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Linux Mint is a great place to start—but at some point, it stops being enough. Maybe you want newer packages, or maybe you want more control over your system. Either way, Mint can start to feel limiting, and you might find yourself wanting to distro-hop in search of something new and exciting. Here are three intermediate distros that offer more flexibility without overwhelming you with complexity.

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: To designate

• Green: Where you'd see the Summer Games

• Blue: Has hoted a popular basketball player

• Purple: They share a second word

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: Choose

• Green: Last four Summer Olympics hosts

• Blue: Teams Kevin Durant has played for

• Purple: ___ Derby

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 #217 is...

What is the answer to Connections Sports Edition today

• Choose - DRAFT, PICK, SELECT, TAKE

• Last four Summer Olympics host - LONDON, PARIS, RIO DE JANEIRO, TOKYO

• Teams Kevin Durant has played f - TEXAS, THUNDER, UNITED STATES, WARRIORS

• ___ Derby - HOME RUN, KENTUCKY, MANCHESTER, ROLLER

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 the latest Connections.

OpenAI released its latest model, GPT-5.5, on April 23, just a week after Anthropic introduced Claude Opus 4.7.

As the two leading models from the two leading AI labs, we wanted to see how the new models compare.

Spoiler alert: We think Claude Opus 4.7 has an edge on advanced and agentic coding, but GPT-5.5 performs better on most benchmarks.

SEE ALSO: Anthropic says Claude Opus 4.7 has a 92% honesty rate, less sycophancy

Want to learn more about getting the best out of your tech? Sign up for Mashable's Top Stories and Deals newsletters today.

GPT-5.5 and Opus 4.7: Leaderboards

GPT-5.5 isn't yet ranked on all AI leaderboards yet, but it should be very competitive with Claude Opus 4.7. On the leaderboards of verified benchmark tests such as Arc Prize, GPT-5.5 beats Opus 4.7 (more on this below).

On the popular Arena leaderboard, which is based on user testing, Claude Opus 4.7 Thinking has the top overall spot. Interestingly, Opus 4.7 is currently ranked below Opus 4.6, though that will likely change in time. Currently, new Anthropic models hold the top four overall spots. What's more, Anthropic's unreleased Claude Mythos isn't ranked, and Anthropic says it performs even better than Opus 4.7.

On the Epoch Capabilities Index (ECI) leaderboard, GPT-5.4 Pro has the top score for now. (ECI combines several benchmarks into a single score.) You'll find Gemini 3.1 Pro and GPT-5.4 in the second and third positions.

SEE ALSO: AI's ability to find major software bugs is growing 490% year on year GPT-5.5 and Opus 4.7: Benchmarks

How do the new models perform on the most common benchmark tests? We have to rely primarily on OpenAI and Anthropic's self-reported scores for these tests. They both achieve high marks, as you'd expect, but GPT-5.5 definitely has the edge.

Here's how they compare on some top AI benchmark tests:

• SWE-Bench Pro: GPT-5.5 scored 58.6; Opus 4.7 scored 64.3 percent

• Terminal-Bench 2.0: GPT-5.5 scored 82.7 percent; Opus 4.7 scored 69.4 percent

• Humanity's Last Exam: GPT-5.5 scored 40.6 percent; Opus 4.7 scored 31.2 percent*

• Humanity's Last Exam (with tools): GPT-5.5 scored 52.2 percent; Opus 4.7 scored 54.7 percent

• BrowseComp: GPT-5.5 scored 84.4 percent; Opus 4.7 scored 79.3 percent

• GPQA Diamond: GPT-5.5 scored 93.6 percent; Opus 4.7 scored 94.2 percent

• ARC-AGI-1 (Verified): GPT-5.5 (High) scored 94.5 percent; Claude 4.7 (High) scored 92 percent**

• ARC-AGI-2 (Verified): GPT-5.5 (High) scored 83.3 percent; Claude 4.7 (High) scored 68.3 percent**

*For Humanity's Last Exam, we're citing Artificial Analysis's verified HLE results. Notably, Anthropic reports that Opus 4.7 scored 46.9 percent on this test.

**See the full results at the Arc Prize website.

GPT 5.5 and Opus 4.7: Availability and pricing

OpenAI says GPT 5.5 is "our smartest and most intuitive to use model yet." Claude Opus 4.7 is Anthropic's most advanced model available to Claude users, though Anthropic says the unreleased Claude Mythos Preview is the more capable model overall.

