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Few rivalries in the automotive world are as fierce as Ford versus Jeep, and nowhere is that battle more heated than in the off-road segment. For years, the Wrangler has been the benchmark for trail-ready SUVs, but Ford’s modern off-roader is proving it can play by the same rules and still come out ahead.

I like buying phones with at least 512GB of storage, because I know I will fill up most of that space—and no, it isn't entirely with photos and videos. Here's why having 256GB or less is a non-starter for me.

Between the game-changing block of Disney Afternoon and the mid-'90s renaissance of Kids WB, there was the must-watch block of Fox Kids. The Fox network was already making a name for itself with subversive sitcoms like Married with Children and The Simpsons. While it took them some time to find their footing with their foray into Saturday morning programming, they managed to land on some winning shows in the early to mid-1990s.

When it comes to buying a new TV, eventually, the conversation over OLED and Mini-LED, two of the leading panel technologies today, is going to come up. While both offer a top-tier visual experience, how they actually create the picture and how they handle light and dark are night-and-day different. This gives each its own unique edge when it comes to contrast and brightness.

Family dynamics can be awkward, melancholy, strange, hilarious, or all of the above at once. It's the core theme explored in Jim Jarmusch's anticipated new film Father Mother Sister Brother, and you'll get a glimpse at the incredibly stacked cast in the trailer out today.

Written and directed by Jarmusch, the Golden Lion-winning movie sees the likes of Tom Waits, Adam Driver, Mayim Bialik, Cate Blanchett, Charlotte Rampling, Vicky Krieps, Indya Moore, and Luka Sabbat building three portraits of family connection (or really, disconnection).

Over three acts set in New Jersey, Dublin, and Paris, Father Mother Sister Brother feels extremely close to home, again and again, in myriad minuscule ways. And you'll leave extremely aware of which beverages you can and cannot cheers with.

Father Mother Sister Brother hits cinemas Dec. 24. It's also showing at the BFI London Film Festival and New York Film Festival.

SAVE OVER $100: As of Oct. 9, the Toshiba 50-inch C350 Series LED 4K TV is on sale at Amazon to $189. This is $160.99, or 46%, off its list price of $349.99.

Opens in a new window Credit: Toshiba Toshiba 50-inch Class C350 Series LED 4K UHD Smart Fire TV $189 at Amazon
$349.99 Save $160.99 Get Deal

Even though Amazon's Prime Big Deal Days sale event is officially over, there are still some deals floating around on the retailer's website for shoppers to scoop up. This includes some exciting leftover TV deals, which is good news for those who have been hoping to pick up a new model this year. The Toshiba 50-inch C350 Series LED 4K TV is one deal that's still available and definitely worth checking out before it's all gone.

Usually the Toshiba 50-inch C350 Series LED 4K TV comes with a price tag of $349.99, but for a limited time it's still available to grab for 46% off that price, down to $189. This is its lowest-ever price, so now's a great time to pick it up as it likely won't stick around much longer past the October Prime Day sale.

SEE ALSO: 55 deals from Best Buy's Techtober Sale still live that match or beat Amazon's Prime Day prices

No matter if you're looking to get a TV for movie nights, gaming, or to binge-watch your favorite shows, this Toshiba TV can provide you with vibrant picture and sound. It boasts 4K resolution and a bright LED display, which is further boosted by Dolby Vision so you can have crisp, colorful images on screen. It even comes with Dolby Atmos sound so you can experience great audio quality as well.

And since it's a Fire TV, you can have all of your favorite streaming apps available to choose from, right on this TV's home screen. That way, you don't have to wait to watch the shows or films that catch your eye.

If the Toshiba 50-inch C350 Series LED 4K TV has caught your attention, now is a great time to jump on this deal while it's still available. If you're curious what else Amazon still has after October Prime Day, check out our breakdown of 200+ October Prime Day deals still live to see even more offers available.

SAVE OVER $100: As of Oct. 9, the Insignia 50-inch F50 Series LED 4K TV is on sale for $169.99 at Amazon exclusively for Prime members. This is 43% off its list price of $299.99, saving you $130.

Opens in a new window Credit: Insignia Insignia 50-inch Class F50 Series LED 4K UHD Smart Fire TV $169.99 at Amazon
$299.99 Save $130 Get Deal

Prime Big Deal Days may be behind us, but that doesn't mean that every deal has disappeared from Amazon's website. There are still quite a few discounts tucked away that are worth taking advantage of, including a few exciting TV deals. In particular, Prime members looking to upgrade their setup can still save big on an Insignia 50-inch F50 Series LED 4K TV at the retailer right now.

