ajayi, Kit Young, Diêm Camille, Moe Bar-El, and Sanda Yi Sencindiver.

Alien: Earth premieres Aug. 12 at 8 p.m. ET on Hulu and FX in the U.S. and Aug. 13 on Disney+ in the UK.

Grindr just dropped new product updates like features for faster hookups (Right Now) and to hide users from their exes (Profile Hide), and it's not stopping. The most well-known gay dating app has a long product roadmap for 2025, including AI-powered chat summaries that look a bit like Gmail's.

AI is everywhere right now, including dating apps. Tinder's incoming CEO, Spencer Rascoff, mentioned the app leaning into AI both on LinkedIn at the Wall Street Journal's Future of Everything conference. At the event, Grindr CEO George Arison said much of the same, following a report in the Journal last October that stated Grindr is testing an AI "wingman."

SEE ALSO: From Grindr to Scruff: The best dating apps for gay, bi, and queer men What is Grindr's A-List?

While the full-on wingman is still in testing to 10,000 users (of Grindr's 14.5 million average monthly active users), the app is releasing AI-driven features at an increasing clip — both in beta and in full. Right Now, a feature to check who is online and available at that moment (hence "right now") has recently launched to all Grindr users.

A feature currently in beta is A-List, a short list of best matches curated by AI. A-List also includes both profile and chat summaries with "key takeaways." Users can also filter matches by Online, Met Up, and Contenders. The A-List beta is currently only available to around a quarter of Grindr's Unlimited users, the more expense paid tier on Grindr at $39.99/month (XTRA is $19.99/month.)

In an interview with Mashable, Arison said that the initial reaction to A-List has been positive. Users signing up for Unlimited and reactivating it have increased, though the Grindr CEO wouldn't say by how much. 

On Reddit, however, the reaction to A-List is mostly negative, with multiple users complaining that it's "useless" and that its preceding feature — favorites — was free. Grindr clarified that the free favorites feature is still available; its placement has shifted. The app also reiterated to Mashable that more than 70 percent of early access users reported they found A-List useful. 

Even more AI on Grindr

Another Grindr feature in beta is Discover, which lets users look at profiles from around the world (as opposed to only in their area). This, along with Travel Pass (which lets you Roam a travel destination before getting there, and boost your profile) and the Explore Heatmap (which shows gay hotspots around the world), aims to help users find others on Grindr when they travel. 

For You, yet another feature on the roadmap, gives users curated match choices. 

Arison hinted at other features that aren't on the extensive roadmap, too. While Right Now fits well within Grindr's reputation as a hookup app, Arison said that, according to Grindr's own surveys, people have other intentions on the app too, like trying to find a partner. In a survey last fall of 1,200 gay and bi men, Grindr found that around a quarter under 35 want to have kids. 

Grindr intends to test more features (incorporating AI, of course) with these varying intentions in mind by the end of the year. It's part of Grindr's plan to be the app users spend the most time on in a sea of other options.

Last year, Mashable reported that complaints about Grindr are rising, given more paywalled features and product issues.

UPDATE: Jun. 5, 2025, 11:37 a.m. EDT This article was updated with clarity from Grindr about its favorites feature.

 

TL;DR: Live stream Boisson vs. Gauff in the 2025 French Open for free on 9Now, France TV, or Servus TV. Access these free streaming platforms from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The 2025 French Open semi finals are everything we wished for at the start of the tournament. Sabalenka takes on Swiatek in an all-star showdown, and we've got Gauff going up against the home favorite. Lois Boisson has shocked everyone this year by progressing through to the semi-final stage. Could she make the final and give the French fans something to celebrate?

If you want to watch Boisson vs. Gauff in the 2025 French Open for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

How to watch Boisson vs. Gauff for free

Boisson vs. Gauff in the 2025 French Open is available to live stream for free on a number of platforms:

• Australia — 9now

• Austria — ServusTV

• France — France TV

These services are geo-restricted, but anyone can access these free streaming platforms with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in another country, meaning you can stream the 2025 French Open for free from anywhere in the world.