As such, only paid subscribers can access these frontier models.

GPT 5.5 is only available to OpenAI Plus, Pro, Business, and Enterprise users in ChatGPT and Codex (sorry, ChatGPT Go users). Pro, Business, and Enterprise users can also access GPT-5.5 Pro, while Plus, Pro, Business, and Enterprise customers can access GPT-5.5 Thinking.

OpenAI is raising prices for GPT-5.5 in its API, though the company says it's more token-efficient. API pricing starts at "$5 per 1M input tokens and $30 per 1M output tokens, with a 1M context window."

Opus 4.7 is available to Pro and Max customers; via the API, it's available for "$5 per million input tokens and $25 per million output tokens."

GPT-5.5 and Opus 4.7: Feature set

OpenAI says that GPT-5.5 makes noticeable improvements in "agentic coding, computer use, knowledge work, and early scientific research." Anthropic says Claude Opus 4.7 improves in advanced coding, visual intelligence, and document analysis.

ChatGPT and Claude have similar overall feature sets, though there are some exceptions. Broadly speaking, you can use both of these AI chatbots for research, coding, creative projects, and everyday professional work. You can also use both of the new models in OpenAI and Anthropic's coding platforms, Codex and Claude Code.

It's easier to talk about the differences than the similarities. While GPT-5.5 is not an image model, within ChatGPT you can use the new ChatGPT Images 2.0 model. Anthropic recently rolled out Claude Design, but it only offers data visualizations, graphics, and slides, not full image generation. So, if you need to generate images or interactive graphics for a project, GPT-5.5 will have more tools available to call.

GPT-5.5 can be used to create complex and interactive data visualizations. Credit: OpenAI

ChatGPT has more app and shopping integrations, though thanks to its recent acquisition of OpenClaw, Anthropic has the edge on agentic capabilities.

TL;DR: If we had to pick one of these models for everyday professional work, GPT-5.5 would have the edge thanks to ChatGPT's broader overall feature set. However, for advanced and agentic coding, we'd go with Claude Opus 4.7.

Disclosure: Ziff Davis, Mashable’s parent company, in April 2025 filed a lawsuit against OpenAI, alleging it infringed Ziff Davis copyrights in training and operating its AI systems.

When you think of AI models, especially large language models, you probably imagine big data centers guzzling thousands of watts of power, or big expensive GPUs with enough VRAM to equal the GDP of a small nation.

When I was in high school, only those in the know used Gmail instead of AOL or Yahoo, and I relished getting an invite to try out Google's approach to email. It’s a different world now, one where I feel like the odd one for not using Gmail. But it’s true—I haven’t used Gmail for years. I’ve found something better, at least for me.

Is your mouse hovering over the buy button for bigger hard drives for your NAS? That was me, until I figured out how to set up automation that runs in the background and frees up terabytes of storage on my NAS without me having to lift a finger.

Mazda has always been recognized for its nimble yet stylish sedans (3 and 6), small crossovers like the CX-30, and the iconic MX-5 Miata. When it came to producing three-row vehicles, the automaker relied on partnerships, such as the Ford-based Tribute or the MPV minivan. While the first-generation CX-9 helped establish Mazda as a contender in the SUV space in 2007, it still used a traditional front-wheel drive architecture common among mainstream brands.

HBO Max is doing just fine. It closed out 2025 with roughly 130 million global subscribers, and its library boasts more than 2,000 movies and 580 shows—including some of the greatest of all time. Unfortunately, what that often means is 20 minutes of scrolling for something to watch before just giving up and watching Game of Thrones again.

Mechanical keyboards end up becoming something of an obsession for some folks. Many end up going down the rabbit hole and building their own, but far fewer take on the task of 3D printing the whole thing.

SAVE 11%: As of April 24, you can get the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Bluetooth headphones (2nd gen) for $399, down from $449, at Amazon. That's an 11% discount, or $50 in savings.

Bose QuietComfort Ultra Bluetooth headphones (2nd gen) $399 at Amazon
$449 Save $50   Get Deal at Amazon

Over-ear headphones are basically a fashion accessory at this point. And let me just say, the limited-edition Desert Gold colorway on the second-generation Bose QuietComfort Ultra is super sexy. Right now, you can grab a pair at Amazon for $399. That's an 11% discount or a $50 price cut. (It's also the lowest price we've seen them go for!)

