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Experts have warned about how age verification laws will impact people's work and bank accounts — and now preliminary research suggests that they're right.

Age verification laws vary by state and country, but usually require submitting proof of age, be it a facial scan or uploading a government ID, to view potentially adult content. Since 2022, these laws have been enacted in different U.S. states. Other countries, such as the UK, have also instituted age verification via the Online Safety Act.

SEE ALSO: How to unblock Pornhub for free

Sexual freedom nonprofit, the Woodhull Freedom Foundation, found that around one in five sex educators (18 percent) say these laws have already impacted their work. For sex educators working in states with age verification mandates, one in three (33 percent) report this. 

Approximately 60 respondents completed the survey last month, so this isn't a wide sample, but it hints at the trickle-down effects of age verification. 

"Age-verification laws are already impacting sex education in the U.S.," says Woodhull president and CEO, Ricci Joy Levy, in a press release. 

The majority of sex educators surveyed, 73 percent, are concerned that these laws will impact their work, while 76 percent fear they could be used to restrict access to sex education and related resources. As it is, only 37 percent of U.S. states require school sex education to be medically accurate, according to Boston University.

"Again and again, we were told this was only about keeping minors from accessing porn," Levy's statement continues. "Woodhull warned these vague and overly broad policies would also result in censorship of vital, non-explicit information about sex and gender, and the data bear this out. The current age-verification protocols are ripe for abuse, and educators are right to be scared."

Separate research from adult industry research firm SWR Data hints at a similar story when it comes to adult creators. Nearly half (45.2 percent) of the 500 surveyed last fall reported that their income from adult work decreased in the past year, with two-thirds (63 percent) saying it got harder to earn money in the past year as well.

There are several possible reasons for this trend, including overall socioeconomic uncertainty, but a staggering 98 percent of creators who reported lower income said they've experienced difficulties related to the "War on Porn." 

The so-called War on Porn can refer to age verification as well as other attempts to remove adult content from the internet. Project 2025, the blueprint for President Trump's second term, calls for an outright ban on pornography and imprisoning its creators. In 2024, one of the co-writers of Project 2025, Russell Vought (now the director of the Office of Management and Budget), reportedly called age verification the "back door" to a porn ban. 

The majority of surveyed adult creators who lost income also reported increased social media censorship and increased restrictions on what they can sell, and even fans are having trouble accessing their content.

The latter point — trouble with access — especially affected adult creators in U.S. and UK markets, according to SWR Data. They're also dealing with piracy, showing that viewers are finding ways to work around age verification. 

Two separate studies last year suggested that age verification laws don't work to keep children off of porn sites. Reasons include VPN usage and going to non-compliant websites. But it appears that age-verification is working to hurt sex workers and sex educators. 

Looking for some decorative 3D-printed pieces to hang on the wall or display on your coffee table? That’s exactly what this weekend’s projects are all about.

Reddit has finally (mostly) killed r/all.

The internet's home page confirmed in a site update changelog that all links to the r/all feed now redirect to the main Reddit home feed.

"As part of ongoing efforts to simplify Reddit and improve Home feed personalization, the final steps to deprecate r/all are being implemented. All links to r/all will now redirect to the Home feed, following the prior removal of r/all entry points. Trending content remains available via r/popular," the changelog reads.

For those who don't know, for years, r/all has been a way for users to see a "less filtered" list of the most popular posts on the site than the r/popular feed, per Reddit itself. On r/all, sexually explicit posts would be filtered out, but other NSFW content would make it in, and users had the ability to filter out communities they didn't want to see from the feed.

SEE ALSO: Reddit addresses bot problems, ID verification

In order to simplify things, Reddit decided to end r/all and have users focus on their home feeds instead, which is personalized for each user. This algorithm-based, curated feed will be the new homepage for the homepage of the internet.

This may end up being a sore spot for longtime Redditors, but there is good news for holdouts: r/all continues to exist on Old Reddit, the officially supported old-school version of the site that works like it did prior to all the big recent redesigns.

On ye olde Reddit, you can still experience r/all as you always did. Reddit hasn't taken that away...yet.

Of course, that doesn't help users of the mobile app, so maybe r/all will have to be a home-computer-only experience.

This is a big sea change for Reddit, but it's not entirely a surprise if you've been following the news. Reddit announced its intentions to deprecate r/all back in December. The only strange thing is that, last year, Reddit's CEO also said r/popular would be going away, per The Verge. Something must have changed, though, as r/popular remains while r/all is mostly dead.

SAVE 25%: As of April 3, you can get the Dyson PencilVac for $449.99, down from $599.99. That's a 25% discount or $150 savings.

Dyson PencilVac Fluffycones Cordless Vacuum $449.99 at Dyson
$599.99 Save $150   Get Deal at Dyson Get Deal at Amazon

If you've been looking for a vacuum that takes the term "stick vacuum" literally, the ultra-slim and aptly named Dyson PencilVac features a 1.5-inch handle that fits right into the palm of your hand.

