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TL;DR: Online safety for the whole family is easy with this lifetime AdGuard Family Plan, now just $15.97 (reg. $169) with code FAMPLAN.

Opens in a new window Credit: AdGuard AdGuard Family Plan: Lifetime Subscription $15.97
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The internet isn’t just cluttered with ads; there are also trackers and other hidden threats. AdGuard keeps you safe online by blocking intrusive ads, stopping trackers, and safeguarding your privacy across all your devices.

Right now, you can grab lifetime protection for the whole crew with the AdGuard Family Plan. Cover up to nine devices for only $15.97 (reg. $169.99) with code FAMPLAN now through April 27.

Enjoy a safer and smoother browsing experience

The internet should be fun, not frustrating. AdGuard tackles the most annoying parts of online life, like pop-ups, autoplay videos, and banner ads, so that you can enjoy your time browsing, streaming, and scrolling again.

Aside from blocking ads, AdGuard also protects your privacy. Your information will stay safe from trackers and activity analyzers, and you'll be shielded from malware and phishing websites that you or your family members could fall victim to. 

Moms and dads will love AdGuard's parental control feature, which keeps your kids safe from inappropriate content online.

This Family Plan lets you protect up to nine devices with AdGuard, so you can make sure everyone's devices stay safe. And it works with Android and iOS operating systems alike, so it can be used on tablets, smartphones, and laptops. 

Secure your own AdGuard Family Plan for life for just $15.97 with code FAMPLAN. 

StackSocial prices subject to change.

TL;DR: Live stream England vs. Germany in the U21 Euro 2025 final for free on Channel 4. Access this free streaming site from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The final of U21 Euro 2025 is here, with England taking on Germany for the trophy. We're expecting a thrilling contest between two attack-minded sides.

If you want to watch England vs. Germany in U21 Euro 2025 for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is England U21 vs. Germany U21?

England vs. Germany in U21 Euro 2025 kicks off at 8 p.m. BST on June 28. This fixture takes place at Tehelné pole.

How to watch England U21 vs. Germany U21 for free

England vs. Germany in U21 Euro 2025 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 service 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 access free live streams on Channel 4 from anywhere in the world.

Lve stream England vs. Germany in U21 Euro 2025 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. Stream England vs. Germany in U21 Euro 2025 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 England vs. Germany in U21 Euro 2025 without actually spending anything. This clearly isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to stream U21 Euro 2025 before recovering your investment.

If you want to retain permanent access to free streaming sites from around the world, you'll need a subscription. Fortunately, the best VPN for streaming live sport is on sale for a limited time.

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 eight simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $99.95 and includes an extra three months for free — 49% 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).

Live stream England vs. Germany in the U21 Euro 2025 final for free with ExpressVPN.

TL;DR: Live stream Western Force vs. Lions for free on RugbyPass TV. Access this free live stream from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The 2025 British and Irish Lions started their campaign with a tough defeat to Argentina, but now the tour starts for real with the first of four fixtures against Australia's Super Rugby franchises.

Western Force are the first side to meet the Lions. If you want to watch Western Force vs. Lions for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Western Force vs. Lions?

Western Force vs. Lions starts at 11 a.m. BST on June 28. This fixture takes place at the Optus Stadium.

How to watch Western Force vs. Lions for free

Western Force vs. Lions is available to live stream for free on RugbyPass TV.

This free live stream is geo-restricted to the U.S., but anyone from around the world can gain access with a VPN. These tools can hide your digital location and connect you to a secure server in the U.S., meaning you can bypass geo-restrictions to live stream Western Force vs. Lions from anywhere in the world.

Live stream Western Force vs. Lions 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 U.S.

4. Visit RugbyPass TV

5. Stream Western Force vs. Lions 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 Western Force vs. Lions without actually spending anything. This clearly isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to stream this fixture before recovering your investment.

If you want to retain permanent access to free streaming sites from around the world, you'll need a subscription. Fortunately, the best VPN for streaming live sport is on sale for a limited time.

What is the best VPN for sport?

ExpressVPN is the best choice for streaming live sport on free platforms like RugbyPass TV, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries including the U.S.

• 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 eight simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $99.95 and includes an extra three months for free — 49% 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).

Live stream Western Force vs. Lions for free with ExpressVPN.

TL;DR: Live stream Benfica vs. Chelsea in the 2025 Club World Cup for free on DAZN. Access this free live stream from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The 2025 Club World Cup action continues with a number of really interesting knockout fixtures, including Benfica vs. Chelsea. The Portuguese side topped a group that included Bayern Munich, so they'll be coming into this game with a lot of confidence. Chelsea have failed to impress, but that's all forgotten about at this stage.

If you want to watch Benfica vs. Chelsea in the 2025 Club World Cup for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Benfica vs. Chelsea?

Benfica vs. Chelsea in the 2025 Club World Cup kicks off at 4 p.m. ET on June 28. This fixture takes place at the Bank of America Stadium.

How to watch Benfica vs. Chelsea for free

Benfica vs. Chelsea in the 2025 Club World Cup is available to live stream for free on DAZN.

