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For years, research on social media and youth mental health has tried to answer a perplexing question: Does use lead to worsened well-being or do young people who are struggling disproportionately spend their time on social media?

Some studies have indicated that both scenarios are true while other research shows mixed results. This uncertainty has led to a fierce debate over how to regulate social media platforms and technology use in school.

Critics of sweeping declarations that social media is harmful say there's not enough evidence to support the claim, and that its proponents are engaging in a moral panic about technology. Advocates of reduced screen time and social media use say the research offers clear explanations for how social media negatively affects youth well-being, including through decreased sleep. A recent "consensus statement" from dozens of experts evaluated a number of such claims.

SEE ALSO: AI companions unsafe for teens under 18, researchers say

Meanwhile, many teens say they are online "almost constantly," and 1 in 5 report that social media platforms "hurt" their mental health, according to recent Pew Research Center polling.

A new, well-designed study published this week in JAMA Network Open may help clarify what's happening. Researchers at the University of California, San Francisco used data from a major federal study that follows thousands of children over a period of several years. Among the information collected from the children's parents is how much time they spend on tech devices and social media.

The researchers analyzed what happened when 11,876 tween and teen participants used social media over three years. They found that young people who had higher social media use than their individual mean reported greater depressive symptoms in subsequent years. In contrast, depression did not predict higher levels of future social media use.

Mashable asked the study's lead author, UCSF researcher and pediatrician Dr. Jason Nagata, to explain the findings, and what parents should consider when managing screen time and social media use in their own household.

Mashable: How does this research help us better understand the relationship between social media and youth mental health?

Dr. Nagata: There has been ongoing debate about whether social media contributes to depression or simply reflects underlying depressive symptoms. This national study is among the first to show that higher social media use predicts later depression — but not the reverse — suggesting directionality in this relationship.

Mashable: Why has it been so challenging to grasp whether social media negatively impacts youth mental health or vice versa?

Dr. Nagata: Most of the research on social media and mental health is cross-sectional and observational, so causality cannot be proven. More longitudinal studies like this are needed to determine the direction of these relationships.

Our study was also among the first to examine within-person effects, meaning we could track changes in social media use and mental health symptoms over time in each individual, rather than large samples as a whole.

Mashable: There's a major debate over whether the research on social media and mental health really warrants actions like implementing school phone bans. How might parents use your research findings to better inform their own approach to managing social media use at home?

Dr. Nagata: It's important for parents to encourage healthy and mindful screen use habits to prevent negative impacts on teen mental health. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends developing a family media plan, which can be an individualized set of guidelines that seem practical for each household. Families can have regular conversations with adolescents about screen use and could consider keeping bedtimes screen-free to improve sleep quality.

Our previous research has shown that parent rules limiting screen use before bedtime and around mealtime are associated with less screen time and problematic screen use. One of the biggest predictors of adolescents' screen use is their parents' screen use. It is important that parents act as role models for their children. For instance, if parents make a family rule not to use screens or text at mealtime, they should try to follow the rules also.

Mashable: You and your co-authors note that experiencing the benefits of social media can be tied to "purpose-driven" use. What does that look like?

Dr Nagata: Social media is not inherently bad or good — it really depends on how it's being used. Social media can promote connection, communication, and education, which can benefit health. However, exposure to hateful content and constant comparisons to peers on social media can worsen mental health. While social media can provide educational content, it can also provide health misinformation.

To optimize benefits while minimizing health risks, we encourage teens to be mindful and intentional about their social media use. Am I using social media to connect meaningfully, learn, or express creativity? Or am I doom scrolling out of boredom? Take time to reflect on how social media makes you feel. If you find that social media is causing more stress or anxiety than enjoyment, it may be time to consider alternative activities that make you feel better.

At first glance, this view may look like a vista from a bluff in the southwestern United States.

But those aren't ordinary mountains in the distance. What appears to be a sierra is in fact the rim of an enormous crater on Mars, formed when an asteroid slammed into the Red Planet billions of years ago. The vantage point is from the slopes of the three-mile-tall Mount Sharp, sculpted over time within the crater after the ancient collision. 

NASA's Curiosity rover captured this extremely wide snapshot as it traversed its extraterrestrial stomping grounds in Gale Crater this February. The agency has since converted that data into a 30-second immersive video, which you can watch further down in this story. 

It's perhaps the next best thing to actually hiking the chilly desert roughly 140 million miles away in space.

"You can imagine the quiet, thin wind," said NASA in a post on X, "or maybe even the waves of a long-gone lake lapping an ancient shore."

SEE ALSO: A NASA Mars rover looked up at a moody sky. What it saw wasn't a star. NASA's Curiosity rover snaps a selfie image on lower Mount Sharp in Gale crater in August 2015. Credit: NASA / JPL-Caltech / MSSS

Since its mission launched in 2011, Curiosity, a Mini Cooper-sized lab on six wheels, has traveled about 352,000,020 miles: some 352 million whizzing through space and another 20 rumbling over Martian terrain. 

