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Conan O'Brien channeled his inner Aunt Gladys (Academy Award winner Amy Madigan) to kick off the 98th Academy Awards.

SEE ALSO: Wildest moments from Oscars 2026

During a pre-recorded segment, the Oscars host donned the Weapons' villain's iconic reg wig and clownish makeup before getting chased down to the Dolby Theater by a troupe of bloodthirsty kids.

Along the way, he made several pit stops throughout 2025's Oscar-nominated movies. He darted across the race track in F1. He scored a point in a ping pong match against Timothée Chalamet in Marty Supreme. He charged across the stage during Hamnet's poignant climax, rode shotgun with One Battle After Another's Benicio del Toro, and even begged Sinners' Smoke and Stack (Michael B. Jordan) to let him into their juke joint.

Plus, he learned Norwegian just to get dressed down by Stellan Skarsgård in Sentimental Value. O'Brien may have regretted picking up the new language just for a bit, but we appreciate the effort.

Unlike in Weapons, O'Brien's Aunt Gladys actually made it out alive. O'Brien arrived on the Oscars stage totally unscathed (and sadly, wigless).

Mashable’s covering all things Oscars 2026, from Academy Awards live updates to red carpet style and the wildest moments from the show. Check back at Mashable.com throughout the night for winners announcements and more.

The best deals for watching the Oscars live without cable: BEST BUNDLE DEAL Hulu and Disney+ with ads $4.99/month for 3 months (save $8/month) Get Deal BEST long-term deal Hulu with ads annual subscription $119.99/year (save $23.89) Get Deal BEST FOR STUDENTS Hulu Student $1.99/month (save $10/month) Get Deal GET HULU FOR FREE Hulu with ads Free for T-Mobile customers (save $11.99/month) Get Deal BEST LIVE TV STREAMING DEAL YouTube TV Free 21-day trial, then $59.99/month for 2 months (save $46) Get Deal MOST AFFORDABLE LIVE TV STREAMING SERVICE Sling Select $19.99/month Get Deal

It's been another stellar year for cinema, and now it's time to award the films that shone brightest. The 98th Oscars are upon us. On March 15, the Academy will honor the best movies of 2025 on Hollywood's biggest night. Conan O’Brien is set to host the ceremony once again, and many of your favorite winners from years past will present the biggest awards of the night.

We're hoping some of our favorites receive the awards they deserve — One Battler After Another, Sinners, Hamnet, and more — but it's anyone's game. Want to see who takes home the titles of Best Actress, Best Director, Best Picture, and beyond? Here are all the details you need to know to watch the 2026 Academy Awards live with or without cable.

When are the 2026 Oscars?

The 98th Academy Awards will be held at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles on Sunday, March 15, 2026, and will air live at 7 p.m. ET on ABC and Hulu, with the pre-show airing at 6:30 p.m. ET.

Who are this year's Oscar nominees?

Sinners leads this year's Oscars with a record-breaking 16 nominations. Basically, every award it could be nominated for, it is. One Battle After Another follows close behind with 13, while Marty Supreme earned nine, and Hamnet nabbed seven nominations.

Each year, there are just as many snubs as there are surprises, and 2026 is no different. For instance, we were a bit flabbergasted that Wicked: For Good came up totally empty with zero nominations. Our favorite sad boy, Paul Mescal, newcomer Chase Infiniti, and Jesse Plemons were also ignored by the Academy.

See a full list of the 2026 Oscar nominations below in the FAQ section of this story.

Live from Oscars 2026 tonight: Mashable’s covering all things Oscars 2026, from Academy Awards live updates to red carpet style and the wildest moments from the show. Check back at Mashable.com through the night for winners announcements and more.

How to watch the Oscars live without cable in 2026

For those with cable or over-the-air TV, you can tune your TV to your local ABC station or watch online via ABC.com or the ABC app by logging in through your pay TV service provider. No cable access? No worries: For the second year in a row, the awards will stream simultaneously on Hulu for subscribers.

You also have the option of signing up for a live TV cable replacement service to catch the Oscars live. These services essentially act just like cable, giving you live access to a well-rounded channel selection via your internet connection (rather than a cable connection). They're contract-free and often offer trials to test them out. That means you could very well watch the Oscars for free, then cancel before being charged. But we'll leave the details up to you. Here are the best options (and deals) to watch.

Hulu streaming deals

Hulu is one of the most generous (if not the most generous) streamers, offering new and eligible returning subscribers a free 30-day trial. That means you can easily sign up and watch the Oscars for free during that time period. If you don't qualify for the free trial, we've also rounded up a few ways to save some money on your subscription.

Limited-time bundle deal: Save $8/month on three months of Hulu and Disney+ Opens in a new window Credit: Hulu / Disney+ Hulu and Disney+ (with ads) $4.99/month for 3 months (save $8/month) Get Deal

Through March 24, new subscribers can get both Hulu and Disney+ with ads for only $4.99 per month for three months. Typically $12.99 per month for the bundle, you'll save $24 total on a three-month subscription. Only new and returning subscribers can score the deal; current Disney+, ESPN, Hulu, and bundle subscribers are not eligible.

Best Hulu deal for most people: Save 16% on a Hulu (with ads) annual subscription Opens in a new window Credit: Hulu Hulu with ads annual subscription $99.99 per year (save 16%) Get Deal

The best way to cut the cost of a Hulu subscription on any given day is to sign up for an annual plan with ads. You'll have to endure a few interruptions to your content and pay upfront, but it'll save you 16 percent, or just shy of $24, over the course of a year. A yearly subscription costs $119.99 (or $9.99 per month), while an $11.99 monthly plan would add up to $143.88 over a year. If you want to cut ties with ads, the price jumps to $18.99 per month, and there's no annual offer available at this time.