The Insignia 50-inch F50 Series LED 4K TV is on sale for $169.99 right now exclusively for Prime members. This is 43% off its list price of $299.99, allowing you to keep $130 in your pocket. It's also a return to its lowest price, so don't wait any longer to pick it up if it's caught your eye. This deal may not last much longer beyond October Prime Day.

SEE ALSO: 55 deals from Best Buy's Techtober Sale still live that match or beat Amazon's Prime Day prices

This Insignia Fire TV is a great pick-up for those who love to keep up with the latest shows and movies on streaming services. Its Amazon Fire-powered operating system keeps all of your favorite streaming apps together so you can quickly find your favorites when you're looking to binge-watch something new or kick back for a movie night. What you're watching will look really high-quality as well, thanks to 4K Ultra HD resolution and a vibrant LED display.

On top of that, this TV boasts great sound quality as well with the help of DTS Studio Sound, so you can feel completely immersed in what you're watching.

We're only a day past Prime Big Deal Days, so this deal may not stick around much longer. Prime members, act fast to score the Insignia 50-inch F50 Series LED 4K TV on sale for $169.99. And if you're looking for even more deals that are still live, check out our breakdown of 200+ October Prime Day deals still live.

SD and Micro SD cards are wonderful little storage devices, and sometimes I can't believe that I'm holding hundreds of gigabytes in the palm of my hand in something the size of my pinkie nail.

You may have noticed that some PC games now list frame generation as part of their system requirements. The issue here is that system requirements for PC games usually target 60 FPS performance, and playing games at 60 FPS with frame generation feels anything but good.

If you're like me, you've been relying on technical workarounds to set up Windows 11 with a local account instead of the required Microsoft account. Unfortunately, Microsoft is shutting down more of those workarounds, which is just affirming my decision to replace Windows with Linux as my daily driver desktop.

The NYT Connections puzzle today shouldn't be hard to solve if you're a gamer.

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.

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

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.

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

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 October 9, 2025 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: Make-believe

• Green: Parts of the Earth

• Blue: Features of a story

• Purple: Played on XBOX, PlayStation, etc.

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

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

• Yellow: Fantasy

• Green: Kinds of rocks

• Blue: News article features

• Purple: Title figures in classic video games

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 #852 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• Fantasy: FANCY, FICTION, FIGMENT, INVENTION

• Kinds of rocks: FLINT, LIMESTONE, MARBLE, SLATE

• News article features: CAPTION, DATELINE, LEDE, PHOTO

• Title figures in classic video games: GORILLA, HEDGEHOG, PLUMBER, PRINCESS

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 September 29, 2025

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 important to think about when tracking.

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 October 9, 2025 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for October 9, 2025 NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: Just in case

The words are related to traveling.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

These words describe things brought on vacation.

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 Pack It Up.

Featured Video For You Strands 101: How to win NYT’s latest word game NYT Strands word list for October 9

• Clothes

• Laptop

• Charger

• Pack It Up

• Toiletries

• Headphones

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 might be easy if you read detective books back in the day.

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.

Today's NYT Wordle puzzle shouldn't be difficult to solve if you're a tough cookie.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for September 29, 2025 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 September 29, 2025 Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

Rugged.

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 H.

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...

HARDY

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 September 2, 2025

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.

Today's Connections: Sports Edition features two categories with a regionally specific team focus.

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.

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

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.

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

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: Soft tissues of the human body

• Green: Teams located on this West Coast city

• Blue: Career journey of this 2,000-yard rusher

• Purple: Managers for the "showtime" team

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: Muscles, Informally

• Green: L.A. Football Teams

• Blue: Associated with Saquon Barkley

• Purple: Lakers Head Coaches

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 #381 is...

What is the answer to Connections: Sports Edition today?

• Muscles, Informally - ABS, PECS, QUADS, TRAPS

• L.A. Football Teams - CHARGERS, RAMS, UCLA, USC

• Associated with Saquon Barkley - EAGLES, GIANTS, MADDEN COVER, PENN STATE

• Lakers Head Coaches - HAM, REDICK, RILEY, WEST

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.

I have no plans to replace the five-year-old Mac mini that’s gracefully aging beneath my TV. I’ll happily buy another when the time comes, but that day still feels like a long way off.

