Blogroll

Parts of World Cup 2026 matches will be live-streamed on TikTok, FIFA announced on Thursday. As part of a "first-of-its-kind Preferred Platform agreement," the platform will also feature other original content created specifically for TikTok, as well as curated clips.

"FIFA's goal is to share the exhilaration of the FIFA World Cup 2026 with as many fans as possible, and we can't think of a better way to further that mission during the biggest event in sports history than to have TikTok as the tournament's first Preferred Platform," FIFA Secretary General Mattias Grafström said in the press release.

SEE ALSO: Why is TikTok so obsessed with 365 buttons?

FIFA and TikTok will also build a creator program, giving select TikTokkers access to behind-the-scenes moments like press conferences and training sessions. A wider group of creators will be able to use archival FIFA footage. (TikTok will apparently implement anti-piracy policies, per the announcement.)

A World Cup hub will live in the app, powered by TikTok GamePlan, a product suite for sports fans and creators announced in December. The suite includes a search hub and destination for fans to discover accounts, check schedules, add games to their calendars, buy tickets, and create their own content. The World Cup hub will also feature custom stickers, filters, and gamification features.

FIFA's partnership with TikTok runs until the end of 2026.

TikTok's global head of content, James Stafford, stated in the press release, "Football has experienced explosive global growth on TikTok over the past few years, and as FIFA's first-ever Preferred Platform, we're excited for fans to experience the FIFA World Cup 2026 beyond the 90 minutes, with exclusive content and unprecedented creator access."

Parts of World Cup 2026 matches will be live-streamed on TikTok, FIFA announced on Thursday. As part of a "first-of-its-kind Preferred Platform agreement," the platform will also feature other original content created specifically for TikTok, as well as curated clips.

"FIFA's goal is to share the exhilaration of the FIFA World Cup 2026 with as many fans as possible, and we can't think of a better way to further that mission during the biggest event in sports history than to have TikTok as the tournament's first Preferred Platform," FIFA Secretary General Mattias Grafström said in the press release.

SEE ALSO: Why is TikTok so obsessed with 365 buttons?

FIFA and TikTok will also build a creator program, giving select TikTokkers access to behind-the-scenes moments like press conferences and training sessions. A wider group of creators will be able to use archival FIFA footage. (TikTok will apparently implement anti-piracy policies, per the announcement.)

A World Cup hub will live in the app, powered by TikTok GamePlan, a product suite for sports fans and creators announced in December. The suite includes a search hub and destination for fans to discover accounts, check schedules, add games to their calendars, buy tickets, and create their own content. The World Cup hub will also feature custom stickers, filters, and gamification features.

FIFA's partnership with TikTok runs until the end of 2026.

TikTok's global head of content, James Stafford, stated in the press release, "Football has experienced explosive global growth on TikTok over the past few years, and as FIFA's first-ever Preferred Platform, we're excited for fans to experience the FIFA World Cup 2026 beyond the 90 minutes, with exclusive content and unprecedented creator access."

UPDATE: Jan. 9, 2026, 4:58 p.m. EST The headline of this article was updated to clarify that TikTok the platform will not be livestreaming the World Cup but rather broadcasters can livestream clips from matches on the platform.

Elon Musk's AI tool Grok says it is now restricted to X paid subscribers. The move comes after an outcry over sexualised and violent images reportedly generated by the platform's AI assistant.

Earlier this week, news emerged that Grok was digitally removing women's clothes in images without their consent, in response to user requests. X users were also reportedly asking the chatbot to manipulate women's photos to make them appear in swimsuits or even sexual situations.

Now, when users who aren't paying subscribers ask Grok to edit an image, Grok responds with the following message viewed by Mashable: "Image generation and editing are currently limited to paying subscribers. You can subscribe to unlock these features," with a link to X's Premium sign-up page.

SEE ALSO: Grok under investigation for sexualized deepfake generation

While Grok is repeatedly stating that this feature is paywalled, The Verge noticed that "it no longer generates images as @grok replies for free, but Grok’s image editing tools remain readily available for any X user to churn out images, both sexualized and tame."