Best for students: Save $10/month with Hulu Student Opens in a new window Credit: Hulu Hulu Student $1.99 per month Get Deal

Students can sign up for Hulu for only $1.99 per month and stream the Oscars live. That's more than 80 percent off the usual cost of a Hulu with ads plan. The only requirement is that you can verify your college email address using SheerID.

Best for T-Mobile users: Hulu (with ads) included for select customers Opens in a new window Credit: Hulu Hulu with ads Free for T-Mobile customers on Experience Beyond plan (save $11.99/month) Get Deal

Aside from a 30-day free trial, the only other way to get Hulu for free in 2026 is by switching your phone plan to T-Mobile's Experience Beyond plan. Customers on this plan can enjoy Hulu with ads for free, as well as Netflix and Apple TV.

Already on the Experience Beyond plan? Download or open the T-Life app, select Manage > See plans > Manage add-ons, then scroll to the Hulu streaming benefit and click "Continue." Follow the prompts to link an existing account or create a new one.

Live TV streaming deals

If you prefer a cable alternative that gives you access to your local ABC station and hundreds of other live channels, we recommend a few options. And many of them offer free trials and introductory pricing. Here are a couple of options.

Best introductory offer: YouTube TV Opens in a new window Credit: YouTube TV YouTube TV 21-day free trial, then $59.99/mo for your first 2 months (save $46) Get Deal

YouTube TV's base plan includes over 100 live channels, including your local ABC network. You'll also get unlimited DVR space, three simultaneous streams, and up to six individual accounts with personalized recommendations. For a limited time, you can get a 21-day trial to test the waters, which means you can watch the Oscars for free. Then, your first two months will cost just $59.99 per month instead of the usual $82.99 per month.

Most affordable overall: Sling TV Select package (for select areas) Opens in a new window Credit: Sling Sling Select package (select areas only) $19.99/month Get Deal

Sling's a la carte setup and affordable pricing make it a huge competitor in the live TV streaming market. You can pick your package and channels depending on what you actually want to watch. You'll need access to ABC to watch the Oscars live, which is included in Sling's Select package for only $19.99 per month. Unfortunately, since ABC is a local network, it's only available in some local markets. Check whether your local market includes ABC before you pull the trigger — Chicago, Fresno, Houston, Los Angeles, and more are included.

Honorable mention: FuboTV Opens in a new window Credit: Fubo Fubo free 5-day trial, $48.99 for your first month Get Deal

FuboTV offers a 5-day free trial for newbies, letting you watch the Oscars on your local ABC station. You'll get access to over 200 other networks, as well as unlimited cloud DVR, and the ability to watch on up to 10 different screens. After your trial, the cost for your first month is $48.99 ($73.99 per month thereafter).

TL;DR: Live stream the 2026 Oscars for free on 7Plus, RTÉ Player, or ITVX. Access these free streaming platforms from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

Yes, the Oscars are almost here. It’s time for the film industry to come together to congratulate itself. Expect stunning gowns, polite clapping, fake smiles, and chaotic acceptance speeches. The group chat is going to come alive for one night only.

Whether you're interested in the red carpet looks, the musical numbers, the award winners, or the sweet unpredictability of live television, you can watch this special event without spending anything. So clear your schedule and invite your sassiest friends. There's always something from this night that causes a huge stir, and we wouldn't want you to miss out on the drama.

If you want to watch the 2026 Oscars for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

What are the Oscars?

The Academy Awards (the Oscars) are the awards for artistic and technical merit in film. The Oscars are widely considered to be the most prestigious awards in the film industry.

When are the 2026 Oscars?

The 98th Academy Awards ceremony will take place at 7 p.m. ET on March 15 at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood. Comedian Conan O'Brien is set to host the show for the second consecutive time in 2026.

How to watch the 2026 Oscars for free

The 2026 Oscars are available to live stream for free on a number of platforms:

• Australia — 7Plus

• Ireland — RTÉ Player

• UK — ITVX

Mashable’s covering all things Oscars 2026, from Academy Awards live updates to red carpet style and the wildest moments from the show. Check back at Mashable.com through the night for winners announcements and more.

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

Live stream the 2026 Oscars from anywhere in the world 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 a location with access

4. Visit 7Plus, RTÉ Player, or ITVX

5. Live stream the 2026 Oscars for free from anywhere in the world

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

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but leading VPNs do tend to offer free-trial periods or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can gain access to free live streams without committing with your cash. This is obviously not a long-term solution, but it does give you time to watch the 2026 Oscars before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for the Oscars?

ExpressVPN is the best service for bypassing geo-restrictions to access free live streams, 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 always secure

• Fast connection speeds

• Up to 10 simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

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

Watch the 2026 Oscars from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

TL;DR: Score 100TB of Internxt lifetime cloud storage for just $974.97 (MSRP $9,900) before March 31 and never worry about running out of space again.

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100TB of cloud storage might sound like overkill for most of us, but if you’re a photographer juggling client libraries, a video producer managing terabytes of raw footage, a media agency storing creative assets, or a research lab with mountains of data, suddenly it’s not just reasonable — it’s essential.

Internxt makes storing that much data private, easy, and worry-free. And right now, you can get a 100TB Internxt Cloud Storage lifetime subscription for just $974.97 (MSRP $9,900) if you act before March 31.

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Internxt isn’t your average cloud service. It’s open-source, zero-knowledge, and post-quantum encrypted, which means only you can access your files, and hackers don’t stand a chance. You can store, share, and sync files across any device — Windows, Mac, Linux, iOS, Android, or web browser — without sacrificing speed or control. The interface is clean, intuitive, and built for people who need to manage massive amounts of data without wrestling with complex menus. From secure client projects to massive photo archives or research datasets, Internxt lets you keep everything organized, private, and accessible from anywhere.