At the time when Curiosity drank up this scenery, it was climbing a region of Mount Sharp known as the sulfate-bearing unit. This area is chock full of salty minerals. Scientists think streams and ponds left them behind as the water dried up billions of years ago. Studying this geology offers clues about how and why Mars may have transformed from a more Earth-like world to the frozen desert it is today. 

Almost exactly a year ago, the rover accidentally discovered elemental sulfur, its wheels crushing the material to expose a bed of yellow crystals. When pure sulfur is made naturally on Earth, it's usually associated with superheated volcanic gases and hot springs. Another way it can form is through interactions with bacteria — a.k.a. life.

"We don't think we're anywhere near a volcano where the rover is," Abigail Fraeman, deputy project scientist on the Curiosity mission, told Mashable in September, "so that is a puzzling feature to find in this particular location." 

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A 30-second video in the above X post showcases the vast Martian panorama.

Now Curiosity is on its way to a new destination where it will study an unusual landscape, called a "boxwork." This region likely necessitated warm groundwater to form. And where there's water, there's potential for life — at least the kind scientists know about. Researchers wonder if the boxwork could have hosted ancient single-celled microorganisms.

From Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter images, the land feature looks like a spiderweb of ridges, spanning several miles. Dark sand fills the hollow spaces among the lattice. Scientists believe this particular boxwork may have formed when minerals in the last trickles of water seeped into surface rock and hardened. As the rocks weathered over the ages, minerals that had cemented into those cracks remained, leaving behind the weird pattern. 

The rover's science team doesn't expect Curiosity to reach its destination until at least late fall, said Catherine O'Connell-Cooper, a planetary geologist at the University of New Brunswick in Canada, in the mission log. 

"Our drives are long right now," O'Connell-Cooper wrote, "but we are still taking the time to document all of the wonderful geology as we go, and not just speeding past all of the cool things!"

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This MacBook Air packs plenty of features in its slim design

This MacBook Air may be easy to lug around at just 2.96 pounds, but it certainly doesn’t skimp when it comes to performance. Somehow, it still manages to multitask quickly and efficiently thanks to a 1.8GHz Intel Core i5 processor and 8GB of RAM.

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Save on everything from furniture to food with this $25 membership

A Sam’s Club membership opens the door to serious savings. Sam’s Club members can go a little easier on their wallets as they browse the aisles and find products at a great value.

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Is sustainability important to you? It is to Sam’s Club, too. They prioritize energy-efficient operations, support eco-friendly products, and use bulk packaging to help reduce waste.

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When it comes to certain topics, you just need to consult an expert. And if dealing with PDFs isn’t your cup of tea, you can count on PDF Expert. It lets you tackle these pesky file formats easily, and right now, a lifetime subscription to the premium plan for Mac can be yours for just $79.97, 42% off the usual price, through June 30.

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PDF Expert is the winner of Apple Editors’ Choice award for good reason — it lets you fill out complicated PDF forms in seconds and offers a one-time signature feature that will probably add years to your life.

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Make peace with PDFs thanks to this lifetime subscription to PDF Expert Premium Plan, now just $79.97 until June 30.

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If you’ve ever sold an old computer, you know the panic of wondering if you truly wiped all of your data off the device. Our computers hold some pretty important info — from bank account numbers to precious memories — and it’s important to ensure they don’t fall into the wrong hands.

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Rest easy with this reusable tool that ensures your files are truly deleted

No matter your reason for deleting files, it’s scary to know that placing them in your device’s trash can doesn’t mean they’re really gone. In fact, when you delete files from hard drives, they’re just placed in an unallocated space that can be recovered until it’s overwritten. The Data Shredder Stick does just that — it overwrites every bit of unallocated space on an entire drive, so you can rest easy knowing your data is truly gone.

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With a round, furry body, pointy ears, and a set of sharp teeth curled into a mischievous grin, Labubu looks like a tiny elven creature pulled from Jim Henson's Creature Shop. She’s not traditionally cute like most plush toys — more of an ugly-cute gremlin with chaotic charm. And yet, this little monster has become the ultimate accessory for Gen Z and millennial collectors.

Once a niche character from China-based toy brand Pop Mart, Labubu is now a social media darling, a $27.99 keychain clipped to designer bags and belt loops, featured in unboxing videos, and posed next to matcha lattes on Instagram. While the keychains are especially coveted, Labubu's image also appears on figurines, bags, phone cases, hair accessories, and other merch, fueling a thriving collector's market.

SEE ALSO: The internet can't stop thinking of Katy Perry

On TikTok, the #Labubu hashtag has racked up tens of millions of views, turning the impish character's cult following into a global obsession. New releases sell out in seconds and spark bidding wars, with consumers often paying double or triple the retail price on third-party sites. Limited-edition variants, especially seasonal drops or collaborations, can fetch hundreds on resale platforms like StockX. Not to mention, people wait for hours in line outside of Pop Mart brick-and-mortar stores and the company's automated Robo Shops to cop one. Even her dupe, Lafufu (aka "fake Labubu"), has an ardent fan base.