Happy Thursday and 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 October 4, 2025

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 October 4, 2025 Easy difficulty hints, answers for Oct. 9 Pips

Equal (6): Everything in this red space must be equal to 6. The answer is 6-6, placed vertically; 6-4, placed vertically.

Number (8): Everything in this red space must add to 8. The answer is 6-4, placed vertically; 4-1, placed horizontally.

Equal (1): Everything in this orange space must be equal to 1. The answer is 4-1, placed horizontally; 1-5, placed horizontally.

Number (8): Everything in this light blue space must add to 8. The answer is 1-5, placed; 3-5, placed vertically.

Medium difficulty hints, answers for Oct. 9 Pips

Number (10): Everything in this space must add to 10. The answer is 5-0, placed horizontally; 5-4, placed horizontally.

Greater Than (3): Everything in this space must be greater than 3. The answer is 6-4, placed horizontally.

Less Than (2): Everything in this space must be less than 2. The answer is 1-4, placed horizontally.

Less Than (3): Everything in this space must be less than 3. The answer is 2-4, placed horizontally.

Number (0): Everything in this space must add to 0. The answer is 0-4, placed horizontally; 0-1, placed horizontally.

Equal (4): Everything in this space must be equal to 4. The answer is 5-4, placed horizontally; 6-4, placed horizontally; 1-4, placed horizontally; 2-4, placed horizontally; 3-4, placed horizontally; 0-4, placed horizontally; 4-4, placed horizontally.

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

Hard difficulty hints, answers for Oct. 9 Pips

Number (0): Everything in this space must add to 0. The answer is 0-6, placed vertically; 0-0, placed horizontally; 0-1, placed vertically.

Number (12): Everything in this space must add to 12. The answer is 0-6, placed vertically; 6-1, placed vertically.

Equal (1): Everything in this light blue space must be equal to 1. The answer is 0-1, placed vertically; 1-1, placed vertically; 6-1, placed vertically; 1-2, placed vertically; 1-3, placed vertically; 1-4, placed vertically; 1-5, placed vertically.

Number (0): Everything in this space must add to 0. The answer is 4-0, placed vertically.

Equal (4): Everything in this green space must be equal to 4. The answer is 1-4, placed vertically; 4-5, placed vertically.

Equal (3): Everything in this orange space must be equal to 3. The answer is 6-3, placed vertically; 3-3, placed vertically; 3-2, placed vertically.

Equal (2): Everything in this dark blue space must be equal to 2. The answer is 1-2, placed vertically; 2-5, placed horizontally; 3-2, placed horizontally.

Equal (5): Everything in this red space must be equal to 5. The answer is 2-5, placed horizontally; 1-5, placed vertically; 5-5, placed horizontally; 4-5, placed vertically.

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

SAVE $200: As of Oct. 8, the Apple 2025 MacBook Air 13-inch is on sale for $799 at Amazon. That's a 20% savings.

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple 2025 MacBook Air 13-inch $799 at Amazon
$999 Save $200 Get Deal

Saving $200 in return for giving up an extra two inches of screen space when comparing the 15-inch and 13-inch 2025 Macbook Air? It's not for everyone, but it's still quite a big savings.

If having a 13-inch screen is a sticking point, maybe it's a case of looking at a suitable monitor to get a lot more screen estate for your buck when you're sat at your desk. Even dual screen your setup for serious power plays whilst editing or recording.

There's a great deal on LG 27US500-W Ultrafine Monitor right now, for example. That's 27-inches of 4K HDR10 screen real estate for $179, was $249. Want a dual screen setup on the go? The MNN Portable Monitor is 15.6 inches @ 1080p with HDMI and USB-C connectivity for $59.97, was $89.98. Or just don't and save $200, regardless, this is the best Macbook Air for your money, plenty of room on the built-in retina screen to get jobs done on the go with the option of plugging into a desktop setup or focusing in on big projects.

Moving back to this deal, the 13-inch has the same horsepower as the more expensive models, including up to 18-hour battery life and the multitasking powerhouse M4 chip. The screen I've been banging on about also supports 1 billion colors, so if you're worried about displaying accurate color gamut's you can put them to rest with this laptop.

Be the first to know about the best October Prime Day deals. Follow Mashable's Prime Big Deal Days live blog and keep checking back for the latest discounts, stock alerts, and deal drops.

Donald Trump returned to TikTok on Monday by telling young Americans they "owe him big." Why? "I saved TikTok," the president said in his first post on the social platform since the 2024 election.