Live stream the 2025 French Open for free by following these simple steps:

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

2. Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)

3. Open up the app and connect to a server in Australia, Austria, or France

4. Connect to 9Now, Servus TV, France TV

5. Watch the 2025 French Open for free from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan) $12.95 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but they do tend to offer pretty generous money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can watch Roland-Garros without committing with your cash. This is obviously not a long-term strategy, but it gives you enough time to live stream Boisson vs. Gauff (plus the rest of the 2025 French Open) before recovering your investment.

If you want to retain permanent access to free streaming services 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 sport?

ExpressVPN is the best choice for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport, 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 eight simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A two-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $139 and includes an extra four months for free — 61% off for a limited time. This plan also includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month subscription for just $12.95 (including money-back guarantee).

Live stream Boisson vs. Gauff in the 2025 French Open for free with ExpressVPN.

Meta's got a pair of smart glasses that are so packed with bleeding edge tech, they truly deserve the "smart" moniker.

Announced earlier this year, the Aria Gen 2 are Meta's "research glasses," meaning they probably won't be available to the general public any time soon. However, the technologies used will probably bleed into Meta's other projects like Orion. In a new blog post Wednesday, Meta revealed some of the capabilities it managed to build into these fairly regular-looking glasses.

SEE ALSO: Apple smart glasses could come as soon as 2026

The Aria Gen 2 glasses are equipped with an array of cameras, including one for eye-tracking and four computer vision cameras, seven spatial mics, a barrage of sensors including an ambient light sensor, a barometer, a heart rate monitor, and stereo speakers. The glasses themselves are fairly lightweight, weighing 74 to 76 grams, depending on size.

Meta puts all that hardware to good use. The company says the four computer vision cameras produce a wider field of view and enable advanced 3D hand and object tracking. The new ambient light sensor also aids computer vision and processing, as its ultraviolet mode can distinguish between indoor and outdoor lighting.

The four CV cameras cover a wider field of view with a larger overlap compared to Aria Gen 1's two CV cameras. Credit: Meta

The company says it uses SubGHz radio technology to broadcast timing information, so that it can align time and minimize delay between other Aria Gen 2 devices or compatible devices that support this tech.

The glasses also have an advanced eye tracking system that knows when the wearer is blinking or when their pupils dilate. And the photoplethysmography (PPG) sensor, built into the nosepad, enables the glasses to track the wearer's heart rate.

Meta says it will open up applications that work with Aria Gen 2 "later this year," and researchers who'd like to try out the tech can sign up for the Aria Gen 2 interest list.

The advances listed above are notable as other manufacturers, including Apple, reportedly race to build their own version of lightweight smart glasses. Judging by the work that Meta's engineers have put into the Aria Gen 2, Apple will have to push hard to match or surpass them.

We'll probably find out more about the Aria Gen 2 smart glasses in a week, as Meta plans to showcase them during the Computer Vision and Pattern Recognition Conference (CVPR) which starts June 11 in Nashville, Tennessee.

A private Japanese space company will try to land an uncrewed robotic spacecraft on the moon and deliver a rover to its surface today, after a failed attempt in April 2023. 

Landing on the moon remains onerous — demonstrated by numerous flopped landings. Though Firefly Aerospace succeeded in landing in March, another U.S. company, Intuitive Machines, didn't fare as well, ending up on its side in a crater less than a week later. 

Tokyo company ispace has been waiting for this day for the so-called Hakuto-R mission for roughly 4.5 months. Its spacecraft, Resilience, was one of two spacecraft headed to the moon on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket in mid-January. Its travel companion, Firefly's Blue Ghost lander, took a faster route and touched down on the surface March 2. Though Firefly wasn't the trailblazer — the first private robotic lander to make the journey to the surface happened last year — it was the first to get its lander there upright and in one piece.