Labubu figures are typically sold in blind boxes — sealed packages that keep the exact design a surprise until you open them. I bought my first Labubu at a Pop Mart store in New York City and ended up pulling Sisi, a squinty yellow plush from the Have a Seat series. It was sheer luck. I had no way of knowing what was inside until I tore the foil open. Each series usually includes several different figures; Have a Seat features six known characters, plus one ultra-rare "Secret" Labubu hidden in circulation.

A proud mom showing off her first Labubu. Credit: Courtesy of Crystal Bell

Every other time I’ve been to a Pop Mart, the Labubu display has been wiped clean, a testament to just how in-demand the little creatures are. Now Sisi lives on my bag, alongside all of my other charms and a mushroom baby from Pop Mart’s Pucky Forest Party collection.

How a quirky collectible became a global obsession

Hong Kong artist Kasing Lung introduced Labubu as part of the Monsters picture book series in 2015, creating a whimsical and slightly eerie cast of characters inspired by the folklore and mythology he absorbed growing up in the Netherlands. Drawing from European fairytales and his own imagination, Lung crafted a world that felt both nostalgic and strange: familiar like a bedtime story, yet edged with mischief and mystery.

The turning point came in 2019, when Lung struck a licensing deal with Pop Mart. His partnership with the Chinese toy powerhouse brought Labubu and the rest of The Monsters — Zimomo, Tycoco (aka Labubu's skeletal beau), Spooky, and Pato — into mass production, transforming Lung’s illustrations into wildly collectible designer toys.

Color theory, "Exciting Macaron" Labubu edition. Credit: Courtesy of Pop Mart Labubu stands out because of its slightly grotesque charm and wide emotional range.

It's all part of Pop Mart’s broader line of designer "art toys," blind box collectibles that blend the exclusivity of streetwear with the cuteness of Japanese and Korean toy aesthetics. While Pop Mart offers a variety of characters — like Peach Riot, SKULLPANDA, CRYBABY, and Hirono — Labubu stands out because of its slightly grotesque charm and wide emotional range. It's uncanny, in the best way, a kind of subversion of the kawaii aesthetic that still dominates much of East Asian pop culture and beyond.

On platforms like the Chinese app Xiaohongshu, TikTok, and Instagram, fans document their Labubu collections, film "Labubu hauls," and post hyper-specific memes about which version best matches their personality. Entire Reddit threads dissect the psychological profile of a Labubu owner. One viral X post joked, "I thought labubu was new internet slag [sic] for lobotomy. like delulu."

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"Much of this momentum is fan-driven," Emily Brough, Pop Mart's head of IP licensing for the Americas, tells Mashable via email. "People are genuinely excited to share their collections and personal connections to the character."

That momentum translates into serious revenue. "Labubu is currently Pop Mart's top-selling IP in the U.S. and one of the strongest globally," Brough says. In 2024 alone, Labubu generated more than $419 million USD, outperforming all other IPs in the company’s catalog.

Labubu's celebrity fans include Lisa from BLACKPINK and Dua Lipa. Credit: Courtesy of Pop Mart

And the fandom isn’t just internet-deep. Celebrities like Rihanna, Dua Lipa, Hilary Duff, and Bretman Rock wear their Labubus proudly. BLACKPINK’s Lisa, one of the most globally followed pop stars in the world, is a known Labubu enthusiast. She’s been spotted with multiple versions, helping catapult the toy from niche collectible to full-on status symbol. "Labubu is my baby," she told Teen Vogue last month. When someone like Lisa makes Labubu part of her personal brand, the ripple effects across fashion, fandom, and resale markets are instant and global.

Labubu is more than cute — she's a status symbol

What makes Labubu different from other toys that have caught fire online (like Squishmallows or Sanrio characters) is how explicitly it functions as a status marker, not just a source of comfort or nostalgia. The plush versions, especially, are carried almost like handbags. They’re photographed on café tables, shown "chilling" in passenger seats, and dressed up in miniature outfits.

"Many treat Labubu keychains and figurines as both collectibles and style accessories," Brough explains. And that fuels the character’s presence at major fashion events like New York Fashion Week. "We’re also seeing notable growth among male fans, particularly those who follow streetwear, sneaker culture, and design-led collectibles."

...having a rare or trendy Labubu signals cultural fluency. It says you know where the hype is, and you got there first, or paid the resale price to catch up.

In this way, Labubu becomes part of a curated digital identity. Much like wearing a limited-edition sneaker or owning a Stanley cup in every color, having a rare or trendy Labubu signals cultural fluency. It says you know where the hype is, and you got there first, or paid the resale price to catch up.

"I used to be kind of a Labubu hater — or not even a hater, I just didn’t get the hype," Em, also known as @vanillamace on social media, tells Mashable. "But the more I kept seeing them, the more I was like, 'OK, fine, I’ll try one.' I actually got my first Labubu last weekend and… yeah, I kind of love her now. What really sold me was the tiny outfits they make for them. I bought one immediately. That’s when it clicked for me. I finally got it."

While Pop Mart doesn’t officially sell clothes for Labubu, a robust market has sprung up around styling them. Entire storefronts on AliExpress, Shein, and Etsy are dedicated to miniature fashion — from tiny hoodies and denim jackets to costumes and accessories — often priced anywhere from $5 to $30 per item. Dressing up Labubu has become its own form of creative expression, with some fans building full wardrobes or custom outfits to match their own looks.