SEE ALSO: Review: Bose QuietComfort Ultra are the most comfortable headphones I've ever worn

Mashable's Lead Shopping Reporter Bethany Allard reviewed the second-generation QC Ultras and crowned them "the most comfortable headphones on the market." She says that "there was simply not a scenario where the fit didn't feel excellent," whether she was working all day or going for a walk.

And, of course, she mentioned the impossible-to-ignore aesthetic details: "On a pure aesthetic note, the shiny metal accent is a strong design choice (in my humble opinion) that helps these headphones stand out even more from their cheaper counterparts in Bose's lineup."

Aside from being gorgeous, you'll get up to 30 hours of battery life, adjustable active noise cancellation, and a Cinema Mode for movie-like immersion. Plus, Bose finally added USB-C playback, so you can charge your headphones and listen to music at the exact same time.

The best TV deals to shop this weekend, at a glance: Best Hisense deal Hisense 75-inch QD7 Mini LED QLED 4K TV $499.99 (save $300) Get Deal Best Samsung deal Samsung 55-inch QN70F Neo QLED 4K TV $597.99 (save $300) Get Deal Best LG deal LG 65-inch 85A QNED 4K TV $599.99 (save $600) Get Deal

Now that most 2026 TV releases have hit the shelves, models from 2025 are getting the deal treatment. This happens every year in the spring, making April one of the best times to buy a new TV. We're not mad about it. You can get a huge Mini LED TV for under $500 or snag an OLED model for under $1,000 if you waited until now to upgrade.

Not to mention, it's a great time to enhance your viewing experience in general now that the NHL Stanley Cup playoffs and NBA playoffs are underway. And we can't forget the slew of new movies and series hitting streaming this season.

Whether you're ready to pull the trigger or want to weigh your options, we've rounded up the best TV deals to shop this weekend from top brands Hisense, Samsung, and LG.

Best Hisense TV deal Opens in a new window Credit: Hisense Hisense 75-inch QD7 Mini LED QLED 4K TV $499.99 at Amazon
$799.99 Save $300   Get Deal Why we like it

Mashable's sister site CNET (also owned by Ziff Davis) dubbed the Hisense QD7 the "best budget TV of 2026," thanks to its deep contrast, superior brightness levels, solid 144Hz refresh rate for gaming and sports, and full array local dimming (which is typicalyl only found in more expensive models). The picture quality can go head to head with TVs with much larger price tags, making this deal even more impressive. Both Amazon and Best Buy have dropped the cost of the 75-inch model down to only $499.99 for a savings of $300. That's its cheapest price ever.

Best Samsung TV deal Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Samsung 55-inch QN70F Neo QLED 4K TV $597.99 at Amazon
$897.99 Save $300   Get Deal Why we like it

If you're married to the Samsung brand, but don't want to spend a ton of money on its higher-end models, the QN70F Neo QLED is a great value. As a "Neo QLED" TV, it pairs QLED with a Mini LED panel, which basically just translates to a deeply detailed display that looks stunning and can hold its own in all sorts of lighting situations. Its AI processor can upscale content and enhance the quality of just about anything if you prefer it, while the 144Hz variable refresh rate ensures transitions are smooth and less laggy than your old TV. As of April 24, the 55-inch QN70F is down to only $597.99 at Amazon, marking its biggest discount to date.

Best LG TV deal Opens in a new window Credit: LG LG 65-inch 85A QNED 4K TV $599.99 at Amazon
$1,199.99 Save $600   Get Deal Why we like it

We find that 65 inches is the sweet spot for most people and the LG 65-inch 85A QNED 4K TV is a solid mid-range Mini LED option. Now down to only $599.99, it's not only cheaper than the 55-inch version, but also its best price on record. And don't let Amazon's listing fool you; the original cost of this TV is over $1,000, so you'll save 50%. The 85A uses an AI processor to enhance both picture and audio in real time, while the AI Magic Remote also gives you options for content recommendations, picture and audio customizations, and generative AI gallery images to transform your TV into artwork. It also features a 120Hz native refresh rate, 144Hz variable refresh rate, AMD FreeSync Premium, and LG Game Optimizer for smooth gaming experiences.