The Club World Cup is free to stream all around the world, but if you're having problems accessing this streaming platform on your network, you can consider using a VPN. These tools can hide your digital location and connect you to a secure server in another location. This simple process bypasses geo-restrictions so that you can secure access to free live streams from anywhere in the world.

Unblock free live streams of the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup 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 a location with access to DAZN

4. Visit DAZN

5. Stream the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup 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 Benfica vs. Chelsea in the 2025 Club World Cup without actually spending anything. This clearly isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to stream the Club World Cup before recovering your investment.

If you want to retain permanent access to free streaming sites from around the world, you'll need a subscription. Fortunately, the best VPN for streaming live sport is on sale for a limited time.

What is the best VPN for DAZN?

ExpressVPN is the best choice for streaming live sport on DAZN, 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 secure

• Fast connection speeds free from throttling

• Up to eight simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $99.95 and includes an extra three months for free — 49% 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).

Live stream Benfica vs. Chelsea in the 2025 Club World Cup for free with ExpressVPN.

TL;DR: Live stream Doechii at Glastonbury 2025 for free on BBC iPlayer. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

Glastonbury Festival is all about the most exciting names in the music game, and that very much includes Doechii. The talented performer is making her UK festival debut, and you can watch without spending anything.

If you're interested in watching Doechii at Glastonbury 2025 for free from anywhere in the world, we've got all the information you need.

When is Glastonbury in 2025?

Glastonbury 2025 takes place on June 25-29. Doechii is performing on the West Holts Stage at Glastonbury on June 28. The set is scheduled to take place from 10:45 to 11:30 p.m. BST.

How to watch Doechii at Glastonbury 2025 for free

Doechii's set at Glastonbury 2025 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 tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in the UK, meaning you can access BBC iPlayer to live stream Glastonbury 2025 from anywhere in the world.

Live stream Glastonbury 2025 by following these simple steps:

1. Sign up for 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. Connect to BBC iPlayer

5. Watch Glastonbury 2025 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 are not free, but they do tend to offer money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can watch Glastonbury Festival without fully committing with your cash. This is obviously not a long-term solution, but it gives you plenty of time to live stream Doechii at Glastonbury 2025 before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for BBC iPlayer?

ExpressVPN is the top choice for streaming live content on free platforms like 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 always protected

• Fast streaming speeds without buffering

• Up to eight simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $99.95 and includes an extra three months for free — 49% off for a limited time. This plan also includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.95 (with money-back guarantee).

Live stream Glastonbury 2025 for free with ExpressVPN.

TL;DR: Live stream Charli XCX at Glastonbury 2025 for free on BBC iPlayer. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

Glastonbury obviously attracts massive names to perform over the weekend, but the biggest this year? You could make an argument that Charli XCX's performance on the Other Stage is the most exciting set on the schedule.

If you're interested in watching Charli XCX at Glastonbury 2025 for free from anywhere in the world, we've got all the information you need.

When is Glastonbury in 2025?

Glastonbury 2025 takes place on June 25-29. Charli XCX is performing on the Other Stage at Glastonbury on June 28. The set is scheduled to take place from 10:30 to 11:45 p.m. BST.

How to watch Charli XCX at Glastonbury 2025 for free

Charli XCX's set at Glastonbury 2025 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 tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in the UK, meaning you can access BBC iPlayer to live stream Glastonbury 2025 from anywhere in the world.

Live stream Glastonbury 2025 by following these simple steps:

1. Sign up for 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. Connect to BBC iPlayer

5. Watch Glastonbury 2025 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 are not free, but they do tend to offer money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can watch Glastonbury Festival without fully committing with your cash. This is obviously not a long-term solution, but it gives you plenty of time to live stream Charli XCX at Glastonbury 2025 before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for BBC iPlayer?

ExpressVPN is the top choice for streaming live content on free platforms like 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 always protected

• Fast streaming speeds without buffering

• Up to eight simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $99.95 and includes an extra three months for free — 49% off for a limited time. This plan also includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.95 (with money-back guarantee).

Live stream Glastonbury 2025 for free with ExpressVPN.

TL;DR: Live stream Palmeiras vs. Botafogo in the 2025 Club World Cup for free on DAZN. Access this free live stream from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The 2025 Club World Cup action continues with the knockout rounds. There are a number of really interesting fixtures to consider, including Palmeiras vs. Botafogo. This Brazilian matchup is one to watch closely, and you can do just that without spending anything.

If you want to watch Palmeiras vs. Botafogo in the 2025 Club World Cup for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Palmeiras vs. Botafogo?

Palmeiras vs. Botafogo in the 2025 Club World Cup kicks off at 12 p.m. ET on June 28. This fixture takes place at the Lincoln Financial Field.

How to watch Palmeiras vs. Botafogo for free

Palmeiras vs. Botafogo in the 2025 Club World Cup is available to live stream for free on DAZN.

The Club World Cup is free to stream all around the world, but if you're having problems accessing this streaming platform on your network, you can consider using a VPN. These tools can hide your digital location and connect you to a secure server in another location. This simple process bypasses geo-restrictions so that you can secure access to free live streams from anywhere in the world.