But ispace's lander has taken a longer journey to save on fuel — and the company knows all too well how crucial that is: After a post-flight investigation, the company said its first lander crashed because it ran out of fuel on the way down, unable to control its landing. 

Here's how to watch the second-chance event. SEE ALSO: Private spacecraft circling moon snaps photo with strange optical illusion This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

The Hakuto-R mission is gearing up for a landing near the center of Mare Frigoris, aka the Sea of Cold, at 3:17 p.m. ET on Thursday, June 5 (that's 4:24 a.m. on June 6 in Japan).

Livestream coverage will begin about one hour earlier, at 2:10 p.m. ET, with English translation.

The public can also watch on X, the social platform owned by SpaceX founder Elon Musk. 

Or you can bookmark this story and come back here to watch the broadcast below:

Landing on the moon is difficult because of its exosphere, which provides virtually no drag to slow a spacecraft down as it approaches the ground. What's more, there are no GPS systems on the moon to help guide a craft to its landing spot. Engineers have to compensate for those challenges from 239,000 miles away.

If you're a little sleepy and smug today, perhaps you were in one of the long lines for the midnight launch of the Nintendo Switch 2 in the U.S. on Wednesday, following launches in Australia, Spain, the UK, and Nintendo's home, Japan.

Keen Nintendo fans, gamers, and tech enthusiasts waited in lengthy queues for the wildly anticipated handheld console release, setting up camp outside stores including Target, Best Buy, and Walmart across the country to get their goods in person. Doug Bowser, president of Nintendo of America, also turned up to greet customers at GameStop in New York.

SEE ALSO: Where to buy Nintendo Switch 2 online: Check every listing at Best Buy, Walmart, and GameStop

As Mashable Tech Editor Timothy Beck Werth reported, "The first customers to get their hands on Switch 2 consoles were the lucky players who placed a preorder through GameStop or Best Buy. Both retailers hosted midnight ET launch events around the country, which gave people the chance to pick up their preorders in person."

Here's some of the images of keen beans across the U.S., lining up for the first Nintendo handheld console in eight years, the Switch 2:

Best Buy in San Diego, California. Credit: Ariana Drehsler / Bloomberg via Getty Images Best Buy in San Diego, California. Credit: Ariana Drehsler / Bloomberg via Getty Images Best Buy in Pembroke Pines, Florida. Credit: Joe Raedle / Getty Images Best Buy in Pembroke Pines, Florida. Credit: Joe Raedle / Getty Images The Nintendo store in New York City. Credit: Michael Nagle / Bloomberg via Getty Images Nintendo Store in San Francisco, California. Credit: Lea Suzuki / San Francisco Chronicle via Getty Images GameStop in New York City. Credit: Adam Gray / Bloomberg via Getty Images

Midnight launches outside the U.S. saw similar lines in other countries, including Spain, Japan, and the UK.

Electronics retailer in Tokyo, Japan. Credit: Kazuhiro Nogi / AFP via Getty Images Game store in Madrid, Spain. Credit: Claudia Paparelli / Bloomberg via Getty Images Currys Plc store on Oxford Street in London, UK. Credit: Jose Sarmento Matos / Bloomberg via Getty Images

Ahead of a full review coming soon, Mashable's Alex Perry has been testing the Switch 2 including first impressions of Mario Kart World, the GameChat feature, and more.

Want your own? Here's Mashable's guide to where you can buy the Switch 2.

TL;DR: Live stream Sabalenka vs. Swiatek in the 2025 French Open for free on 9Now, France TV, or Servus TV. Access these free streaming platforms from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The 2025 French Open semi finals are set up to be special, with Sabalenka taking on Swiatek in arguably the pick of the bunch. It really doesn't get much bigger than this. It's going to be an epic battle between two incredible players, and you can follow all the action without spending anything.