It’s not just about dressing Labubu; it’s about showing her off. "A lot of these blind boxes double as keychains," Em adds. "It’s not just something you keep on a shelf. You can take it with you, clip it to your bag or keys, and other people see it too. Lately, I’ve been specifically looking for blind box keychains because I love the idea of decorating my bags with a bunch of quirky trinkets. It’s very Jane Birkin — like how she used to cover her bag in random charms and wear it into the ground. It made the bag hers. Now people are too scared to touch their Birkins, but I’m all about throwing on keychains and making it personal."

Status isn't just about exclusivity anymore. In a post-pandemic world shaped by economic uncertainty and emotional burnout, Labubu fits into a broader shift creator Janet Lin calls the "lipstick effect": the idea that when times are tough, people seek out small luxuries instead of splurging on big-ticket items. A $20 toy that makes you smile suddenly feels like a reasonable indulgence.

"It’s a small luxury. You’re not buying a $4,000 bag — you’re buying a $20 toy that brings you joy," said creator Gina Alva, whose TikTok bio reads "crazy Labubu lady." "That’s what everyone’s doing right now. Like, burgers are $20, too. So why not get a Labubu?"

"I don’t have children, so this is how I play," Alva added. "And now it’s accepted, because so many other people are doing it too. There’s no shame in it."

For some, Labubu collecting goes beyond aesthetic and enters the realm of emotional care. "It’s very much inner child work for me," Em says. "I couldn’t have stuff like this growing up, but now I can give that joy to myself. It’s healing in a weird, silly way."

Alva has helped foster that sense of agency and community by creating tutorials that show people how to DIY clothes and accessories for their Labubus, from fully customized outfits to viral car seats. "It’s not just the doll," she says. "It’s the accessories. I bought my Labubu little Louis Vuitton purses — dumb stuff we probably shouldn’t be spending money on, but we do. I even bought my Labubu a Lululemon outfit so I could do a TikTok with that Lululemon rap sound. She has to be on theme."

Gina Alva made a car seat for her Labubu. Credit: Courtesy of Gina Alva

That parasocial relationship between user and plush adds a layer of emotional texture that traditional status symbols lack. Labubu isn’t just a thing you own; it’s a companion, a co-star, a mood.

Inside the blind box craze

Pop Mart’s genius lies in turning toy buying into a ritual. The blind box format — where you don’t know which character you’ll get — makes every purchase a gamble. It’s part toy, part lottery, part dopamine rush. Pair that with limited drops, frequent collabs, and ultra-rare chase figures, and suddenly you’ve got a global community hooked on a miniature monster with a grin.

"It’s girl gambling," Em explains, where the high of pulling the Labubu you really want is potent. "You sometimes get the good ones, and it makes your whole day," she says. "And then you get the one you don’t want and it’s like... 'OK.'"

It's a feeling Em knows well. In one of the most relatable unboxing videos to go viral, she chronicles her descent into blind-box-induced "despair." In the clip, she opens a SKULLPANDA blind box, hoping for any figure but "that fuck-ass Christmas tree" — not because it was unpopular, but simply because, to her, it just wasn't as cute as the others. And, of course, she pulls the Christmas tree. Undeterred, she goes back into Pop Mart, buys another box...and pulls the exact same one again. The video, which has accumulated 12 million views on TikTok, is a perfect encapsulation of the heartbreak and hope that fuels blind box culture.

"The video itself was kind of doing normal numbers," Em tells Mashable. "But then somebody made this edit... they put dramatic music over it and everything. That was what really made it turn into this whole thing."

Since then, the saga has spiraled, and Em went from celebrating 400,000 followers on her TikTok account to 1 million in just over a week. The phrase "fuck-ass Christmas tree" has entered the online lexicon, and people tag her in videos anytime they pull their unfortunate blind box find, or, of course, their own SKULLPANDA Christmas tree. "So many people [are] just being like, 'I didn't even really want this one, but I just have to get it for the gag,'" she laughs. "I love it."

In the age of TikTok, this moment of disappointment becomes performance, drama, and, unexpectedly, community. Everyone watching has either been there or will be.

There’s a reason her story resonated: The blind box experience is built on a delicate balance of luck and longing, of personal taste clashing against pure randomness. In the age of TikTok, this moment of disappointment becomes performance, drama, and, unexpectedly, community. Everyone watching has either been there or will be.

"It’s a serotonin booster for sure," Alva says of the blind box experience. "You want a certain one, but at the end of the day, you’re just happy getting anything. And if you don’t get what you want, your brain just goes, 'Oh well, we’ll try again.' That’s how they get you."

For collectors like Ensito, the draw of blind box culture is more than just the thrill of the mystery. It’s a lifestyle. "It’s like that Hermès effect," he explains. "It’s something rare, hard to get, and once you get it, you feel like you've won."