Plus, it’s built for collaboration at scale. Unlimited devices mean teams can access shared resources without juggling multiple accounts. Post-quantum encryption and GDPR compliance keep your data protected long-term, and updates are included for life. It’s a security and privacy solution that actually makes sense for professionals, not just hobbyists.

If you’re ready to take control of your data, store it safely, and skip subscription fees forever, grab a lifetime subscription to Internxt Cloud Storage for $974.97 until March 31 and enjoy 100TB of encrypted, private, and completely manageable storage for life.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

This week's Saturday Night Live cold open sticks to the formula that's been working all season — James Austin Johnson's uncanny Trump impression anchoring a tour through the latest week of governmental chaos. The Cold Open starts with a family stranded at a gas station, forced to make the grim calculation of which kid gets left behind after gas prices blow past $5 a gallon in the wake of the Iran war.

Then the family freezes, and Trump appears with this week's unhinged stream of consciousness. The sketch breaks the fourth wall just enough, with a nod to that night's host, Harry Styles, and a sharp dig at Marcello Hernandez's well-established role as the show's perpetual child actor.

"He's SNL's little chihuahua," Johnson's Trump declares. "That sounds racist, and it is."

Colin Jost's Pete Hegseth also makes an appearance, randomly tumbling out of the back of the family's Chevy Impala wearing shoes several sizes too big — a gift from Trump that he's apparently obsessed with.

Siri's development over the years has been less than stellar, especially compared to competing voice assistants from Google and Amazon, but if the rumors are true, work on the new Siri update is so much of a hassle that Apple is delaying the release of its next-generation Apple Home products.

Last year, notorious Apple scooper Mark Gurman told Bloomberg that the Cupertino-based tech giant had been working on a slew of new home products, including long-overdue updates to their HomePod and HomePod Mini, indoor security cameras, and even a tabletop robot with a motorized arm, all to be controlled by the sound of your voice.

SEE ALSO: Apple reveals celebration plans for its 50th birthday

This aggressive foray into the smart home market was originally slated to launch last year, but was delayed until spring of 2026. Another, more recent report from Gurman has highlighted the growing disconnect between Apple's hardware and software divisions as the main cause of another delay.

At the center of this recent report is a smart home display/hub that Apple hoped to compete with Amazon's Echo Show. Reportedly, the device was to lean heavily on artificial intelligence and facial recognition technology to deliver tailored information to every new person who approached it: homework assignments for the kids, for example, and upcoming meetings for the parents. But with Siri's development behind expectations, these new smart home devices are being further delayed, most likely until September, when the next generation iPhone lineup is set to launch alongside a much-improved Siri assistant. 

Apple fans eager to give their homes a smart upgrade will have to wait a few more months, but with so many products releasing simultaneously this fall, even more pressure will be placed on Apple's command of artificial intelligence across its product ecosystem, making September a momentous month for the company.

In a bizarre inversion of recent trends, human actors have managed to steal work from artificial intelligence. Speaking with GamesIndustry.biz recently, Embark Studios CEO Patrick Söderlund revealed that the studio had replaced AI-generated dialogue with human voices in their successful ARC Raiders game, albeit only after the successful October launch.

The decision came down to quality, with Söderlund ultimately admitting that the professional voice actors still offer something that artificial intelligence cannot: "There is a quality difference. A real professional actor is better than AI; that's just how it is."

SEE ALSO: 'Arc Raiders' issues widespread penalties for alleged cheaters

Despite the game's remarkable success on Steam, with 14 million sales in February and more than 6 million weekly active users, critics have balked at the game's clunky use of text-to-speech, claiming that it harms immersion in the otherwise compelling story and world. As proof that the studio is sensitive to criticism and still eager to improve their already-launched product, the developers have identified key sections of dialogue to be "upgraded" by paid voice actors. As of now, however, there are no plans to replace all AI-generated voice content with human actors. 

Embark Studios also emphasized that, while some artificial intelligence was used in the dialogue, no generative AI was used in creating the game's striking, much-praised visuals. 

While critics of AI are quick to point out the human cost in terms of jobs lost or the damage to artistic integrity when AI trespasses into the realms of the human imagination, proponents point to the incredible cost-saving benefits of artificial intelligence, which may ultimately give more creative power to cash-strapped individuals rather than corporations. 

For now, however, expected more heated debates on the virtues and vices of AI as its use continues to accelerate in the gaming industry.

Bad news for the more than 180 million Americans signed up for Amazon Prime: the service is revamping its membership structure and locking 4K video streaming behind a higher-cost tier, charging customers an additional $4.99 per month to unlock the highest-resolution experience.

Prior to the change, regular Prime members paying either $14.99 per month or $139 per year could stream in 1080p HD or 4K/UHD, while customers eager to stream ad-free could pay an additional $3 per month. Now, however, the basic Prime Video package restricts users to 1080p streams, while the ad-free experience is being upgraded and rebranded as "Ultra."

SEE ALSO: Alexa+ is now available to everyone in the US, and free for Prime members

To further entice customers to upgrade their subscription, Amazon is throwing in additional perks for Ultra members, including an increased download capacity for offline viewing (from 25 to 100), support for Dolby Atmos audio and Dolby Vision picture, and an increase in the number of concurrent streams from a single account, from three to five.

It isn't all bad news for basic Prime members, though: they will also gain access to Dolby Vision support, as well as an increase in the number of concurrent streams they can access from a single account, from three to four.

It's also worth noting that true 4K streaming is still a tall order for most customers, either because they lack the bandwidth or because their streaming device, especially on smartphones and tablets, doesn't support true 4K UHD resolution. 