More TV deals worth grabbing

Hisense

• Hisense 75-inch U6 Mini LED QLED 4K TV — $499.99 $1,299.99 (save $800)

• Hisense 55-inch S7N Canvas QLED 4K TV — $697.99 $999.99 (save $302)

• Hisense 65-inch U8 Mini LED ULED 4K TV — $999.99 $2,199.99 (save $1,200)

• Hisense 75-inch U8 Mini LED ULED 4K TV — $1,249.99 $2,499.99 (save $1,250)

LG

• LG 55-inch B5 OLED 4K TV — $799.99 $1,499.99 (save $700)

Samsung

• Samsung 43-inch Q8F QLED 4K TV — $397.99 $549.99 (save $152)

• Samsung 65-inch Q7F QLED 4K TV — $427.99 $629.99 (save $202)

• Samsung 55-Inch S85F OLED 4K TV — $897.99 $1,499.99 (save $602)

Hybrid cars are having a real moment in the U.S., and it’s not hard to see why. EV tax credits have dried up, electric cars have gotten pricier, and gas prices aren’t exactly helping anyone lean toward bigger engines right now.

Microsoft has essentially allowed all Windows 11 users to dump Copilot, its Generative Artificial Intelligence (Gen AI) assistant. While average Windows 11 users have a surprisingly straightforward way to uninstall the AI-powered digital assistant, even those stuck using “managed” devices can get rid of Copilot.

Anthropic just made Claude a lot more useful for a bunch of users.

The company's flagship AI chatbot just got upgraded to be compatible with several major apps, meaning it can now handle things like ordering food, hiring people for odd-jobs, and other random tasks that you might otherwise have to manually open an app to perform. Combine these new integrations with Claude's increasingly agentic capabilities, and you can offload a lot of work to Anthropic's chatbot.

Claude already had an extensive list of possible app connections, but there are some real heavy-hitters in the list of new additions:

• AllTrails

• Audible

• Booking.com

• Instacart

• Intuit Credit Karma

• Intuit TurboTax

• Resy

• Spotify

• StubHub

• TaskRabbit

• Thumbtack

• TripAdvisor

• Uber

• UberEats

• Viator

SEE ALSO: Discord group says it accessed Claude Mythos by guessing location

Anthropic's press release also noted that more are on the way. With these new connections, you can book a trip, order food, arrange a ride-share, or hire someone to mount your TV, all from one chatbot window. On top of these apps becoming compatible with Claude, Anthropic has also adjusted the chatbot so it will automatically suggest certain apps for certain actions, based on the context of your conversation with it.

Anthropic also clarified that there won't be sponsored answers or suggestions in the chat, maintaining that Claude is and will be ad-free going forward. Connected apps are also not used to train Claude, and they can't see other conversations you've had with the chatbot.

Want to learn more about getting the best out of your tech? Sign up for Mashable's Top Stories and Deals newsletters today.

Things are going pretty well for Netflix—it just wrapped a first quarter that pulled in $12.2 billion in revenue, and the company says its paid subscribership by the end of last year was somewhere in the vicinity of 325 million, globally (not to mention the $2.8 billion breakup fee it got for walking away from the Warner/Paramount thing.

SAVE 13%: As of April 24, you can get the 27-inch Asus ROG Swift OLED gaming monitor for $699, down from $799, at Amazon. That's a 13% discount or $100 savings.

27-inch Asus ROG Swift OLED gaming monitor $699 at Amazon
$799 Save $100   Get Deal at Amazon

I'm a big believer that your gaming setup is only as good as your monitor. You can have the most expensive, tricked-out PC in the world, but if your screen is lagging or blurring every time you move your mouse, it's basically useless. (Plus, playing on a slow display is super annoying.)

SEE ALSO: The best gaming laptops of 2026: Check out our top picks

Right now, you can upgrade your battlestation for less at Amazon. As of April 24, the Asus ROG Swift OLED 27-inch gaming monitor is down to $699, from $799. That’s a 13% discount or $100 savings.

According to Asus, this is the world's first 1440p 480Hz OLED gaming monitor. (Translation: it's, like, really fast.) You'll get a 480Hz refresh rate paired with a 0.03ms response time. It also features a built-in AI assistant (because, of course, it does), a matte screen, and anti-flicker tech to save your eyes during marathon gaming sessions.

Every day is the same story: your phone’s battery starts at 100%—hopefully—and by the afternoon, apps and services have chipped it down by half. That’s the simple part, but deciphering what’s actually using the battery is not as straightforward as you would think.