If you want to watch Sabalenka vs. Swiatek in the 2025 French Open for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

How to watch Sabalenka vs. Swiatek for free

Sabalenka vs. Swiatek in the 2025 French Open is available to live stream for free on a number of platforms:

• Australia — 9now

• Austria — ServusTV

• France — France TV

These services are geo-restricted, but anyone can access these free streaming platforms with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in another country, meaning you can stream the 2025 French Open for free from anywhere in the world.

Live stream the 2025 French Open for free by following these simple steps:

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

2. Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)

3. Open up the app and connect to a server in Australia, Austria, or France

4. Connect to 9Now, Servus TV, France TV

5. Watch the 2025 French Open for free from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan) $12.95 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but they do tend to offer pretty generous money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can watch Roland-Garros without committing with your cash. This is obviously not a long-term strategy, but it gives you enough time to live stream Sabalenka vs. Swiatek (plus the rest of the 2025 French Open) before recovering your investment.

If you want to retain permanent access to free streaming services 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 sport?

ExpressVPN is the best choice for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport, 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 eight simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A two-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $139 and includes an extra four months for free — 61% off for a limited time. This plan also includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month subscription for just $12.95 (including money-back guarantee).

Live stream Sabalenka vs. Swiatek in the 2025 French Open for free with ExpressVPN.

The day has finally arrived: the Nintendo Switch 2 has launched. If you were lucky enough to get a console — check out our Nintendo Switch 2 buying guide if not — and are now looking to pick up some extras for the console, you've come to the right place. Here we've gathered up a variety of Nintendo Switch 2 deals that are currently available, including accessories, carrying cases, and screen protectors.

After dropping so much cash on the new console, there's truly no better time to look at discounts. Items like screen protectors and cases are especially important investments right now so you can keep your new console safe and protected, and it's even better when you can score them on sale.

The best Nintendo Switch 2 deals available right now Best Nintendo Switch 2 Bundle Deal Nintendo Switch 2 + Mario Kart World Bundle 499.00 Get Deal Best Nintendo Switch 2 Screen Protector Deal ivoler 4-Pack Tempered Glass Screen Protector 8.99 (save $7) Get Deal Best Nintendo Switch 2 Carrying Case Deal ProCase Carrying Case for Nintendo Switch 2 14.99 (save $5) Get Deal Best Nintendo Switch 2 Accessory Deal Lmcpa Accessories Bundle for Nintendo Switch 2 19.99 (save $6) Get Deal

Below you can find some of the best Nintendo Switch 2 deals we could find in June. In the words of Mario... let's-a go!

SEE ALSO: You can already find 100+ Switch 2 eBay listings. We don't recommend them. Best Nintendo Switch 2 bundle deal Opens in a new window Credit: Nintendo Nintendo Switch 2 + Mario Kart World Bundle $499 at Walmart
Get Deal Why we like it

The Nintendo Switch 2 and Mario Kart World bundle is one of the best Switch 2 deals available at the moment. For $499, you get the console and Mario Kart World (which retails for a whopping $79.99). Considering the console on its own is $449.99, you're saving $30.98 compared to buying each item separately. That's a great little bundle deal to set yourself up with right away.

Unfortunately, it has gone out of stock pretty quickly. Keep an eye on our Nintendo Switch 2 buying guide for updates on restocks online.

Best Nintendo Switch 2 screen protector deal Opens in a new window Credit: ivoler ivoler 4-Pack Tempered Glass Screen Protector $8.99 at Amazon
$15.99 Save $7 Get Deal Why we like it

After picking up your Switch 2, the next step is to find some solid protection for it. Thankfully, there are quite a few good deals at the moment on items like screen protectors so you can keep your display safe and secure when you start playing on it. Our favorite deal at the moment is on the four-pack of tempered glass screen protectors from ivoler above, but we've included quite a few more screen protector deals we've come across below.