SEE ALSO: The best vacuums we've tested at home, from robots to Dyson stick vacs

Right now, you can get the Dyson PencilVac at Amazon for $449.99, down from $599.99. That's a 25% discount or a $150 price cut. It's also the lowest price we've seen this model go for, according to our trusty price-tracking tool CamelCamelCamel. (Prime members can also take advantage of free returns and fast delivery.)

Mashable's Senior Shopping Reporter and vacuum expert, Leah Stodart, says the Dyson PencilVac "is a stick vacuum in the most literal sense of the term." It's super lightweight (less than four pounds), and the motor, battery, and dustbin are built completely flush into the wand. It also features these cool "Fluffycones" that actively strip long hair from the brush roll so it doesn't get tangled — though it doesn't come with a mini motorized pet tool. However, it more than makes up for it with its dual-laser action that lights up hidden dust and crumbs on your hard floors.

If you've just started programming, you may get excited by the powerful tools available in 2026 that help to skip all the legwork. But what if I told you that despite the marvel of LLMs, they're not the best-in-class tools for generating a static website?

Back when I got my first Android smartphone in 2013 and learned about Google Photos, I thought it was the best thing ever. 15GB of free cloud backups for all my memories? Yes, please. However, over time, my favorite app turned into a nightmare, and that brings me to where I am now.

The Honda CR-V remains one of the most popular compact SUVs on sale, thanks to its blend of practicality, efficiency, and long-term reliability. But with multiple trims available for 2026, choosing the right version can quickly become confusing. From budget-friendly entry models to better-equipped hybrid variants, each trim brings its own mix of features, value, and appeal.

There's a common misconception in the PC gaming space that GPUs somehow, as if by magic, get worse with age. And sure, any piece of hardware gets worse with age, that's true. If you use any part of your computer excessively for years, it'll have some wear-and-tear—but it won't be borderline obsolete, which is what some people think of aging graphics cards.

When you're setting up a Plex server, you might think that a cheap Raspberry Pi is a good way to save money. Thing is, while a Raspberry Pi is good for a lot of things, it's poorly suited to being a Plex server.

Before moving to Linux, I mostly just used VirtualBox on Windows to run virtual machines. It's available on Linux too, so I kept using it until I found out QEMU/KVM gives you much better performance. Setting QEMU up, though, was a confusing nightmare as a beginner because it's an advanced command-line tool. This is what I should have done instead.

Back in the mid-2010s, Intel was the undisputed king of the consumer CPU market. It offered the best gaming and productivity CPUs, with its closest rival, AMD, struggling to deliver a competitive product ever since the debut of its infamous Bulldozer microarchitecture.

If you're watching comedy on YouTube, Instagram, or TikTok these days, chances are you've at least seen clips from Dropout. Whether it's Sam Reich pushing contestants to the brink of madness on Game Changer or Vic Michaelis interviewing comedians disguised in wild and extravagant costumes on Very Important People, Dropout is pushing the boundaries of improvised comedy on the internet.

No doubt, if you are familiar with Dropout, you've seen these two comedians grace their myriad of shows: Jeremy Culhane and Kurt Maloney. You might also know Jeremy Culhane from the latest season of Saturday Night Live.

This year, the Dropout crew descended on SXSW, where they performed shows ranging from Lily Du and Grant O'Brien's Dirty Laundry to Jacquis Neal's Crowd Control to good old-fashioned long-form improv.

Before their big improv SXSW show at Austin City Limits Live, Culhane and Maloney came by Mashable's SXSW Say More studio to talk comedy, Jeremy's journey to Saturday Night Live, and how Dropout continues to change the game not only in comedy but in how comedy is consumed online. Be sure to check out the full episode on YouTube.

And for more on any of their shows and improv tour dates, check out Dropout.

Buying a 3D printer can change your life, but what if it could also change someone else’s? By making your printer, time, and materials available to others, you can! It’s all thanks to the MakeGood project, which helps kids with mobility issues develop strength, balance, and confidence.

While I do use Windows 11 daily on my desktop PC and most of my PC handheld collection, I don't use many native Windows apps. Some of them are simply poorly made, with a limited assortment of features, and getting a free third-party replacement isn't a choice but a necessity.

Smart plugs are probably the best smart home upgrade of them all, turning dumb old devices like lamps and fans into modern connected ones that you can automate. But they also have one dangerous limitation, which is why some devices should never be used with them.

Paramount+ quietly sits over a deep well of thrillers, cult classics, and even some niche animated fare that you need to dig your way through to find. If these kinds of shows have been on your radar but you haven't had the gusto to search, you're in luck.

The Mini is a bite-sized version of The New York Times' revered daily crossword. While the crossword is a lengthier experience that requires both knowledge and patience to complete, The Mini is an entirely different vibe.