For those Amazon customers who rely on Prime Video for their home theater, though, the Ultra upgrade should be mandatory.

TL;DR: Guilt-free screen time for kids exists thanks to this lifetime subscription to Pok Pok, on sale now for $44.97 with code PLAY through March 22.

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

You don’t have to settle for the usual noisy, over-stimulating apps marketed to kiddos. Pok Pok is a Montessori-inspired option that lets you give little ones a safe, calm screen-time experience.

Right now, you can get a lifetime subscription to this guilt-free app for just $44.97 with code PLAY through March 22.

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Whether we like it or not, screens are a part of our lives. That means it’s up to us to introduce screen time to our kids in a safe and thoughtful way, and Pok Pok aims to do just that. This award-winning app provides a non-addictive, calm alternative to the usual children’s options in the app stores.

Pok Pok features a Montessori-based approach — a method that emphasizes hands-on learning, independence, and natural development. Kids can navigate this app entirely on their own, while learning STEM concepts, numbers, and language. There are no rules to follow, no levels, objectives, winners, or losers, and it’s all done with hand-drawn animations and low-stimulation, in-house-made, gentle sound effects.

Early childhood experts collaborated with Pok Pok creators to ensure the app was made to enrich and support the child’s development. You can rest easy knowing the app is COPPA-certified and GDPR compliant, so kids won’t be tricked into making purchases.

This lifetime subscription gives you access to both new content and seasonal and cultural updates. It also includes a surprise gift delivered to your home.

Get this lifetime subscription to Pok Pok for only $44.97 with code PLAY now through March 22.

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TL;DR: Microsoft Office 2024 Home & Business is 44% off, giving you the latest Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook with modern productivity features and a one-time purchase.

Opens in a new window Credit: Microsoft Microsoft Office 2024 Home & Business for Mac or PC Lifetime License $139.97
$249.99 Save $110.02   Get Deal

Some software subscriptions make sense. But productivity software? That’s one area where a lifetime license still feels refreshingly practical.

Microsoft Office 2024 Home & Business is currently available for $139.97 (reg. $249.99), giving you the newest version of Microsoft’s productivity suite without committing to a monthly subscription.

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And this version isn’t just a minor update. Office 2024 brings a number of thoughtful improvements designed for modern workflows — whether you’re managing projects, building presentations, or trying to keep your inbox under control.

At the core, you still get the classic apps so many rely on daily: Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and OneNote. But they’ve been refreshed with faster performance, smarter tools, and a cleaner design.

Excel, for example, is built to handle larger datasets more efficiently, making it easier to work with multiple workbooks at once. PowerPoint now allows users to record presentations with narration, video, and live camera feeds, which is particularly useful for remote meetings or online presentations. Outlook also introduces improved accessibility features, helping ensure emails meet formatting and readability standards before sending.

Across the entire suite, Microsoft has refined the interface with Fluent Design, creating a more consistent experience across apps. Collaboration features such as real-time co-authoring, comments, and version history also make it easier to work on shared documents. Office 2024 also introduces AI-powered suggestions to help with writing, formatting, and data insights, so you can create polished documents more efficiently.

And since everything installs directly on your device, you can keep working even when you’re offline. Get a Microsoft Office 2024 Home & Business lifetime license for just $139.97 (reg. $249.99).

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The Moon is almost fully out of view, and if you were hoping to do some Moon gazing tonight, you're out of luck. As we approach the New Moon, there's not a lot we can spot on its surface since only a tiny sliver is lit by the Sun.

What is today’s Moon phase?

As of Sunday, March 15, the Moon phase is Waning Crescent. According to NASA's Daily Moon Guide, 16% of the Moon will be lit up tonight.

Viewing opportunities of the Moon's surface are slim tonight. Without visual aids, you're out of luck fully. However, if you have binoculars or a telescope, there's a chance you'll spot the Grimaldi Basin.

When is the next Full Moon?

In North America, the next Full Moon is predicted to take place on April 1.

What are Moon phases?

According to NASA, the Moon takes roughly 29.5 days to orbit Earth, passing through eight distinct phases along the way. Although we always see the same side of the Moon, the amount illuminated by the Sun shifts as it moves, which is why it can appear full, half-lit, or just a thin sliver at different times in the cycle. These shifting appearances are known as the lunar phases, and there are eight altogether:

New Moon - The Moon is between Earth and the sun, so the side we see is dark (in other words, it's invisible to the eye).

Waxing Crescent - A small sliver of light appears on the right side (Northern Hemisphere).

First Quarter - Half of the Moon is lit on the right side. It looks like a half-Moon.

Waxing Gibbous - More than half is lit up, but it’s not quite full yet.

Full Moon - The whole face of the Moon is illuminated and fully visible.

Waning Gibbous - The Moon starts losing light on the right side. (Northern Hemisphere)

Third Quarter (or Last Quarter) - Another half-Moon, but now the left side is lit.

Waning Crescent - A thin sliver of light remains on the left side before going dark again.

If you like playing daily word games like Wordle, then Hurdle is a great game to add to your routine.

There are five rounds to the game. The first round sees you trying to guess the word, with correct, misplaced, and incorrect letters shown in each guess. If you guess the correct answer, it'll take you to the next hurdle, providing the answer to the last hurdle as your first guess. This can give you several clues or none, depending on the words. For the final hurdle, every correct answer from previous hurdles is shown, with correct and misplaced letters clearly shown.

An important note is that the number of times a letter is highlighted from previous guesses does necessarily indicate the number of times that letter appears in the final hurdle.

If you find yourself stuck at any step of today's Hurdle, don't worry! We have you covered.

SEE ALSO: Hurdle: Everything you need to know to find the answers Hurdle Word 1 hint

To draw attention to.