Ensito converted a spare bedroom in his home into a dedicated space for his growing collection. Credit: Courtesy of Ensito

Ensito has spent over $10,000 this year alone in pursuit of the elusive "ugly-cute" figure. "I’m a collector at heart," he says, explaining that his background is in luxury fashion — think 100-plus designer bags and over 130 pairs of designer shoes in his collection. "But I was looking for accessories that matched my bags, and a coworker introduced me to Labubu."

The obsession took root fast. "I waited three hours in line at a store in London, only for the Labubus to sell out two people ahead of me. I was offended." Determined, Ensito made a TikTok account just so he could shop for Labubu on Pop Mart livestreams.

A closer look at Ensito's collection. Credit: Courtesy of Ensito

Since then, Labubu has taken him from North Carolina (where there are no Pop Mart stores) to Paris, London — even on 12-hour round trips for museum-exclusive releases. "I don’t support resellers. I'd rather buy a first-class ticket and go to the city myself," Ensito says. His travel itinerary has grown to include stops in San Francisco, New York, and potentially Barcelona, all for the sake of adding to his growing collection. When Ensito couldn’t find the "Angel in Clouds" Labubu in New York City, he ended up snagging it online from his hotel room. He still considers the trip a win for the thrill of the hunt.

More than a toy, Labubu brings people together

But the satisfaction of tracking down Labubus is only part of the appeal. For many collectors, Labubu is more than a cute accessory or quirky trend — it’s a gateway into a tight-knit, surprisingly emotional global community.

"What started as something fun to clip onto my designer bags has turned into something way deeper," says Ensito, who frequently shares unboxings and hauls with his followers. "I’ve sent rare Labubus to people who couldn’t get them." One follower returned the favor in a major way by sending him the Secret Labubu from the Exciting Macaron collection. "She wasn’t even trying to get the Secret item. She just wanted a full set. But when she ended up pulling the Secret, she sent it to me without saying anything," he recalls. "I opened the package on livestream, saw some random Hello Kitty stuff, and thought, 'Oh, cute.' Then I pulled out the Secret Labubu… and I just started crying. It was a real moment."

Labubu isn't the only star in the Pop Mart universe. Credit: Mashable / Gina Alva

That kind of generosity is common in the world of blind box toys, where chance brings people together, and community keeps them connected. "That’s the cool thing about trinkets as a whole," says Em. "There’s a huge trading culture. You open your box, and sometimes people will just trade."

She tells the story of a girl who spent nearly $300 on a Sanrio Mega Space Molly box, hoping to get Kuromi — and instead pulled Cinnamoroll. "Across from her, another girl opened a box and got Kuromi, but she wanted Cinnamoroll. So they traded right there. It was like fate. A match made in heaven."

The scene is increasingly social and IRL. "There’s this whole community that comes out to these events in parks or cafés where people meet up and trade," Em says. "I've made so many friends just from that alone. The community is what almost keeps you wanting to go back."

"At the end of the day, it’s more than a toy," Ensito says. "It's a connection. It's joy. It's a little creature that brought all these people, people I now call my besties, into my life."

Alva agrees: "I love when I see someone else with a Labubu. There’s this instant connection — like, you know."

SAVE OVER $20: As of May 22, the Apple AirTag (four pack) is on sale for $74.99 at Amazon. This deal saves you 24% on list price.

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The Apple AirTag (four pack) has dipped in price to below $75, so consider this your moment to stock up on these essential items.

As of May 22, the Apple AirTag (four pack) is on sale for $74.99 at Amazon. It's not the lowest price we've ever seen, but this bundle has been stuck at $79.99 for a while now, so we're welcoming this small but significant drop in price.

SEE ALSO: Oura Ring vs Apple Watch: Which health and sleep tracker is right for you?

Apple AirTags can be attached to almost anything: keys, luggage, passports, and anything else that you're always losing. Just attach the AirTag to your item of choice and track it in the Find My app. It even has a small built-in speaker so you can trigger a sound from the app on your Apple device.

AirTags are designed to offer a one-year battery life if used regularly. And when the battery is running low, you’ll receive a notification on your Apple device, giving you plenty of time to replace it.

Grab this great Apple AirTag deal ahead of Memorial Day.

The best Memorial Day deals you can get right now, hand-picked by Mashable's team of experts

• Apple AirPods Pro 2 ANC Earbuds With USB-C Charging Case — $199.00 (List Price $249.00)

• Fire TV Stick 4K Streaming Device With Remote (2023 Model) — $29.99 (List Price $49.99)

• Blink Mini 2 Indoor Wireless 1080p Camera (2-Pack) — $37.99 (List Price $69.99)

• Kodak Mini 2 Retro Instant Photo Printer With 68 Sheets Bundle — $89.99 (List Price $139.99)

• Apple Watch Series 10 (GPS, 42mm, Sports Band) — $299.00 (List Price $399.00)

• Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge 256GB Phone With $50 Amazon Gift Card (Pre-Order) — $1,099.99

• Ring Floodlight Cam Wired Plus (2021 Release) — $119.99 (List Price $179.99)

• Ultraloq U-Bolt Pro 8-in-1 Wi-Fi Smart Lock With Fingerprint ID — $139.99 (List Price $179.99)

• Aiper Scuba S1 Cordless Robotic Pool Cleaner (2024 Model) — $499.99 (List Price $699.95)

• Shark AV2511AE AI Robot Vacuum With XL Self-Empty Base — $349.99 (List Price $599.00)

SAVE $20: As of May 22, Soundcore Anker Life Q20 headphones are on sale for $39.97 at Amazon. That's a 33% saving on the list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Soundcore Soundcore Anker Life Q20 $39.97 at Amazon
$59.99 Save $20.02 Get Deal

Soundcore has been rolling out deals on all kinds of headphones lately, from clip-on earbuds to noise-canceling models. And this latest deal on the Soundcore Anker Life Q20 headphones is definitely worth a look.