With only a handful of clues to answer, the daily puzzle doubles as a speed-running test for many who play it.

So, when a tricky clue disrupts a player's flow, it can be frustrating! If you find yourself stumped playing The Mini — much like with Wordle and Connections — we have you covered.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable SEE ALSO: How to play Pips, the newest NYT game

Here are the clues and answers to NYT's The Mini for Friday, April 3, 2026:

AcrossJumped up ... or a season in the past tense?

• The answer is Sprang.

Basketball player, informally

• The answer is Hooper.

___ balloon

• The answer is Hot air.

Tumbled down ... or a season in the past tense?

• The answer is Fell.

Down"Be quiet!"

• The answer is Shh.

Sound of disappearance

• The answer is Poof.

Memorization technique based on repetition

• The answer is Rote.

"C'mon, be ___" ("Help me out")

• The answer is A pal.

Astronaut Armstrong

• The answer is Neil.

Dog's warning

• The answer is Grr.

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

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

Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to the latest Mini Crossword.

The best part about Netflix is that I can fit a good TV series into my weekend and watch it at my own pace. Whether that means powering through a tight eight episodes of an addictive thriller in a single night, or savoring them over a couple of days, I love how all the episodes are there to watch them however I please.

Many people find spreadsheets intimidating. The secret to overcoming this? Make it look not like a spreadsheet. Simply hiding the clutter, adding interactive menus, and using shapes makes your workbook feel like a high-end, standalone application that people actually want to use. Here's everything you need to make this happen.

PREORDER A TV, GET AN ART TV FREE: Through April 22, Hisense will give you a 55-inch Canvas art TV (a $599.99 value) when you preorder a new Hisense UR9 RGB TV between 65 and 85 inches ($3,499.99 through $5,999.99, respectively).

Opens in a new window Credit: Hisense Hisense UR9 RGB Mini-LED 4K TV (65 through 85 inches) Preorder and get a free 55-inch Canvas TV Get Deal

We always see discounts on past-year TVs in the spring when the current year's flagship TVs finally hit shelves. (The proof was in the TV deals at Amazon Big Spring Sale.) But Hisense is putting a spin on the classic promo that won't make you choose between the old and new TVs: Hisense will give you a free 55-inch Canvas art TV when you preorder Hisense's new UR9 RGB TV.

The Hisense UR9 will officially start shipping on April 23. Customers who sign up to preorder theirs by April 22 will receive a redemption code for the free 55-inch Hisense Canvas. We'd call that a free $599.99 value — the 55-inch Hisense Canvas originally retails for $999.99, but it's on sale at Amazon for a record-low price of $599.99.

Just head to the Hisense website and submit your name and email, and the company will send you a unique promo code for a free CanvasTV when you purchase the Hisense UR9 RGB MiniLED TV from BestBuy.com, starting April 23. See the full terms and conditions here.

SEE ALSO: TCL QM6K mini LED review: An impressive TV between the super cheap and super expensive

How much does the Hisense UR9 cost? Here's a price breakdown by size:

• Hisense 65-inch UR9 — $3,499.99

• Hisense 75-inch UR9 — $4,999.99

• Hisense 85-inch UR9 — $5,999.99

• Hisense 100-inch UR9 — $8,999.99 (not available for the CanvasTV promo)

Those prices are definitely steep compared to other Hisense, TCL, and Samsung mini LED TVs on the market. But it's the new RGB technology that sets the UR9 apart from plain mini LED models. Compared to the only other mainstream RGB TV that has come out so far in 2026, Samsung's $29,999.99 115-inch Micro RGB TV, the Hisense UR9 feels quite practically priced.

LG and Sony announced RGB TVs at CES as well, though release dates and pricing for those are still up in the air. Still, Hisense is consistently one of the top TV brands because of its affordability. No one would be surprised if the UR9 remained one of the most budget-friendly RGB TVs of the year. (Only Hisense's own UR8 RGB TV might be cheaper.)

What is an RGB TV?

Your typical QLED or mini LED TV creates its color by filtering light from a white or blue backlight. An RGB TV skips the middleman, instead using a panel of thousands of microscopic red, green, and blue LEDs to generate color directly.

The technology is said to cover the full possible spectrum of visible colors while boosting brightness, contrast, and black levels, regardless of whether you're in a sunlit room or a dark room. Between the two TVs in this Hisense deal, the UR9 is the shoo-in for the home theater.

SEE ALSO: What to look for when buying a TV, as told through this easy TV specs guide

The CanvasTV would be a great choice for a room where you don't always want the TV to be the focal point. The Canvas TV's matte screen, teak-colored frame, and changeable digital art display turn it into makeshift wall art when it's not in use. Unlike the paid subscription required to access Samsung's art library, Hisense's art collection is free. There's a reason that the Canvas is the internet's favorite The Frame dupe.