SEE ALSO: Apple’s new M3 MacBook Air is $300 off at Amazon. And yes, I’m tempted. Hurdle Word 1 answer

FOCUS

Hurdle Word 2 hint

To start up.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for March 15, 2026 Hurdle Word 2 Answer

CRANK

Hurdle Word 3 hint

Move.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for March 15 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for March 15, 2026 Hurdle Word 3 answer

SHIFT

Hurdle Word 4 hint

Murky.

Hurdle Word 4 answer

MUDDY

Final Hurdle hint

A truck.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Games available on Mashable Hurdle Word 5 answer

LORRY

If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

The NYT Connections puzzle today is not too difficult if you love to be in control.

Connections is the one of the most popular New York Times word games that's captured the public's attention. The game is all about finding the "common threads between words." And just like Wordle, Connections resets after midnight and each new set of words gets trickier and trickier—so we've served up some hints and tips to get you over the hurdle.

If you just want to be told today's puzzle, you can jump to the end of this article for today's Connections solution. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable What is Connections?

The NYT's latest daily word game has become a social media hit. The Times credits associate puzzle editor Wyna Liu with helping to create the new word game and bringing it to the publications' Games section. Connections can be played on both web browsers and mobile devices and require players to group four words that share something in common.

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Each puzzle features 16 words and each grouping of words is split into four categories. These sets could comprise of anything from book titles, software, country names, etc. Even though multiple words will seem like they fit together, there's only one correct answer.

If a player gets all four words in a set correct, those words are removed from the board. Guess wrong and it counts as a mistake—players get up to four mistakes until the game ends.

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Players can also rearrange and shuffle the board to make spotting connections easier. Additionally, each group is color-coded with yellow being the easiest, followed by green, blue, and purple. Like Wordle, you can share the results with your friends on social media.

SEE ALSO: NYT Pips hints, answers for March 15, 2026 Here's a hint for today's Connections categories

Want a hint about the categories without being told the categories? Then give these a try:

• Yellow: To take over

• Green: Pronged

• Blue: Word fusion

• Purple: A Chicago basketballer

Here are today's Connections categories

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

• Yellow: Greedily control

• Green: Toothed wheels

• Blue: Portmanteaux

• Purple: Bull___

Looking for Wordle today? Here's the answer to today's Wordle.

Ready for the answers? This is your last chance to turn back and solve today's puzzle before we reveal the solutions.

Drumroll, please!

The solution to today's Connections #1007 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• Greedily control: BOGART, CORNER, HOG, MONOPOLIZE

• Toothed wheels: COG, FEAR, PINION, SPROCKET

• Portmanteaux: BLOG, MOTEL, SMOG, SPORK

• Bull___: DOG, DOZE, FROG, HORN

Don't feel down if you didn't manage to guess it this time. There will be new Connections for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we'll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for March 15, 2026

Are you also playing NYT Strands? Get all the Strands hints you need for today's puzzle.

If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to today's Connections.

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

Strands, the New York Times' elevated word-search game, requires the player to perform a twist on the classic word search. Words can be made from linked letters — up, down, left, right, or diagonal, but words can also change direction, resulting in quirky shapes and patterns. Every single letter in the grid will be part of an answer. There's always a theme linking every solution, along with the "spangram," a special, word or phrase that sums up that day's theme, and spans the entire grid horizontally or vertically.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable

By providing an opaque hint and not providing the word list, Strands creates a brain-teasing game that takes a little longer to play than its other games, like Wordle and Connections.

If you're feeling stuck or just don't have 10 or more minutes to figure out today's puzzle, we've got all the NYT Strands hints for today's puzzle you need to progress at your preferred pace.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for March 15, 2026 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for March 15, 2026 NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: Best of all

The words are related to film.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

These words describe an iconic film ceremony.

NYT Strands spangram hint: Is it vertical or horizontal?

Today's NYT Strands spangram is horizontal.

NYT Strands spangram answer today

Today's spangram is Academy Award.

NYT Strands word list for March 15

• Director

• Actor

• Sound

• Academy Award

• Picture

• Song

• Actress

Looking for other daily online games? Mashable's Games page has more hints, and if you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now!

Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to today's Strands.

Today's Wordle answer should be easy to solve if you're a student.

If you just want to be told today's word, you can jump to the bottom of this article for today's Wordle solution revealed. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for March 15, 2026 Where did Wordle come from?

Originally created by engineer Josh Wardle as a gift for his partner, Wordle rapidly spread to become an international phenomenon, with thousands of people around the globe playing every day. Alternate Wordle versions created by fans also sprang up, including battle royale Squabble, music identification game Heardle, and variations like Dordle and Quordle that make you guess multiple words at once. 

Wordle eventually became so popular that it was purchased by the New York Times, and TikTok creators even livestream themselves playing.

What's the best Wordle starting word?

The best Wordle starting word is the one that speaks to you. But if you prefer to be strategic in your approach, we have a few ideas to help you pick a word that might help you find the solution faster. One tip is to select a word that includes at least two different vowels, plus some common consonants like S, T, R, or N.

What happened to the Wordle archive?

The entire archive of past Wordle puzzles was originally available for anyone to enjoy whenever they felt like it, but it was later taken down, with the website's creator stating it was done at the request of the New York Times. However, the New York Times then rolled out its own Wordle Archive, available only to NYT Games subscribers.

Is Wordle getting harder?

It might feel like Wordle is getting harder, but it actually isn't any more difficult than when it first began. You can turn on Wordle's Hard Mode if you're after more of a challenge, though.

SEE ALSO: NYT Pips hints, answers for March 15, 2026 Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

A score.

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

There are no recurring letters.

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

Today's Wordle starts with the letter G.