Grok responded to Mashable stating that "as of January 9, 2026, image generation and editing via Grok on X are restricted to paid subscribers following backlash over misuse." It added that some non-subscribers may be able to access it in the standalone Grok app, however.

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

Mashable did receive a response from X, stating their current response was posted (albeit several days ago) on X's Safety account, stating: "Anyone using or prompting Grok to make illegal content will suffer the same consequences as if they upload illegal content." No additional clarifications were made regarding paywalling.

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

This week, analysts at the Internet Watch Foundation charity in the UK said they had found "criminal imagery" including "sexualised and topless imagery" of children aged 11-13 on an unnamed "dark web forum," which users claimed were made using Grok. On Monday, the UK's communication regulator Ofcom said it had "made urgent contact" with X and xAI regarding "sexualised images of children" which had allegedly been generated by Grok.

Grok indeed admitted last week that generated images of "minors in minimal clothing" form part of a larger issue with deepfakes. "xAI has safeguards, but improvements are ongoing to block such requests entirely," read Grok's response.

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

Grok is now being investigated by governments in France, India, and Malaysia for generating sexualised deepfakes in what appears to be the beginning of a global crackdown the AI assistant.

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

The news that Grok will now only be available to paid subscribers does not go far enough, per a statement from UK prime minister Sir Keir Starmer's official spokesperson, who called the move "insulting" to survivors of sexual violence and misogyny.

Downing Street told reporters that paywalling image generation "simply turns an AI feature that allows the creation of unlawful images into a premium service".

Earlier this week, Starmer said in an interview that Grok's generation of sexualised imagery of women and children is "disgraceful" and "disgusting," saying "It's not to be tolerated...Ofcom has our full support to take action in relation to this."

This could mean the UK government could ban X if adequate protections are not introduced by X owner Elon Musk on his platform. Regulator Ofcom has the power to block a website or app in the UK by court order, in addition to fining a company 10 percent of its global turnover.

At the time of publishing, X had not publicly commented on this matter.

If you have experienced sexual abuse, call the free, confidential National Sexual Assault hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673), or access the 24-7 help online by visiting online.rainn.org.

UPDATE: Jan. 9, 2026, 3:58 p.m. Updated with additional information.

Elon Musk's AI tool Grok says it is now restricted to X paid subscribers. The move comes after an outcry over sexualised and violent images reportedly generated by the platform's AI assistant.

Earlier this week, news emerged that Grok was digitally removing women's clothes in images without their consent, in response to user requests. X users were also reportedly asking the chatbot to manipulate women's photos to make them appear in swimsuits or even sexual situations.

Now, when users who aren't paying subscribers ask Grok to edit an image, Grok responds with the following message viewed by Mashable: "Image generation and editing are currently limited to paying subscribers. You can subscribe to unlock these features," with a link to X's Premium sign-up page.

SEE ALSO: Grok under investigation for sexualized deepfake generation

While Grok is repeatedly stating that this feature is paywalled, The Verge noticed that "it no longer generates images as @grok replies for free, but Grok’s image editing tools remain readily available for any X user to churn out images, both sexualized and tame."

Grok responded to Mashable stating that "as of January 9, 2026, image generation and editing via Grok on X are restricted to paid subscribers following backlash over misuse." It added that some non-subscribers may be able to access it in the standalone Grok app, however.

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

Mashable did receive a response from X, stating their current response was posted (albeit several days ago) on X's Safety account, stating: "Anyone using or prompting Grok to make illegal content will suffer the same consequences as if they upload illegal content." No additional clarifications were made regarding paywalling.

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

This week, analysts at the Internet Watch Foundation charity in the UK said they had found "criminal imagery" including "sexualised and topless imagery" of children aged 11-13 on an unnamed "dark web forum," which users claimed were made using Grok. On Monday, the UK's communication regulator Ofcom said it had "made urgent contact" with X and xAI regarding "sexualised images of children" which had allegedly been generated by Grok.

Grok indeed admitted last week that generated images of "minors in minimal clothing" form part of a larger issue with deepfakes. "xAI has safeguards, but improvements are ongoing to block such requests entirely," read Grok's response.