In September, after many ban deadline extensions, Trump signed an executive order that facilitates the sale of Chinese-owned TikTok to American investors. In the president's post-signing TikTok post, filmed from the Oval Office, Trump declared, "To all of those young people of TikTok, I saved TikTok, so you owe me big."

On Late Night, Seth Meyers responded to the president's post with a few jokes. "Great news for anybody who likes their TikToks 75 minutes long," the late night host said on Wednesday.

"President Trump addressed 'the young people of TikTok.'" Meyers went on. "Dude, again, you're 79. They're all young people to you. You're so old you could have addressed the 'young people of Facebook.'"

SAVE $600: As of Oct. 9, the Roku Smart TV 65-inch is on sale for $599.99 at Amazon. That's a 50% savings on the list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Roku Roku Smart TV 65-inch $599.99 at Amazon
$1,199.99 Save $600 Get Deal

Prime Day has officially come to an end, and it was truly an incredible two days of deals and discounts. If you missed out on picking up something, don't worry, there are still plenty of deals lingering, some at the same prices. Like this continuing deal on the Roku Smart TV 65-inch.

As of Oct. 9, this impressive TV is still 50% off, bringing the list price down to $599.99. That's an extra $600 in your pocket. There are discounts across all size options for this TV too, so if you'd rather something smaller or bigger, you'll still save.

Roku’s user interface is super easy to use. On one screen, you'll have access to all of your favorite streaming apps, plus free shows, movies, and live TV across more than 500 channels. And you'll be watching all of this in great quality, thanks to the QLED display, thousands of mini-LEDs, 4K picture, and the amazing immersive audio.

Looking at TVs specifically for a gaming setup? Well, this one is ideal. Everything is super fast, and it has no problem keeping up with its 120Hz refresh rate and dedicated Game Mode.

Pick up this post-Prime Day deal from Amazon now, before it goes back up in price.

Ghosting is spooky but unfortunately common. From romantic interests to prospective job opportunities, people online lament about never hearing back from the one person they want to hear from the most.

But what if they do?

SEE ALSO: How to get over a breakup

Not only is ghosting seemingly ubiquitous in today's society of online connections, but so is a ghoster reappearing. Like a cheap movie fright, a text can come out of nowhere. Mashable spoke to ghostees who have experienced this and experts to understand why ghosters come back from the dead.

Post-breakup jump scare

Mandy (her name has been changed for privacy reasons) had hooked up with a Hinge match three times at the tail end of 2023, and they were making plans to see the Emerald Fennell film Saltburn together.

"We never solidified those plans, and then we never talked again," Mandy told Mashable. 

As a non-monogamous dater with a partner, Mandy has rules for mutual ghosting: if you both silently agree not to follow up after the first encounter, "it is what it is."

But after having sex three times? "There is just an etiquette, or a courtesy, to just be like, 'I don't want to see you anymore,'" said Mandy. "I really respect when people are very honest with me."

Still, this man wasn't. Mandy asked what date worked to see the movie, and then sent a TikTok video, but he only responded to the TikTok video instead of the date. As the proposed day inched closer, she asked him to let her know if he still wanted to catch the movie.

He didn't respond — until over a year later, around Christmas 2024.

"Uncalled for apology time," he texted, and went on to say that he didn't expect a response, but that he had begun dating someone else seriously at the time and had done a poor job communicating that to the other women he was going out with. 

Mandy replied, saying she appreciated the clarity and apology, and expressed hope that he and his partner were doing well.

"It did not work out," the former match said. 

"I was just confused," Mandy said. "I had a lot of mixed feelings." She replied anyway, saying she was sorry to hear that, and hoped all was well with him then. 

SEE ALSO: The lonely state of getting over someone you never dated

"I don't know if I really need an apology from you after you committed to ghosting on a relationship that was, for the most part, just casual," Mandy said. She sent the text to several friends, asking questions: Was he trying to rebuild his roster post-breakup? Did he want to see who was back and available?

"Is it for your own ego, or is it for more ulterior motives, like you want to have people to see casually again?" Mandy asked now. "I don't know, but it just made me feel really weird."

Mandy never talked to him again.

A long overdue explanation

At the end of 2017, when writer Sarah Freedman (who has written for Mashable) was preparing to move from New York to Los Angeles, she met a man on Tinder and had one "really intense night" together.

"You meet and then you're together for 24 hours," she described the date.