The Vim statusline is endlessly customizable, with a set of standard variables available, plus the ability to host almost anything using Vim script. But all this tweaking still takes effort; effort that others have already gone to, so you don’t have to.

It’s 2010 and it’s 1 a.m. early Sunday morning. You’re having a sleepover with your closest friends. You just finished a movie you ordered on Pay-Per-View without asking, hoping your parents won’t ask questions in a month when they get the cable bill. The clock says it’s time for bed, but you and your buddies aren’t tired. You break out the laptop. YouTube videos. ‘Shoes’ by Kelly for the hundredth time. Facebook ‘like for a rate’ posts. You give your crush an 8 because you don’t want to come off too eager. There’s just one last thing to do. 

Talk to strangers on the internet.

In 2009, Omegle launched with a simple premise: connect strangers from around the world one-on-one via text or video chat. The pairing was random, and anyone with internet access could join for free, no account required. Anonymity was baked into the website, meaning a 13-year-old in Oklahoma could just as easily be paired with a 47-year-old from Turkmenistan. For many users, it led to genuine lasting connections. But not everyone came to Omegle with good intentions. After it shut down for good in 2023, longtime users were left wondering: what happened to Omegle? We're here to tell you.

SEE ALSO: Adult Friend Finder vs. Tinder: How they compare as hookup apps What was Omegle?

Omegle was created in March 2009 by an 18-year-old in Vermont named Leif K-Brooks as a simple, anonymous text chat site that connected strangers one-on-one from around the world. It amassed over 150,000 page views every day after its first month and quickly became a go-to for bored internet users across the globe. A year later in March 2010, Omegle began offering one-on-one video chat with strangers. That means if you had a webcam, you could now use Omegle to chat face-to-face with people from just about anywhere. 

Omegle was marketed as a site for users ages 13 and up. If you were under 18, Omegle stated in its policy that you needed parental approval before accessing. Because there was no account needed, there weren’t any limitations at all. No parents were needed to sign this made-up permission slip. Anyone had the ability to access Omegle.

SEE ALSO: Omegle changed cybersex forever, for better or worse

In 2022, things changed. Well, that’s a lie. Just words did. Omegle’s new policy stated that users had to be 18+ without exception. Still, no account was needed to join, providing access to anyone who could type the word ‘Omegle’ into their internet search bar.

How did people use Omegle?

The premise was simple: connect with another person, judge them for a half-second based on their appearance, and decide whether or not you wanted to have a conversation. Conversations would typically begin with 'ASL?', standing for age/sex/location. You could chat by mic or keep it to text, awkwardly staring at each other until someone said something funny. When the conversation was over, you could choose to click the “Next” button at the bottom left corner and be connected with somebody else.

As mentioned, not everyone used Omegle for wholesome chatter. Some users were only there for one thing. To get off. This was a huge issue for children using the app. It was almost impossible to skip one person without the next being a man stroking his penis.

To combat this, Omegle eventually added 'moderators' — mainly just an automation system that banned people who exposed themselves from the jump. Due to ‘moderation’ in Omegle’s later years, you'd see way less dicks unless you were actively looking for them. You could start a conversation innocently enough and end up masturbating with a stranger if things went that way. Technically, this didn’t seem to break any rules Omegle was implementing, as long as you didn't lead with it.

Whether the conversation was platonic or sexual, all Omegle users came for the same reason: connection.

When was Omegle most popular?

Omegle was at its peak in its early years, but became a lifeline for human connection during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020-2021. There was a resurgence in popularity with streamers, TikTokers, and YouTubers who were stuck inside with nothing to film. This brought a new generation to the site, connecting people across the globe during a time when people needed connection most. Between the months of February and May of 2020, Omegle reportedly had a monthly increase of 10 million. That’s pretty serious. We surely can’t count that high.

What made Omegle unique?

While Omegle was active, its only real competitor was Chatroulette, though it couldn't match Omegle feature for feature. Chatroulette was strictly video-to-video, while Omegle offered both text and video chat. Omegle also let you tailor your experience through 'tags'. Tags were keywords you typed in before starting a chat. Omegle would then match you with someone who typed the same thing, so you'd have something to talk about from the start. Tags could be anything — art, sports, dogs, beach, whatever came to mind.

SEE ALSO: App fatigue is real. I tested the best dating apps of 2026 to find the ones that really work.