SEE ALSO: Wordle-obsessed? These are the best word games to play IRL. The Wordle answer today is...

Get your last guesses in now, because it's your final chance to solve today's Wordle before we reveal the solution.

Drumroll please!

The solution to today's Wordle is...

GRADE

Don't feel down if you didn't manage to guess it this time. There will be a new Wordle for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we'll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints. Are you also playing NYT Strands? See hints and answers for today's Strands.

Reporting by Chance Townsend, Caitlin Welsh, Sam Haysom, Amanda Yeo, Shannon Connellan, Cecily Mauran, Mike Pearl, and Adam Rosenberg contributed to this article.

If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to today's Wordle.

Welcome to your guide to Pips, the latest game in the New York Times catalogue.

Released in August 2025, the Pips puts a unique spin on dominoes, creating a fun single-player experience that could become your next daily gaming habit.

Currently, if you're stuck, the game only offers to reveal the entire puzzle, forcing you to move onto the next difficulty level and start over. However, we have you covered! Below are piecemeal answers that will serve as hints so that you can find your way through each difficulty level.

How to play Pips

If you've ever played dominoes, you'll have a passing familiarity for how Pips is played. As we've shared in our previous hints stories for Pips, the tiles, like dominoes, are placed vertically or horizontally and connect with each other. The main difference between a traditional game of dominoes and Pips is the color-coded conditions you have to address. The touching tiles don't necessarily have to match.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for March 15, 2026

The conditions you have to meet are specific to the color-coded spaces. For example, if it provides a single number, every side of a tile in that space must add up to the number provided. It is possible – and common – for only half a tile to be within a color-coded space.

Here are common examples you'll run into across the difficulty levels:

• Number: All the pips in this space must add up to the number.

• Equal: Every domino half in this space must be the same number of pips.

• Not Equal: Every domino half in this space must have a completely different number of pips.

• Less than: Every domino half in this space must add up to less than the number.

• Greater than: Every domino half in this space must add up to more than the number.

If an area does not have any color coding, it means there are no conditions on the portions of dominoes within those spaces.

SEE ALSO: NYT Strands hints, answers for March 15, 2026 Easy difficulty hints, answers for March 15 Pips

Equal (0): Everything in this space must be equal to 0. The answer is 0-0, placed horizontally; 0-3, placed vertically.

Equal (5): Everything in this space must be equal to 5. The answer is 4-5, placed horizontally; 5-5, placed horizontally.

Number (10): Everything in this space must add up to 10. The answer is 4-5, placed horizontally; 3-6, placed horizontally.

Medium difficulty hints, answers for March 15 Pips

Number (2): Everything in this space must add up to 2. The answer is 1-2, placed vertically; 5-1, placed vertically.

Less Than (1): Everything in this space must be less than 1. The answer is 0-2, placed vertically.

Equal (3): Everything in this space must be equal to 3. The answer is 1-3, placed vertically; 3-6, placed vertically.

Number (5): Everything in this space must add up to 5. The answer is 1-2, placed vertically; 3-4, placed horizontally.

Equal (2): Everything in this space must be equal to 2. The answer is 0-2, placed vertically; 2-5, placed horizontally.

Greater Than (10): Everything in this space must be greater than 10. The answer is 2-5, placed horizontally; 3-6, placed vertically.

Hard difficulty hints, answers for March 15 Pips

Number (10): Everything in this space must add up to 10. The answer is 5-5, placed horizontally.

Greater Than (2): Everything in this space must be greater than 2. The answer is 3-4, placed vertically.

Number (2): Everything in this space must add up to 2. The answer is 2-4, placed vertically.

Equal (4): Everything in this space must be equal to 4. The answer is 3-4, placed vertically; 2-4, placed vertically; 4-0, placed vertically.

Less Than (2): Everything in this space must be greater than 2. The answer is 4-0, placed vertically.

Number (12): Everything in this space must add up to 12. The answer is 6-6, placed vertically.

Number (4): Everything in this space must add up to 4. The answer is 4-6, placed horizontally.

Number (11): Everything in this space must add up to 11. The answer is 4-6, placed horizontally; 5-6, placed horizontally.

Number (1): Everything in this space must add up to 1. The answer is 1-6, placed vertically.

Number (12): Everything in this space must add up to 12. The answer is 5-6, placed horizontally; 1-6, placed vertically.

Equal (2): Everything in this space must be equal to 2. The answer is 2-2, placed horizontally.

Equal (3): Everything in this space must be equal to 3. The answer is 3-3, placed horizontally; 3-5, placed horizontally.

Greater Than (2): Everything in this space must be greater than 2. The answer is 3-5, placed horizontally.

Less Than (2): Everything in this space must be greater than 2. The answer is 0-0, placed horizontally.

Number (1): Everything in this space must add up to 1. The answer is 1-1, placed horizontally.

Not Equal: Everything in this space must be different. The answer is 0-2, placed horizontally; 1-1, placed horizontally; 6-0, placed horizontally.

Greater Than (2): Everything in this space must be greater than 2. The answer is 6-0, placed horizontally.

If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

Today's Connections: Sports Edition is easy for people that watch Conference Championship week.

As we've shared in previous hints stories, this is a version of the popular New York Times word game that seeks to test the knowledge of sports fans.

Like the original Connections, the game is all about finding the "common threads between words." And just like Wordle, Connections resets after midnight and each new set of words gets trickier and trickier — so we've served up some hints and tips to get you over the hurdle.

If you just want to be told today's puzzle, you can jump to the end of this article for the latest Connections solution. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable What is Connections: Sports Edition?

The NYT's latest daily word game has launched in association with The Athletic, the New York Times property that provides the publication's sports coverage. Connections can be played on both web browsers and mobile devices and require players to group four words that share something in common.