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

Grok is now being investigated by governments in France, India, and Malaysia for generating sexualised deepfakes in what appears to be the beginning of a global crackdown the AI assistant.

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

The news that Grok will now only be available to paid subscribers does not go far enough, per a statement from UK prime minister Sir Keir Starmer's official spokesperson, who called the move "insulting" to survivors of sexual violence and misogyny.

Downing Street told reporters that paywalling image generation "simply turns an AI feature that allows the creation of unlawful images into a premium service".

Earlier this week, Starmer said in an interview that Grok's generation of sexualised imagery of women and children is "disgraceful" and "disgusting," saying "It's not to be tolerated...Ofcom has our full support to take action in relation to this."

This could mean the UK government could ban X if adequate protections are not introduced by X owner Elon Musk on his platform. Regulator Ofcom has the power to block a website or app in the UK by court order, in addition to fining a company 10 percent of its global turnover.

At the time of publishing, X had not publicly commented on this matter.

If you have experienced sexual abuse, call the free, confidential National Sexual Assault hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673), or access the 24-7 help online by visiting online.rainn.org.

UPDATE: Jan. 9, 2026, 3:58 p.m. Updated with additional information.

SAVE $200: As of Jan. 9, shop the Apple MacBook Air, 15-inch (M4, 16GB RAM, 256GB SSD) at Amazon for just $999. That saves you $200 off its $1,199 list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple MacBook Air, 15-inch (M4, 16GB RAM, 256GB SSD) $999 at Amazon
$1,199 Save $200   Get Deal

New year new...computer? If a new laptop wasn't under the Christmas tree this year, then it's time to take matters into your own hands. If you're an Apple loyalists, our favorite MacBook, the one we think is the best option for most people, is the Apple MacBook Air with M4 chip. And to kick off 2026, Amazon just dropped the price on the MacBook Air.

As of Jan. 9, the 15-inch Apple MacBook Air is now just $999. That saves you $200 off its $1,199 list price for 17% savings. This MacBook comes with the M4 chip and has 16GB RAM and 256GB SSD.

The MacBook Air with M4 chip is 85% faster than all of the laptops we've tested. It scores 14,992 on the Geekbench 6 multi-core report, meaning it runs quickly, efficiently, and quietly. The 15-inch model has six speakers and a 12MP camera. It's also just an exceptionally well-valued laptop, delivering powerful computing in a slim package all for just $1,199. We'd tell you to buy it full price, so we definitely think you should buy it for $200 off.

The MacBook Air with M4 chip's lowest price is $949, so the current deal at Amazon is just $50 more. Not bad especially if you can't wait to buy until the next big sale.

Insurance costs are one of the biggest, and most overlooked, expenses of vehicle ownership, and in 2026, one Japanese SUV stands out for offering the lowest average insurance rates of any new model. For budget-minded buyers, that can translate to hundreds (or even thousands) of dollars saved over the life of the vehicle, making it a remarkably affordable choice beyond its sticker price.

SAVE 46%: As of Jan. 9, you can get the DJI Power 2000 Portable Power Station on sale for $699, down from $1,299, at Amazon. That's a 46% discount or $600 in savings. It's also the best price we've tracked on this model.

DJI Power 2000 Portable Power Station $699 at Amazon
$1,299 Save $600   Get Deal at Amazon

If you’ve been waiting for a reason to finally set up a home backup system, this DJI deal is definitely worth a look. It’s the kind of practical purchase that you’ll be glad you have when the power goes out, and you're the only one on the block who can still run the microwave.

SEE ALSO: The 4 best power stations for camping keep you both online and off-grid

As of Jan. 9, the DJI Power 2000 Portable Power Station is on sale for $699 at Amazon. That's a 46% discount and $600 in savings. It's also the best price we've tracked on this model.

For a station with this much capacity, seeing the price drop under $700 is a big deal, especially since it's coming from a brand that's currently fighting for its right to even sell here. Because DJI was added to the FCC’s "Covered List" at the end of 2025, its ability to launch new products in the U.S. is basically on ice. This Power 2000 was cleared before those restrictions hit, so it’s still legal to own and operate, but it’s a reminder that the window to grab their hardware might not stay open forever.