More Nintendo Switch 2 screen protector deals

• JSAUX 3-Pack Tempered Glass Screen Protector for Nintendo Switch 2 — $6.09 $9.99 (clip 24% off coupon and redeem promotion on store page)

• JSAUX 2-Pack Anti-Glare Screen Protector for Nintendo Switch 2 — $7.64 $11.99 (redeem promotion on store page)

• amFilm Auto-Alignment OneTouch for Nintendo Switch 2 Screen Protector (2-Pack) — $8.99 $12.99

• amFilm Auto-Alignment OneTouch for Nintendo Switch 2 Matte Finish Screen Protector (2-Pack) — $12.99 $15.99

Best Nintendo Switch 2 carrying case deal Opens in a new window Credit: ProCase ProCase Carrying Case for Nintendo Switch 2 (2025) $14.99 at Amazon
$19.99 Save $5.00 Get Deal Why we like it

A carrying case is another protective piece that's worth picking up alongside the Switch 2. Especially if you're hoping to take it traveling with you, a carrying case makes the journey just a bit easier. They can usually hold a variety of games and accessories alongside the console, so you can pack up all of your favorite Switch 2 items and keep them neatly organized while on the go.

Our favorite carrying case deal at the moment is from ProCase. Alongside space for the Switch 2 to be slotted into, it also comes with 24 built-in game card holders and a mesh pocket on the inside to hold your accessories for just $15. You can see even more of our favorite Switch 2 carrying case deals below.

More Nintendo Switch 2 carrying case deals

• MoKo Carrying Case for Nintendo Switch 2 — $11.19 $18.99 (clip 20% off coupon)

• ivoler Carrying Case for Nintendo Switch 2 — $14.39 $15.99

• ProCase Slim Carrying Case for Nintendo Switch 2 — $15.29 $22.99

• JSAUX Carrying Case for Nintendo Switch 2 — $16.19 $21.99 (redeem brand promotion on store page)

• JSAUX Protective Case Compatible with Nintendo Switch 2 — $16.99 $25.99

• ProCase Large Carrying Case for 2025 Nintendo Switch 2 — $18.99 $21.99

• amCase Carrying Case for Nintendo Switch 2 — $18.99 $24.99

• tomtoc Sling Crossbody Bag for Nintendo Switch 2 — $44.99 $49.99 (clip 10% off coupon)

Best Nintendo Switch 2 accessory deal Opens in a new window Credit: Lmcpa Lmcpa Accessories Bundle for Nintendo Switch 2 $19.99 at Amazon
$25.99 Save $6 Get Deal Why we like it

If you're on the hunt for some accessories to go with your brand new Nintendo Switch 2, there are plenty of deals on various items to check out right now. One of our favorite discounts at the moment is this Lmcpa accessories bundle, which comes with a little bit of everything. For $20, you get a carrying case, a transparent hard shell cover, an HD screen protector, silicone Joy-Con skins, and thumb grip caps. It's a great little all-in-one deal, but you can see even more of our favorite Nintendo Switch 2 accessory deals below.

More Nintendo Switch 2 accessory deals

• ProCase Protective Case for Nintendo Switch 2 — $9.98 $13.99

• JSAUX Thumb Grips for Nintendo Switch 2 — $5.99 $12.99 (redeem coupon and brand promotion on store page)

• JSAUX 65W USB-C Charger for Nintendo Switch 2 — $19.99 $25.99 (clip $6 off coupon)

• SUPCASE Charging Dock for Nintendo Switch 2 Joy Con — $23.75 $26.99 (clip 12% off coupon)

• JSAUX Game Card Case for Nintendo Switch 2 — $17.99 $19.99

TL;DR: Live stream Australia vs. Japan in World Cup qualifiers for free on 10Play. Access this free streaming site from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

Australia are taking on Japan in an absolutely massive World Cup qualification matchup in Perth. Japan have already secured their spot in the 2026 World Cup, but Australia still have work to do. A win for the Socceroos would go a long way to securing automatic qualification to next year's showpiece event, but they will need to be at their best to take anything from Japan.