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Each puzzle features 16 words and each grouping of words is split into four categories. These sets could comprise of anything from book titles, software, country names, etc. Even though multiple words will seem like they fit together, there's only one correct answer.

If a player gets all four words in a set correct, those words are removed from the board. Guess wrong and it counts as a mistake — players get up to four mistakes until the game ends.

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Players can also rearrange and shuffle the board to make spotting connections easier. Additionally, each group is color-coded with yellow being the easiest, followed by green, blue, and purple. Like Wordle, you can share the results with your friends on social media.

SEE ALSO: Wordle-obsessed? These are the best word games to play IRL. Here's a hint for today's Connections: Sports Edition categories

Want a hint about the categories without being told the categories? Then give these a try:

• Yellow: Basketball no-no's

• Green: Next round of the tournament

• Blue: Women's coaching GOATs

• Purple: CBB conference champions

Here are today's Connections: Sports Edition categories

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

• Yellow: Basketball Fouls

• Green: First Words in NCAA Tournament Rounds

• Blue: Women's College Basketball Coaches

• Purple: Teams Qualified for the 2026 Men's NCAA Tournament

Looking for Wordle today? Here's the answer to today's Wordle.

Ready for the answers? This is your last chance to turn back and solve today's puzzle before we reveal the solutions.

Drumroll, please!

The solution to today's Connections: Sports Edition #538 is...

What is the answer to Connections: Sports Edition today?

• Basketball Fouls - BLOCK, CHARGE, HOLD, REACH-IN

• First Words in NCAA Tournament Rounds - ELITE, FINAL, SECOND, SWEET

• Women's College Basketball Coaches - AURIEMMA, CLOSE, IVEY, STALEY

• Teams Qualified for the 2026 Men's NCAA Tournament - GONZAGA, HIGH POINT, QUEENS, TROY

Don't feel down if you didn't manage to guess it this time. There will be new sports Connections for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we'll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints.

Are you also playing NYT Strands? See hints and answers for today's Strands.

If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to today's Connections.

As we near the 98th Academy Awards, which will air on March 15, prep for the star-studded event is underway. Host Conan O'Brien has rolled out the red carpet, statuettes gleam with fresh polish, and influencers are prepping their interview questions amid viral nominee backlash.

Also on the docket: The annual Golden Raspberry Awards, also known as The Razzies, which dishonorably award the worst Hollywood had to offer in the year prior.

SEE ALSO: How to watch the 2026 Oscars online for free

Many of Hollywood's finest take a Razzie win in stride, including Academy Award winners Halle Berry and Sandra Bullock, who attended the Razzies to accept the dishonor on behalf of Catwoman and All About Steve, respectively.

Alas, this year's virtual parody ceremony didn't feature any in-person Hollywood cameos. You'll also have to stomach some unsettling animated visuals on the YouTube livestream — or just scroll down for the full list.

Worst Picture

The Electric State          
Hurry Up Tomorrow
Disney’s Snow White (2025)   
Star Trek: Section 31
War of the Worlds (2025)

Winner: War of the Worlds (2025)

War of the Worlds, the latest film adaptation of the H.G Wells novel directed by Rich Lee, swept this year's Razzies. It currently has a 2.5-star rating on IMDb, a 4% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, and a single star on Letterboxd. The movie is available to stream on Amazon Prime Video.

Worst Actress

Ariana DeBose, Love Hurts
Milla Jovovich, In the Lost Lands
Natalie Portman, Fountain of Youth 
Rebel Wilson, Bride Hard
Michelle Yeoh, Star Trek: Section 31

Winner: Rebel Wilson

Bride Hard is a real movie in which Wilson plays a secret agent whose spy duties are getting in the way of her being a bridesmaid. It has a 4.4 rating on IMDB, a 14% on Rotten Tomatoes, and 1.9 on Letterboxd.

Worst Actor

Dave Bautista, In the Lost Lands
Ice Cube, War of the Worlds
Scott Eastwood, Alarum
Jared Leto, Tron: Ares
Abel “The Weeknd” Tesfaye, Hurry Up Tomorrow

Winner: Ice Cube

Despite widespread panning from critics and viewers, War of the Worlds gave the world at least one good thing: a meme-worthy shot of Ice Cube sitting at a computer monitor, the glow of Zoom tinging his glasses.

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

Anna Chlumsky, Bride Hard 
Ema Horvath, The Strangers: Chapter 2
Scarlet Rose Stallone, Gunslingers 
Kacey Rohl, Star Trek: Section 31
Isis Valverde, Alarum

Winner: Scarlet Rose Stallone

Stallone is, in fact, the daughter of action star Sylvester Stallone. She stars alongside another famous Hollywood name, Nic Cage, in Gunslingers, which has a 3.6 on IMDB, 5% on Rotten Tomatoes, and 1.8 stars on Letterboxd.

Worst Supporting Actor

All Seven Artificial Dwarfs, Snow White (2025)
Nicolas Cage, Gunslingers
Stephen Dorff, Bride Hard
Greg Kinnear, Off the Grid
Sylvester Stallone, Alarum

Winner: All Seven Artificial Dwarfs

The uncanny, CGI dwarfs of 2025's Snow White took home a joint Razzie, stealing yet another award that could have actually gone to a real-life actor with dwarfism.

Worst Remake / Rip-Off / Sequel

I Know What You Did Last Summer (2025)
Five Nights at Freddy’s 2
Smurfs (2025)
Snow White (2025)
War of the Worlds (2025)

Winner: War of the Worlds

Remake or rip-off? How about both...