Omegle also had 'Spy Mode', though it seemingly never quite caught on the way one-on-one chat did. Spy Mode worked one of two ways: you either submitted a question and watched two strangers debate it without being able to intervene, or you were one of the two strangers being watched. Like tags, you could ask any question you wanted.

Was Omegle safe?

The short answer? No. Omegle was not safe. While there were many ways to try and stop inappropriate interactions, there was nothing moderation could do to make it work.

Users with sexually-inclined tags — horny, sex, jo (jerking off), boobs — were typically matched with each other, separate from those just looking to talk. And since anyone could type anything into the tags bar, moderation was essentially nonexistent. Users could write anything, including racist and homophobic slurs, references to inappropriate and illegal content, and more. This means a 13-year-old could type the same tags and be matched directly with predators using them.

Omegle had an 'unmonitored' section, a designated space where users could be explicitly sexual without risk of being banned. The problem? Anyone could choose to use this section with the click of a button. The majority of people there were masturbating openly, meaning anyone who wandered in had access to explicit content with zero restriction. If a 'moderator' flagged you for inappropriate behavior, you could be dumped into the unmonitored section without warning (sometimes for days or weeks) with no way back into regular chat.

A full ban meant you couldn't access Omegle at all via your IP address, though it was never permanent. Days, weeks, maybe months later, you'd be back.

Spy Mode questions were also an issue, ranging from 'what's your favorite Pokémon?' to improv scenarios with your stranger, to what age you lost your virginity, to someone dropping an Instagram handle and telling both strangers to go message that person and tell them to kill themselves.

Essentially, there were no rules. Because of that, for many people, especially those under the age of 18, Omegle really could not be considered ‘safe’.

So, why did Omegle shut down?

After 14 years, Omegle shut down in November 2023, taking with it a strange little corner of the internet that millions of people had once called their own. When trying to access the site, users were greeted with the Omegle logo with the years 2009-2023 on a gravestone. A long message from founder K-Brooks followed, expressing why he came to the decision to shut the site down.

The goodbye letter was… weird. Defensive. Very ‘woe-is-me’.

In this message, K-Brooks mentions that financially and psychologically, he’d become unable to manage Omegle, explicitly saying he didn't want to "have a heart attack in my 30s." He pushes back on critics who accused him of letting crimes happen and turning his head, suggesting the moderation standards people expected of him were simply impossible to meet. He explains the shutdown of Omegle as "destroying the universe because it contains evil", essentially telling people that this decision is an attack against a free internet.

Toward the end of Omegle's life, something was going on behind the scenes. In 2019, a person identified only as 'A.M.' from Oregon filed a $22 million lawsuit against Omegle, alleging she was a victim of child sex exploitation on the site. The lawsuit argued that Omegle knew exactly what was happening, with the site even displaying a message that read "Predators have been known to use Omegle, so please be careful," right before accessing the rest of the site. Omegle tried to get the case thrown away, citing that the Communications Decency Act protected them from being held responsible for what users did on their platform, but the judge didn’t take the bait. Omegle’s design actively and knowingly paired minors with adults. It made Omegle culpable.

The $22 million lawsuit was settled just a few days before K-Brooks pulled the plug on Omegle entirely. His farewell letter even acknowledges A.M. by name, saying "I thank A.M. for opening my eyes to the human cost of Omegle."

And just like that, Omegle was in the trash bin.

Could Omegle ever come back?

Omegle was built with pure intentions by some kid in Vermont who just wanted to see what human connection could look like on the internet. For a lot of people, it delivered on that promise in ways no other site could. It made the world feel a little smaller, and a little less lonely.

But bad actors will act. And if you can't keep up with that, or take accountability for handing those people a platform in the first place, things will crumble.

In 2026, Omegle alternatives like Uhmegle, Thundr, and OmeTV fill the void, letting users chat with strangers across the globe the same way Omegle did. Most come with actual accountability measures Omegle never had. There are also fully NSFW Omegle alternatives now, designed specifically for one-on-one sexual content, giving that crowd a dedicated place to land.

So, could Omegle ever come back? Sure, but it probably won’t. Given the lawsuit and K-Brooks' farewell letter, Omegle seems destined to exist only in memory. And honestly, that's probably for the best.

Well, it’s time for some more fun homelab projects to try out this weekend! Today, I’m showing you how to replace Google Analytics with your own self-hosted tool, a better homelab dashboard, and even how to build out your own wiki (because your homelab really does need one).