The good news for fans around the world is that this game is available to live stream without spending anything. If you want to watch Australia vs. Japan in World Cup qualifiers for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Australia vs. Japan?

Australia vs. Japan in World Cup qualifiers kicks off at 7:10 a.m. ET on June 5. This fixture takes place at the Optus Stadium.

How to watch Australia vs. Japan for free

Australia vs. Japan in World Cup qualifiers is available to live stream for free on 10Play.

10Play is geo-restricted to Australia, but anyone can access this free streaming platform with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in Australia, meaning you can access free live streams on 10Play from anywhere in the world.

Live stream Australia vs. Japan by following these simple steps:

1. Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)

2. Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)

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

4. Visit 10Play

5. Live stream Australia vs. Japan for free from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan) $12.95 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but most do offer free-trials or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can watch Australia vs. Japan in World Cup qualifiers without actually spending anything. This clearly isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to stream select World Cup qualifiers before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for 10Play?

ExpressVPN is the best choice for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport on 10Play, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries including Australia

• 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 free from throttling

• Up to eight simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A two-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $139 and includes an extra four months for free — 61% off for a limited time. This plan also includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month subscription for just $12.95 (including money-back guarantee).

Stream Australia vs. Japan in World Cup qualifiers for free with ExpressVPN.

Nintendo’s Switch 2 is finally here, and it’s time to put your money where your mouth is. Whether you put down a refundable preorder “just in case” or you’re determined to hunt down a unit during the launch window, it’s make-your-mind-up time.

Last week, Google quietly announced that it would be adding a visible watermark to AI-generated videos made using its new Veo 3 model.

And if you look really closely while scrolling through your social feeds, you might be able to see it.

The watermark can be seen in videos released by Google to promote the launch of Veo 3 in the UK and other countries.

Credit: Screenshot: Google

Google announced the change in an X thread by Josh Woodward, Vice President with Google Labs and Google Gemini.

According to Woodward's post, the company added the watermark to all Veo videos except for those generated in Google's Flow tool by users with a Google AI Ultra plan. The new watermark is in addition to the invisible SynthID watermark already embedded in all of Google's AI-generated content, as well as a SynthID detector, which recently rolled out to early testers but is not yet broadly available.

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The visible watermark "is a first step as we work to make our SynthID Detector available to more people in parallel," said Josh Woodward, VP of Google Labs and Gemini in his X post.

In the weeks after Google introduced Veo 3 at Google I/O 2025, the new AI video model has garnered lots of attention for its incredibly realistic videos, especially since it can also generate realistic audio and dialogue. The videos posted online aren't just fantastical renderings of animals acting like humans, although there's plenty of that, too. Veo 3 has also been used to generate more mundane clips, including man-on-the-street interviews, influencer ads, fake news segments, and unboxing videos.

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If you look closely, you can spot telltale signs of AI like overly-smooth skin and erroneous artifacts in the background. But if you're passively doomscrolling, you might not think to double-check whether the emotional support kangaroo casually holding a plane ticket is real or fake. People being duped by an AI-generated kangaroo is a relatively harmless example. But Veo 3's widespread availability and realism introduce a new level of risk for the spread of misinformation, according to AI experts interviewed by Mashable for this story.

The new watermark should reduce those risks, in theory. The only problem is that the visible watermark isn't that visible. In a video Mashable generated using Veo 3, you can see a "Veo" watermark in a pale shade of white in the bottom right-hand corner of the video. See it?

A Veo 3 video generated by Mashable includes the new watermark. Credit: Screenshot: Mashable

How about now?