Worst Screen Combo

All Seven Dwarfs, Snow White (2025)
James Corden & Rihanna, Smurfs (2025)
Ice Cube & His Zoom Camera, War of the Worlds (2025)
Robert De Niro & Robert De Niro (as Frank & Vito), The Alto Knights
The Weeknd & His Colossal Ego, Hurry Up Tomorrow

Winner: All Seven Dwarfs

Let's just use this moment to shout out the real voices behind the digital Razzie winners: Martin Klebba (Grumpy), George Salazar (Happy), Andy Grotelueschen (Sleepy), Tituss Burgess (Bashful), Jason Kravits (Sneezy), and Jeremy Swift (Doc).

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

Rich Lee, War of the Worlds (2025)
Olatunde Osunsanmi, Star Trek: Section 31
The Russo Brothers, The Electric State
Trey Edward Shults, Hurry Up Tomorrow
Marc Webb, Snow White (2025)

Winner: Rich Lee

Lee's bookshelf will be full of golden raspberries, which are actually really cute decor IMO. In the words of the Razzies, "Own your bad!"

Worst Screenplay

The Electric State, Screenplay by Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely. Adapted from the illustrated novel by Simon Stalenhag.
Hurry Up Tomorrow, Screenplay by Trey Edward Shults, Abel Tesfaye, Reza Fahim.
Snow White (2025), Screenplay by Erin Cressida Wilson et. al. Drawing from the original fairy tale by the Brothers Grimm.
Star Trek: Section 31, Screenplay by Craig Sweeny with original story concept developed by Bo Yeon Kim & Erika Lippoldt.
War of the Worlds (2025), Screen story and screenplay by Kenny Golde and screenplay by Marc Hyman. Adapted from the novel by H.G. Wells.

Winner: War Of The Worlds (2025) / Kenny Golde, Marc Hyman

Trying to adapt War of the Worlds in the age of TikTok dances and mogging is a doomed enterprise. But with this win, War of the Worlds ties with Cats for the most wins at the Razzies.

Razzie Redeemer AwardWinner: Kate Hudson, Song Sung Blue

The Redeemer Award is presented to a previous nominee or winner who has successfully come back from a critical failure. Hudson has multiple Razzie nominations, including My Best Friend’s Girl, Mother’s Day, and, most recently, 2021's Music. However, Hudson redeemed herself with a "pitch-perfect" performance in Song Sung Blue and was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actress.

An anonymous group installed an anti-Elon Musk vending machine that dispenses the Epstein Files at SXSW 2026 in Austin, Texas, on Saturday morning.

Mashable witnessed a group of four men installing the piece of guerrilla protest art at the corner of Red River Street and 4th Street in downtown Austin. After a brief installation, passersby started collecting DVDs titled "Elon's Epstein Files." The vending machine is covered with anti-Elon Musk slogans, and messages on the machine say "Grok makes AI child porn free!" and "Our founder Elon Musk is in the Epstein Files."

A group of unidentified men install an anti-Elon Musk art project at SXSW 2026. Credit: Timothy Werth / Mashable

Grok has been the subject of global investigations after the AI chatbot was accused of generating nude images of children. The Center for Countering Digital Hate (CCDH) and the New York Times found that Grok created an estimated 3 million sexualized images, which included 23,000 images depicting children, during an 11-day period between December and January.

When Grok Imagine first launched, Mashable reported that the tool lacked basic safety guardrails to prevent sexual deepfakes.

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A QR code inside the DVD takes you to Jmail, a site that lets you search through Epstein's emails in a Gmail-like interface. (Exercise caution when scanning QR codes from unknown sources.) Specifically, this code links to a search in Jmail that shows emails between Musk and Epstein. What Mashable has covered previously: Jmail is the brainchild of Riley Walz, a digital "prankster," and developer Luke Igel. However, it's unclear if this Elon Musk vending machine is associated with the Jmail project.

The men setting up the vending machine refused to say who they were or who hired them. Two men who described themselves as the "security detail" said the vending machine would be up until Wednesday. A photographer and the man installing the machine told Mashable they were hired by a company that was hired by another company, and refused to provide identifying details.

An Anti-Elon Musk vending machine appears in downtown Austin during SXSW 2026. Credit: Timothy Werth / Mashable Credit: Timothy Werth / Mashable

The men installing the machine also claimed responsibility for the Epstein Walk of Shame art installation, which appeared in downtown Austin earlier in the week.

The annual SXSW festival takes place in Austin, Texas, where it runs from March 12 to 18.

Meta is pulling its end-to-end encryption option on Instagram DMs.

The company announced the change in an update to its support page and via alerts to users in the app, writing:

End-to-end encrypted messaging on Instagram will no longer be supported after May 8, 2026.

If you have chats that are impacted by this change, you will see instructions on how you can download any media or messages you may want to keep.

If you're on an older version of Instagram, you may also need to update the app before you can download your affected chats.

Meta spokesperson Dina El-Kassaby Luce told The Verge that the company was discontinuing the feature because "very few people" were using it. With end-to-end encryption enabled for both users, DMs and calls aren't visible to outside actors, including Meta, unless they're shared.

SEE ALSO: Child safety group blasts YouTube for million dollar gamble on AI content for kids

Meta and other tech leaders have come under fire for turning over user communications to outside entities, including law enforcement. But they have also received flak for offering end-to-end encryption to users across the board, with some critics saying that the feature enables child predators to target and communicate with minors undetected.

TikTok, for example, does not offer end-to-end encryption for user DMs and explained to the BBC that the decision is the result of numerous safety considerations. The company told the outlet that providing law enforcement and internal training teams with chat data keeps users safe.

For users who still want end-to-end encryption, Meta's spokesperson says to turn to WhatsApp — but the Meta-owned messaging service isn't entirely safe from intrusions, either. Meta says end-to-end encryption will still be available on Messenger.