She tried to meet him again, and he said he wanted to see her, too. While they kept texting, plans never materialized, and it made Freedman anxious. She eventually texted him that she felt like she was being strung along and wanted to hear where he stood.

She never heard back.

Whirlwind, day-long first dates can be a "mindfuck," Freedman said. You feel like you're in a movie or a TV show, and that you have an amazing connection. "And then, you never hear from them," she said. "It's so painful…I think it really kind of underscores how little you know someone."

Despite whatever beautiful connection you had, you don't know the other person and have no idea what's going on in their life, she said. Evidenced by the long text she received from this date four years later. He was going through recovery for alcohol addiction and apologized, and he wanted to write Freedman a letter. 

"I got the text when I was literally sitting on the toilet," Freedman said. "You know, when you get these things, you remember exactly."

Freedman found the text admirable, showing significant growth and maturity. It taught her a lesson, one that stuck with her, and she wrote about herself on her Substack: She took the ghosting so personally, but it had nothing to do with her. 

This instance made it easier for her to understand that the way someone treats her doesn't necessarily have to do with who she is. 

"Especially in these brief, fleeting moments where you're connecting with someone and you don't know each other that well — how much can it really be the way I'm behaving around this person?" she asked. "I just have a lot of sympathy for him, and it just put it in so much perspective."

Freedman responded with her address, but he never sent the letter. "He ended up ghosting me again," she joked.

Still, it didn't lessen the impact of the apology.

"When you're ghosted, you just feel like you don't matter, right? You feel like no one thinks of you. No one cares. You're not even worthy of a response," she said. "Then have this and be like, 'Actually, I stayed with him. Actually, what happened weighed on him.' It was healing. It was really healing to hear that."

Why ghosters come back

People may ghost others as it is a non-confrontational — albeit immature — way to terminate a relationship or interaction, according to Dr. Beth Ribarsky, a professor of communications at the University of Illinois Springfield. 

When you're ghosted, you just feel like you don't matter, right? - writer Sarah Freedman

"In a world where so many of our relationships are built and maintained via texts, calls, or social media, it is incredibly easy to simply stop responding to or block others" rather than risk confrontation or conflict, said Ribarsky, who specializes in interpersonal communications and romantic relationships. 

Mandy echoed the sentiment. "We have gotten to a point in culture where we don't like confrontation and we don't like direct conversation and communication about uncomfortable things," she said. But that's part of life — we have to talk about uncomfortable things, even if it's "I don't like you anymore" or "I don't want to see you again." 

"Sorry if that's harsh," she said. "It's better than leaving you guessing."

A ghoster might reappear because of guilt and loneliness — or boredom, Ribarsky commented. It depends on the situation.

When Joy Ofodu, host of the Dating Unsettled podcast and comedy creator, was single, she once had a ghoster apologize with a two-paragraph letter. They had been dating for two months and were even discussing family and goals. "I was genuinely surprised to have been left on read at the time," she told Mashable.

With an apology, "I think it's thoughtful but also kind of a protective self-preservation measure — they don't want to ruin their reputation within intimate friend groups, group chats, anonymous reporting communities, or apps, and know that ghosting doesn't get you far."

"Like alcoholics making amends, some of them may be in a place of deep character reflection and wanting to do an upheaval — that can involve an apology tour," she continued. In Freedman's situation, this was literal.

"Other times, as I've unfortunately also experienced, it's an apology to halfheartedly reactivate a dating conversation and see if the recipient is still open to your BS — a little ego boost to feel good again and go on their way," Ofodu continued, which is what Mandy suspected.

But sometimes, Ofodu said, you may find yourself the ghost. She had to issue her own apology after she let a dating app conversation dry up when she was busy with work and graduate school. Even her now-partner said sorry for ghosting when they first matched.

"We mutually, uncharacteristically ghosted each other on a first meet-up we'd set because we were juggling too much — then he came back, apologized, and hopped on a FaceTime with me just to meet each other," Ofodu said. "Without that apology, we may not be together today."

"Ghosting always sucks," said Freedman, and she knows how it feels — so she makes it a point not to ghost people. It would be easier not to respond, but she said, "I can take three minutes out of my day and send someone a nice message that also says, 'You're a cool person and I wish you the best.'"

Apologies for ghosting can be genuine or manipulative, Ofodu said, but thinks they're best accompanied by either blissful absence or action. "When in doubt, I think it's better to apologize than not."

Mandy believes her instance of a returning ghost is emblematic of our culture. However, she added, "I kind of appreciated it for the giggle it gave me."