Google's Veo watermark. Credit: Screenshot: Mashable

"This small watermark is unlikely to be apparent to most consumers who are moving through their social media feed at a break-neck clip," said digital forensics expert Hany Farid. Indeed, it took us a few seconds to find it, and we were looking for it. Unless users know to look for the watermark, they may not see it, especially if viewing content on their mobile devices.

A Google spokesperson told Mashable by email, "We're committed to developing AI responsibly and we have clear policies to protect users from harm and governing the use of our AI tools. Any content generated with Google AI has a SynthID watermark embedded and we also add a visible watermark to Veo videos too.”

"People are familiar with prominent watermarks like Getty Images, but this one is very small," said Negar Kamali, a researcher studying people's ability to detect AI-generated content at Kellogg School of Management. "So either the watermark needs to be more noticeable, or platforms that host images could include a note beside the image — something like 'Check for a watermark to verify whether the image is AI-generated,'" said Kamali. "Over time, people could learn to look for it."

However, visible watermarks aren't a perfect remedy. Both Farid and Kamali told us that videos with watermarks can easily be cropped or edited. "None of these small — visible — watermarks in images or video are sufficient because they are easy to remove," said Farid, who is also a professor at UC Berkeley School of Information.

But, he noted that Google's SynthID invisible watermark, "is quite resilient and difficult to remove." Farid added, "The downside is that the average user can’t see this [SynthID watermark] without a watermark reader so the goal now is to make it easier for the consumer to know if a piece of content contains this type of watermark."

While June isn't typically a month that PC gamers associate with high-profile game releases, this year's lineup holds a few big arrivals across different genres: action-adventures, MMORPGs, soccer, horror, and more.

On June 1, TikTok banned the #SkinnyTok trend and hashtag on the app worldwide after receiving pressure from European lawmakers, according to Euractiv.

SkinnyTok glamorizes eating disorders and could influence people — primarily young women — to emaciate themselves in order to access an unrealistic beauty standard.

Unfortunately, just because the hashtag is banned from TikTok doesn't mean the content is particularly difficult to find. As Mashable has previously reported, content moderation rarely changes the content of our conversations, even if it succeeds in changing some of our vocabulary. Instead of suicide, users say "unaliving;" instead of sex, they says "seggs;" and instead of porn, we get corn emojis. In the same way, though SkinnyTok may be gone, users can still find the same content under new names. Similar content is also constantly pushed on FitTok, TikTok's community for fitness content.

SEE ALSO: YouTube updates guidelines for eating disorder-related content

This ban comes after policymakers in Brussels and Paris looked into SkinnyTok and found it was full of young women, many of whom looked emaciated, posting extreme diets and weight-loss tips.

"[We] have blocked search results for #skinnytok since it has become linked to unhealthy weight loss content," TikTok spokesperson Paolo Ganino said in a statement Monday, according to Politico. Ganino added that the ban is part of a "regular review ... to address evolving risks" on TikTok.

Now, when you search for the hashtag, you'll be met with a page that reads: "You're not alone."

"If you or someone you know has questions about body image, food, or exercise — it is important to know that help is out there and you are not alone. If you feel comfortable, you can confide in someone you trust or check out the resources below. Please remember to take care of yourselves and each other." The page also includes a number for the National Alliance for Eating Disorders and a link that takes users to the TikTok Safety Center.

France’s Digital Minister Clara Chappaz called this a "collective victory" on Sunday, according to Politico.

The SkinnyTok ban comes after a piece in The Cut detailed a destructive community created by SkinnyTok's biggest influencer, Liv Schmidt. Online communities that glamorize extremely skinny physiques and celebrate disordered eating have been popular since the early days of the internet, and SkinnyTok is just the latest iteration of an old trend.

This trend of shrinking oneself to achieve ideal thinness is so devastating because it's rooted in real-life privilege afforded to thin people. Anti-fat bias affects people in work, finances, and relationships.