The Power 2000 is built to handle the heavy stuff. It features a 2048Wh LFP battery and a 3000W stable output, which is plenty of juice to keep an air conditioner, a space heater, or a full-sized fridge running during an outage. If you do manage to drain it, DJI’s fast-charging can get it from 0 to 80 percent in about 55 minutes when you’re plugged into a wall outlet.

The hardware itself is surprisingly quiet and uses LFP cells rated for 3,000 cycles. That means even if you use it heavily, it should stay reliable for roughly a decade. It’s a straightforward, high-capacity backup that’s currently priced more like a mid-range unit.

"I did not come here to poke at your trauma," is not a thing I, Mashable Entertainment Editor Kristy Puchko, expected to say to anyone, much less Scottish action star Gerard Butler. When we sat down to celebrate the release of Greenland 2: Migration with a game of "Slash or Pass," I'd prepped to talk about disaster movies, having no idea how many actual disaster scenarios Butler has faced off-screen.

"My life is a disaster," he laughed while playing the game. But you should watch for yourself to see Butler coolly explain all the stressful scenarios he's survived. Then you too will know that, when in danger, we should look for Gerard Butler.

In our round-up of disaster movies, we touched on Titanic, Airplane!, Geostorm, Twister, The Happening, and of course, Greenland and Greenland 2: Migration. The sequel sees Butler reprise the role of engineer/family man John Garrity, who successfully got his wife and son to safety as the world-threatening comet Clarke barreled to Earth. This time, he'll face natural disasters and man-made menace to get his loved ones to a new "green land," a place of peace, clean air, and the promise of a better tomorrow.

Greenland 2: Migration is now in theaters.

The ChromeOS Files app isn’t just a place to browse downloads. It’s the control center for everything your Chromebook stores, syncs, and touches. Local files, Google Drive, Android app data, and Linux files all funnel through here. If you don’t understand how Chromebook storage actually works, you’re already using it wrong.

When it’s time to make your way through town during rush hour traffic or head off on a road trip, which mapping app do you use? Back in the day, I’d say Google Maps, but these days my first choice is Apple’s pack-in.

A new year has begun, and we all start off with great intentions. If you've promised yourself that you're going to do more with Home Assistant this year, you may be facing the common issue of not knowing what to automate next. Here are three Home Assistant projects you might want to take on this weekend.

TL;DR: Unblock ePorner for free with a VPN. The best service for unblocking porn sites is ExpressVPN.

More than a third of U.S. states have introduced restrictions for online adult content. After the introduction of these age verification laws, some porn sites blocked users from those locations. The same situation is now taking place in France.

So where does that leave frustrated users? Desperately seeking a solution, that's where. Fortunately, you can still access all your favorite porn sites in just a few simple steps. There's a quick and easy hack that can secure access to restricted content from any location or network.

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

How to unblock ePorner for free

VPNs can hide your real IP address and connect you to a secure server in another location. This simple process tricks porn sites into providing you with access even if there is a block in place over your network.

Unblock ePorner from anywhere in the world by following this simple process:

1. Sign up for a VPN (like ExpressVPN)

2. Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)

3. Open up the app and connect to a server in a location that supports access to ePorner

4. Connect to ePorner from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan) $12.95 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for unblocking porn sites are not free, but most leading services do offer free trials or money-back guarantees.

By leveraging these offers, you can unblock porn sites like ePorner without actually spending anything. This obviously isn't a long-term solution, but it means you can temporarily unblock porn sites like ePorner and then recover your investment.

What is the best VPN for ePorner?

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

• Servers in 105 countries

• Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is always secure

• Fast streaming speeds free from throttling

• Up to eight simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

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. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.95 (including money-back guarantee).

Unblock ePorner for free with ExpressVPN.

TL;DR: Battlefield 6 is now 45% off at Amazon, available for only $39.97 for a limited time.

The best 'Battlefield 6' deals at a glance: Best PS5 Deal 'Battlefield 6' $39.97 (save $30.02) Get Deal Best XBOX SERIES X Deal 'Battlefield 6' $39.97 (save $30.02) Get Deal

It’s rare to see newly-released games with strong reviews get big discounts just a couple of months after release, but Battlefield 6 seems to be a delightful exception to the rule.