As of May 22, you can take home these headphones for under $40, now just $39.97.

SEE ALSO: The best headphones, watches, and apps for half-marathon runners

These headphones use custom 40mm drivers to provide clear, hi-res audio. They feature hybrid active noise cancellation with four built-in microphones that reduce background sounds like traffic and airplane noise by up to 90%. Double tap to activate the BassUp technology, a function that (as the name suggests) boosts the bass when listening to bass-heavy music.

Battery life is impressive too, offering up to 40 hours with noise cancelation and 60 hours in standard mode. Plus, a quick five-minute charge gives you around four hours of playtime. Not needing to charge daily is always a plus.

Head to Amazon to grab this latest Soundcore deal ahead of Memorial Day.

The best Memorial Day deals you can get right now, hand-picked by Mashable's team of experts

• Apple AirPods Pro 2 ANC Earbuds With USB-C Charging Case — $199.00 (List Price $249.00)

• Fire TV Stick 4K Streaming Device With Remote (2023 Model) — $29.99 (List Price $49.99)

• Blink Mini 2 Indoor Wireless 1080p Camera (2-Pack) — $37.99 (List Price $69.99)

• Kodak Mini 2 Retro Instant Photo Printer With 68 Sheets Bundle — $89.99 (List Price $139.99)

• Apple Watch Series 10 (GPS, 42mm, Sports Band) — $299.00 (List Price $399.00)

• Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge 256GB Phone With $50 Amazon Gift Card (Pre-Order) — $1,099.99

• Ring Floodlight Cam Wired Plus (2021 Release) — $119.99 (List Price $179.99)

• Ultraloq U-Bolt Pro 8-in-1 Wi-Fi Smart Lock With Fingerprint ID — $139.99 (List Price $179.99)

• Aiper Scuba S1 Cordless Robotic Pool Cleaner (2024 Model) — $499.99 (List Price $699.95)

• Shark AV2511AE AI Robot Vacuum With XL Self-Empty Base — $349.99 (List Price $599.00)

SAVE $700: As of May 22, the Jackery Solar Generator 5000 is on sale for $2,998.99 at Amazon. That's a 19% saving on the list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Jackery Jackery Solar Generator 5000 $2,998.99 at Amazon
$3,699 Save $700.01 Get Deal

You can never really go wrong with a portable power station. Whether you want to stay connected on camping trips or just want to be prepared for power cuts, having something stashed away is always a good idea.

And as of May 22, the Jackery Solar Generator 5000 is on salefor its lowest-ever price. If you were looking to purchase, now is the time because you'll be saving over $700 on list price. For a limited time only, you can purchase this generator for under $3,000.

SEE ALSO: Shop the REI Anniversary Sale to get 30% off summer outdoor essentials

This generator can cope with anything. It has a base output of 7200W that can expand up to 1,4400W, and storage capacity ranging from 5kWh to 60kWh, meaning you are set for powering all kinds of devices. Depending on your setup, it can keep things running for over a day, or up to 15 days if fully expanded.

It supports both 120V and 240V, so it can handle everything from small appliances to heavy-duty gear like dryers and water pumps. And in the event of a power cut, it switches over instantly, thanks to 0ms UPS response time, keeping essentials like your fridge and internet powered. And that's not all, you can even manage everything from the Jackery app, including setting it to charge.

This deal won't be around for long, so head to Amazon without delay.

SAVE $700: As of May 22, the Roborock Qrevo Master is on sale for $899.99 at Amazon. That's a 44% saving on the list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: roborock Roborock Qrevo Master $899.99 at Amazon
$1,599.99 Save $700 Get Deal

We're back at it again with the robot vacuum love, but how could we not with this incredible deal on the Roborock Qrevo Master? We're talking about a $700 discount.

As of May 22, the Roborock Qrevo Master robot vacuum and mop is on sale for 44% off, now down to $899.99. And with this vacuum, you're getting a whole lot to be excited about.

SEE ALSO: The best robot vacuums and mops of 2025 so far, tested hands-on at home

The Qrevo Master handles both vacuuming and mopping, with minimal effort required on your end. Its self-emptying dock means up to seven weeks of hands-free cleaning, and with 10,000Pa suction and the Carpet Boost+ System, it’s seriously effective, removing up to 99% of hair from carpets. The dual rubber brush design also prevents tangling, which is great if you’ve got pets or long hair.

For mopping, it uses dual spinning mops at 200 RPM to tackle dust, dirt, and stains, leaving floors sparkly clean. It even lifts the mop by 10mm when carpets are detected to keep them dry.