According to a LinkedIn survey, fat workers earn more than $2,000 less each year than thin people in the UK. Women in the U.S. and Germany experience "a negative weight-income relationship that is steepest at the thin end of the distribution," according to a study from the Journal of Applied Psychology. MIT researchers also found that managers who believed they would be training a fat worker "had lower expectations about the trainee’s success and work ethic prior to training." Thinner people are treated better in the doctor's office and have easier access to services like air travel.

Many activists believe the answer to fatphobia cannot be to encourage thinness, as trends like SkinnyTok do. Instead, they believe we should fight fatphobia itself. Likewise, many body positivity activists warn that fatphobia is compounded when other factors such as race, class, and disability are folded in.

A report by the Dove Self-Esteem Project shows that nine out of 10 girls follow social media accounts that make them feel less beautiful, and more than half of the respondents said they couldn't measure up to online beauty standards. Nearly 30 million Americans suffer from an eating disorder at some point in their life, and only 27 percent of women receive any treatment for it. Even worse, more than one person dies as a direct result of an eating disorder every hour, according to statistics from the National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders. And, according to Eating Recovery Center, "studies have shown a clear link between social media and eating disorders."

If you feel like you’d like to talk to someone about your eating behavior, text "NEDA" to the Crisis Text Line at 741-741 to be connected with a trained volunteer or visit the National Eating Disorder Association website for more information.

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.

Today is your lucky day if you’re an owner of Walmart’s Onn 4K or Onn 4K Pro streaming boxes. Android 14 is rolling out right now, and this update skips over Android 13 from Android 12, bringing your device (almost) fully up-to-date.

Misinformation, job loss, nonconsensual deepfakes – these are just a few of the issues state lawmakers have to contend with in a world where artificial intelligence becomes more and more prevalent in our daily lives.

However, there's one big problem. The federal budget reconciliation bill may make it impossible for state lawmakers to deal with the many issues brought about by AI.

Why? Because President Donald Trump's One Big Beautiful Bill (yes, that's really what it's called) includes a highly controversial provision that outright bans any AI regulation for 10 years at the state and local level.

That means the bill would tie lawmakers' hands in all 50 states, preventing them from taking any action to regulate this growing industry even as it affects their states' economies and their constituents' lives.

According to a new report from StateScoop, state lawmakers from all 50 states are now coming together to push back against this provision in the federal budget reconciliation bill. In total, more than 260 state legislators have signed on to a letter to Congress voicing their opposition to the 10-year ban on AI regulation.

The letter was spearheaded by both South Carolina Rep. Brandon Guffey and South Dakota Sen. Liz Larson. Notably, Rep. Guffey is a Republican and Sen. Larson is a Democrat, showing that the opposition to this AI regulation ban is a bipartisan one.

Supports of the AI regulation ban provision claim that its necessary in order to prevent a "fragmented regulatory landscape," which would harm the industry and give China an unfair advantage in the space over U.S. tech companies.

And it appears at least some of the president's supporters in Congress are changing their tune on the bill.

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, the far-right Republican Congresswoman from Georgia, announced on X that she opposes the AI regulation ban provision, though she already voted in favor of the big, beautiful bill.

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"Full transparency, I did not know about this section on pages 278-279 of the OBBB that strips states of the right to make laws or regulate AI for 10 years," Rep. Greene posted on X. "I am adamantly OPPOSED to this and it is a violation of state rights and I would have voted NO if I had known this was in there."

Rep. Greene went on to state that the effects of this bill can be "potentially dangerous" and said she will not vote for the bill when it comes back to the House of Representatives if this provision is still included.

Trump's big, beautiful bill passed the House and now heads to the Senate, where Rep. Greene said she hopes this provision is stripped.

The CEO of AI company Anthropic recently warned that governments aren't taking the threat of AI seriously enough and that there is a real lack of action in preparing for what's to come. In addition, a poll conducted last month by research firm Echelon Insights, on behalf of Common Sense Media, found that 59 percent of registered voters opposed banning AI regulation for states.