Both for PS5 and Xbox Series X, Battlefield 6 is now available to buy for only $39.97; that’s a 43% discount from its launch price of $69.99. While the game did briefly drop to $35 in December, according to camelcamelcamel, we believe this was due to trying to make the most of the Christmas rush and won’t be seeing level again for quite some time. 

Battlefield 6 has done so well — commercially, critically, and in terms of accolades — that getting it for three cents short of $40 feels like a steal. 

Mashable Deals Be the first to know! Get editor selected deals texted right to your phone! Get editor selected deals texted right to your phone! Loading... Sign Me Up By signing up, you agree to receive recurring automated SMS marketing messages from Mashable Deals at the number provided. Msg and data rates may apply. Up to 2 messages/day. Reply STOP to opt out, HELP for help. Consent is not a condition of purchase. See our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. Thanks for signing up!

Along with selling over seven million units within just three days of release and sitting at an 83 on OpenCritic, the series’ biggest launch, Battlefield 6 also earned a ton of nominations at the Golden Joystick Awards, The Game Awards (winning Best Audio Design), 16th Hollywood Music in Media Awards (winning Best Music Supervision), and The Steam Awards. 

If you’ve been on the fence about which multiplayer shooter to play with your friends this year, Battlefield 6 seems like it will definitely give you the best value for money.

For those aiming to upgrade their gaming setup for their PS5 or Xbox at the same time, the Samsung Odyssey G8 QD-OLED gaming monitor is available at its lowest price yet at Amazon. If your console is part of your living room space, the 50-inch Roku Smart TV is over $50 off at Amazon.

I love the weekend because it's a great time to test out Linux distros and applications. This week, I've come across some software I think will be useful to someone out there, including a document converter tool, a headphone controller, and a brew timer.

TL;DR: Live stream Eintracht Frankfurt vs. Borussia Dortmund in the Bundesliga for free on BBC iPlayer. Access this free live stream from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

Can any team catch up and compete with Bayern Munich at the top of the Bundesliga? It's not looking likely, but Borussia Dortmund are leading the race for second place. Next they face off against Eintracht Frankfurt, a team that could move up into the top five with a win here. We're expecting a huge matchup between two exciting sides.

If you want to watch Eintracht Frankfurt vs. Borussia Dortmund in the Bundesliga for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Eintracht Frankfurt vs. Borussia Dortmund?

Eintracht Frankfurt vs. Borussia Dortmund in the Bundesliga kicks off at 7:30 p.m. GMT on Jan. 9. This fixture takes place at the Deutsche Bank Park.

How to watch Eintracht Frankfurt vs. Borussia Dortmund for free

Eintracht Frankfurt vs. Borussia Dortmund in the Bundesliga is available to live stream for free on BBC iPlayer.

BBC iPlayer is geo-restricted to the UK, but anyone can access this free streaming platform with a VPN. These handy tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in the UK, meaning you can unblock BBC iPlayer from anywhere in the world.

Live stream Eintracht Frankfurt vs. Borussia Dortmund for free by following these simple steps:

1. Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)

2. Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)

3. Open up the app and connect to a server in the UK

4. Visit BBC iPlayer

5. Live stream Eintracht Frankfurt vs. Borussia Dortmund for free from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan) $12.95 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but most do offer free-trials or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can watch Eintracht Frankfurt vs. Borussia Dortmund without committing with your cash. This isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to live stream select fixtures from the Bundesliga before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for BBC iPlayer?

ExpressVPN is the best choice for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport on BBC iPlayer, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries including the UK

• Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

• Fast connection speeds free from throttling

• Up to 10 simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

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. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.95 (with money-back guarantee).

Live stream Eintracht Frankfurt vs. Borussia Dortmund in the Bundesliga for free with ExpressVPN.