And no need to guide the vacuum around your house, powered by PreciSense LiDAR navigation, this vacuum works its way around your house, avoiding obstacles and navigates even the most cluttered of rooms.

This deal is available at Amazon now. Don't miss out.

Like the alluring mythological creatures from which it draws its name, Netflix's Sirens wears a tempting facade, but conceals something darker at its core.

That facade draws on the pleasures of shows like Big Little Lies and The White Lotus: great actors — Julianne Moore! Meghann Fahy! Milly Alcock! — facing off against a backdrop of picturesque mansions and beaches. As in those series, showrunner Molly Smith Metzler (Maid) also looks to tackle thornier topics of class and trauma. Yet these subjects rarely get the depth they deserve, brushed over by a haphazard plot that delivers soapy fun, if not much else.

SEE ALSO: Summer TV preview: All the TV shows you need to know, and where to stream them What's Sirens about? Meghann Fahy and Milly Alcock in "Sirens." Credit: Macall Polay / Netflix

Sirens kicks off with the world's most misguided edible arrangement. Devon (Fahy), fresh off her second DUI and learning her father (Bill Camp) has early-onset dementia, has appealed to her absent younger sister Simone (Alcock) for help. Simone's response? A basket of melon and berries, and a card telling Devon to "keep your chin up." The subpar gift and empty platitude are enough to make Devon travel several hours, rotting fruit in hand, to the luxurious island where Simone works as assistant to wealthy philanthropist Michaela "Kiki" Kell (Moore).

Simone doesn't just manage the staff who run Michaela's lavish Cliff House estate. The working relationship between the two is deeply personal — and frankly, creepy. Boundaries don't exist for them: Simone drafts Michaela's sexts to her husband Peter (Kevin Bacon). The pair share gum in order to have fresh breath.

SEE ALSO: 'Lilo and Stitch' review: If you have to watch a Disney remake, make it this one

If this is raising red flags for you, you're not alone: Devon is horrified by Simone's bond with her boss, and she's ready to drag her sister kicking and screaming from Michaela's grasp. But as a scrappy working-class interloper in Michaela's wealthy world — over the all-important, party-filled Labor Day weekend, no less — Devon is at a major disadvantage. As she attempts to protect her sister, dark secrets about their past (and dark rumors about Michaela's) come to light, prompting a whirlwind of dramatic revelations that ultimately don't hold the weight they should.

Julianne Moore, Meghann Fahy, and Milly Alcock are great in Sirens, but is it enough? Julianne Moore in "Sirens." Credit: Macall Polay / Netflix

Sirens is at its best when it's a dark comedy with a touch of soap opera, and much of that comes down to Moore, Fahy, and Alcock's performances. Moore and Alcock make a perfect pair, channeling Stepford Wives creepiness in their pastel getups and matching athleisure sets. Alcock's Simone simpers and preens for her boss, while Moore commits fully to Michaela's frigid cult leader vibes. (Whether Michaela's bird preservation society is actually a cult is one of the mysteries Sirens presents, even if the resolution isn't particularly satisfying.)

Fahy's Devon, meanwhile, is a wonderfully prickly contrast to Simone and Michaela's rich girl acts. She's raw and unapologetic, unafraid to call out Michaela's bizarro rituals. When she and Simone are together, that rawness rubs off on Simone, too, highlighting their sisterly connection and the pain the two shared during their traumatic upbringing.

Discussion of that trauma results in some of Sirens' biggest tonal swings, as the show ranges from send-ups of the superficial rich — Glenn Howerton excels as Michaela and Peter's sleazeball neighbor, for example — to clichéd explorations of mental health, like Simone's panic attacks. Also predictable? Sirens' examination of unbalanced, predatory power dynamics within relationships. As soon as Bacon's Peter shows up on the scene, it's clear what will play out between him, Michaela, and Simone. The show treats this arc as culminating in a revelatory plot twist, but it feels more tired than anything.

Sirens isn't without interesting ideas. In keeping with the "sirens" motif, all three women are treated as monstrous at some point in the show's five-episode run, even though they're often at a disadvantage. (Especially Devon and Simone.) The mythological theme extends to a solid running joke in which two of Devon's loser suitors follow her around, as if lured by her siren song, despite her annoyed rejections of them. These contrasts between people perceiving Sirens' leads as near-mythic beings versus their actual, unfulfilling realities result in the show's most fascinating moments. But with only five episodes, Sirens fails to probe these contrasts as much as it could, and its song ultimately falls flat.

Sirens is now streaming on Netflix.

TL;DR: Replace your monthly Dropbox subscription with a 10TB Internxt Cloud Storage Lifetime Plan on sale for £208.51 with code STORAGE20.

Opens in a new window Credit: Internxt Internxt Cloud Storage Lifetime Subscription: 10TB Plan £208.51
£2,233.42 Save £2,024.91 with code STORAGE20 Get Deal

Cloud storage subscriptions are expensive, even if they don't seem like it at first. Dropbox's cheapest plan is $9.99 per month for 2TB of cloud storage. It seems cheap, but that's a little under $120 every year, and you're never actually done paying for it. 