TL;DR: Live stream Mali vs. Senegal in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations for free on Channel 4. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

We've reached the quarter-final stage of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, with Mali vs. Senegal kicking things off in style. This is a particularly difficult fixture to predict. Both teams are stacked with talent and will be confident of progressing to the next round. The likes of Sadio Mané and Yves Bissouma will be key in this matchup.

If you want to watch Mali vs. Senegal in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Mali vs. Senegal?

Mali vs. Senegal in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations kicks off at 11 a.m. ET on Jan. 9. This fixture takes place at the Tangier Grand Stadium.

How to watch Mali vs. Senegal for free

Mali vs. Senegal in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations is available to live stream for free on Channel 4.

Channel 4 is geo-restricted to the UK, but anyone can access this free streaming platform with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in the UK, meaning you can unblock Channel 4 to stream AFCON for free from anywhere in the world.

Mashable Deals Be the first to know! Get editor selected deals texted right to your phone! Get editor selected deals texted right to your phone! Loading... Sign Me Up By signing up, you agree to receive recurring automated SMS marketing messages from Mashable Deals at the number provided. Msg and data rates may apply. Up to 2 messages/day. Reply STOP to opt out, HELP for help. Consent is not a condition of purchase. See our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. Thanks for signing up!

Live stream Mali vs. Senegal for free by following these simple steps:

1. Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)

2. Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)

3. Open up the app and connect to a server in the UK

4. Visit Channel 4

5. Watch Mali vs. Senegal for free from anywhere in the world

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

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but most do offer free-trials or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can access free live streams of AFCON without actually spending anything. This obviously isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to stream Mali vs. Senegal (plus more 2025 Africa Cup of Nations fixtures) before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for Channel 4?

ExpressVPN is the best choice for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport on Channel 4, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries including the UK

• Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

• Fast connection speeds free from throttling

• Up to 10 simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A two-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $78.18 and includes an extra four months for free — 78% off for a limited time. This plan includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.99 (with money-back guarantee).

Watch Mali vs. Senegal in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations for free with ExpressVPN.

Paramount+ has been in a fantastic groove for series that are great to binge over a weekend (or a few weekdays)—perfect if you want to be hooked quickly and just keep going.

We use Excel every day, but we rarely appreciate the sheer scale of its dominance. Excel isn't just a spreadsheet—it's a global phenomenon that has survived every major shift in tech history. Here's why this familiar, 40-year-old green icon still sits on our task bars today.

Sir Idris Elba may have been on Late Night to promote Season 2 of Apple TV show Hijack, but that didn't mean he was going to miss a key Premier League game.

The actor came out holding an iPad as he sat down opposite Seth Meyers, explaining that even though he was excited to be there, Arsenal were also 70 minutes into their crucial clash against Liverpool.

Meyers positioned the iPad on the desk so they could both watch, but soon the host was back to asking his pesky questions.

Elba's response? "Are you going to, um, talk the whole time?"

Spotify's ICE recruitment ads no longer run on the platform, following months of backlash and boycotts.

Confirmed to Variety and verified by Mashable, Spotify is not running any more advertisements encouraging Americans to sign up as deportation agents for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The news comes in the wake of the killing of 37-year-old Renee Nicole Good by an ICE agent in Minneapolis on Wednesday.

"There are currently no ICE ads running on Spotify," a Spotify spokesperson told Mashable. "The advertisements mentioned were part of a U.S. government recruitment campaign that ran across all major media and platforms."

"The campaign ended on most platforms and channels, including Spotify, at the end of last year."

SEE ALSO: Jimmy Kimmel ridicules Trump response to ICE shooting: 'How stupid do you think we are?'

Since Oct. 2025, many Spotify users have boycotted the app for hosting these ICE recruitment ads — as well as for CEO Daniel Ek's investment in military AI defense company Helsing.

Spotify has been one tech platform among many — Instagram, YouTube, Snapchat, Facebook — reportedly offered large financial incentives to run ICE ads, as part of the agency's $100 million marketing recruitment strategy. Variety's report notes that Spotify's ICE ads "were played between songs for users on the ad-supported free plan, offered $50,000 in signing bonuses."

UPDATE: Jan. 9, 2026, 3:58 p.m. Added statement from Spotify including clarification on the campaign ending last year.