If you want a cheaper alternative to Dropbox, Internxt just dropped the price for a 10TB cloud storage lifetime subscription. Now it's only £208.51 with code STORAGE20. 

Pay once for a lifetime of cloud storage

Space isn't the only thing this cloud storage has going for it. Internxt is committed to keeping your data safe. That's why they use end-to-end encryption to secure files during transfer and at rest. Its zero-knowledge architecture means that files are encrypted in a way that Internxt itself cannot access. You're the only one who has access to your files.

You don't even have to manually upload. You can sync all your files and photos across platforms, even Linux. This focus on privacy even extends to its open-source design, so users can inspect the code for transparency and security.

This subscription lasts for life with no recurring payments of any kind. You can access your cloud storage on unlimited devices, too. 

Use code STORAGE20 to get an Internxt 10TB Cloud Storage Lifetime Subscription on sale for £208.51.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

If your global mental health programs aren’t gaining traction, factors beyond just stigma may be standing in the way. To create initiatives that resonate across geographic regions, ethnic backgrounds, and value systems, rethink your approach. Here’s how to overcome common pitfalls and deliver real results. Question your assumptions about culture. Don’t jump to conclusions when […]

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TL;DR: Unblock Pornhub from anywhere in the world with a VPN. The best service for unblocking porn sites is ExpressVPN.

Is Pornhub banned where you live? That sounds like a ridiculous question, but the chances are not small.

More than a third of U.S. states have introduced laws that require visitors to upload ID before accessing pornography sites. As a result, Pornhub has banned visitors from those states from accessing their website. There are complicated reasons for this ban, but fortunately, the workaround is quick and easy.

If you want to unblock sites like Pornhub for free from anywhere in the world, we have the information you need.

How to unblock Pornhub for free

VPNs can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to secure server in another location. This straightforward process bypasses geo-restrictions so you can access sites like Pornhub from anywhere in the world.

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4. Visit Pornhub

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (2-Year Subscription + 4 Months Free) $139 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for unblocking porn sites are not free, but most do offer free-trial peiods or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can unblock porn sites like Pornhub without actually spending anything. This is obviously not a long-term solution, but it does give you the opportunity to temporarily retain access to Pornhub before recovering your investment.

If you want to retain permanent access to your favorite site, you'll need a subscription. Fortunately, the best VPN for bypassing online restrictions is on sale for a limited time.

What is the best VPN for Pornhub?

ExpressVPN is the top choice for unblocking porn sites like Pornhub, for a number of reasons:

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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.

Unblock Pornhub for free with ExpressVPN.

Connections: Sports Edition is a new 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.

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: Said during a Tennis game

• Green: Anatomy of a football gear

• Blue: Famous Bruins

  Purple: Sports things associated with citrusy color

Featured Video For You Connections: How to play and how to win Here are today's Connections Sports Edition categories

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

• Yellow: Tennis Lingo

• Green: Parts of a Football Helmet

• Blue: UCLA Basketball Alumni

• Purple: Orange Things

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 #241 is...

What is the answer to Connections Sports Edition today

• Tennis Lingo - ACE, DEUCE, FAULT, LET

• Parts of a Football Helmet - CHIN STRAP, FACE MASK, PADS, SHELL

• UCLA Basketball Alumni - HOLIDAY, LAVINE, LOVE, WESTBROOK

• Orange Things - BASKETBALL, FOOTBALL PYLON, NETHERLANDS, SYRACUSE

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.

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 yesterday's Connections.

If you're reading this, you're looking for a little help playing Strands, the New York Times' elevated word-search game.

Strands 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 preferrined pace.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for May 22 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for May 22 NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: Keeping an eye on things

The words are protection-related.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

These words are people who care for others.

NYT Strands spangram hint: Is it vertical or horizontal?

Today's NYT Strands spangram is vertical.

NYT Strands spangram answer today

Today's spangram is Take Care

Featured Video For You Strands 101: How to win NYT’s latest word game NYT Strands word list for May 22

• Steward

• Custodian

• Take Care

• Protector

• Guardian

• Trustee

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 yesterday's Strands.

Oh hey there! If you're here, it must be time for Wordle. As always, we're serving up our daily hints and tips to help you figure out today's answer.

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 today: Hints and answers for May 21 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's The Mini crossword answers for May 22, 2025 Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

A sheet of paper.

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

The letter O appears twice.

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

Today's Wordle starts with the letter F.

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...

FOLIO.

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.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for May 22

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 yesterday's Wordle.

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

A protective covering.

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

SHELL

Hurdle Word 2 hint

To be in on a secret.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for May 22, 2025 Hurdle Word 2 Answer

PRIVY

Hurdle Word 3 hint

Strangely.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for May 22 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for May 22 2025 Hurdle Word 3 answer

ODDLY

Hurdle Word 4 hint

To sag.

SEE ALSO: NYT Strands hints, answers for May 22 Hurdle Word 4 answer

DROOP

Final Hurdle hint

Brushed away dirt.

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

SWEPT

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

Watch AMD reveal its future plans and products at Computex 2025 in Taipei, Taiwan.