Unblock free live streams of the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup 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 a location with access to DAZN

4. Visit DAZN

5. Stream the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup 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 Palmeiras vs. Botafogo in the 2025 Club World Cup without actually spending anything. This clearly isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to stream the Club World Cup before recovering your investment.

If you want to retain permanent access to free streaming sites from around the world, you'll need a subscription. Fortunately, the best VPN for streaming live sport is on sale for a limited time.

What is the best VPN for DAZN?

ExpressVPN is the best choice for streaming live sport on DAZN, 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 secure

• Fast connection speeds free from throttling

• Up to eight simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $99.95 and includes an extra three months for free — 49% 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).

Live stream Palmeiras vs. Botafogo in the 2025 Club World Cup for free with ExpressVPN.

Have you noticed the moon looks a little brighter tonight than it has done in days? There's a reason for that. Keep reading to find out why the lunar cycle changes what we see each night.

The lunar cycle is a series of eight unique phases of the moon's visibility. The whole cycle takes about 29.5 days, according to NASA, and these different phases happen as the Sun lights up different parts of the moon whilst it orbits Earth. 

See what's happening with the moon tonight, June 28.

What is today’s moon phase?

As of Saturday, June 28, the moon phase is Waxing Crescent. Visibility has doubled since last night. Today, 12% of the moon will be lit up, so says NASA's Daily Moon Observation. If you're in the Northern Hemisphere, you'll see the far right side of the moon lit up; if you're in the Southern Hemisphere, it'll be the far left.

It's also the third moon in the lunar cycle. But unfortunately, there's still not enough light on the moon's surface to see any craters or other interesting geological features.

When is the next full moon?

June's full moon was on June 11; this was a Strawberry Moon. The next full moon will be on July 10. 

What are moon phases?

Moon phases are part of a 29.5-day lunar cycle, NASA tells us, caused by the angles between the sun, moon, and Earth. Moon phases are how the moon looks from Earth as it goes around us. We always see the same side of the moon, but how much of it is lit up by the Sun changes depending on where it is in its orbit. This is how we get full moons, half moons, and moons that appear completely invisible. There are eight main moon phases, and they follow a repeating cycle:

New Moon - The moon is between Earth and the sun, so the side we see is dark (in other words, it's invisible to the eye).

Waxing Crescent - A small sliver of light appears on the right side (Northern Hemisphere).

First Quarter - Half of the moon is lit on the right side. It looks like a half-moon.

Waxing Gibbous - More than half is lit up, but it’s not quite full yet.

Full Moon - The whole face of the moon is illuminated and fully visible.

Waning Gibbous - The moon starts losing light on the right side.

Last Quarter (or Third Quarter) - Another half-moon, but now the left side is lit.

Waning Crescent - A thin sliver of light remains on the left side before going dark again.

If you like playing daily word games like Wordle, then Hurdle is a great game to add to your routine.

There are five rounds to the game. The first round sees you trying to guess the word, with correct, misplaced, and incorrect letters shown in each guess. If you guess the correct answer, it'll take you to the next hurdle, providing the answer to the last hurdle as your first guess. This can give you several clues or none, depending on the words. For the final hurdle, every correct answer from previous hurdles is shown, with correct and misplaced letters clearly shown.

An important note is that the number of times a letter is highlighted from previous guesses does necessarily indicate the number of times that letter appears in the final hurdle.

If you find yourself stuck at any step of today's Hurdle, don't worry! We have you covered.

SEE ALSO: Hurdle: Everything you need to know to find the answers Hurdle Word 1 hint

Transported in group.

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

BUSED

Hurdle Word 2 hint

A slide.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for June 28, 2025 Hurdle Word 2 Answer

CHUTE

Hurdle Word 3 hint

A repeated shout.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for June 28 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for June 28, 2025 Hurdle Word 3 answer

CHANT

Hurdle Word 4 hint

A performance.

SEE ALSO: NYT Strands hints, answers for June 28 Hurdle Word 4 answer

DOING

Final Hurdle hint

An assembly.

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

RALLY

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

Virtual private networks, or VPNs, are commonly used to dodge regional restrictions on streaming services. Say you live in the U.S. and want to watch a new episode of Love Island before it hits Hulu. If you connect to a VPN server in the UK, where the free streaming platform ITVX has distribution rights for the show, you'll get a new British IP address that lets you skirt the geolock. (Suddenly you're the hot new bombshell entering the villa, so to speak.)

Sounds simple, right? It can be, if you have a VPN that's up to the task. Streaming services don't take kindly to VPNs because they let people evade their content licensing restrictions, and many of them have gotten really good at detecting VPN usage. Some VPN services can't bypass their blocking methods.

SEE ALSO: The best VPNs for 2025: Tested for performance, trustworthiness, and more

As Mashable's resident VPN expert, I also think it's important to recognize that accessing international streaming services is actually a secondary use case for VPNs. The main purpose of having a VPN is to add an extra layer of privacy to your internet connection so your ISP, advertisers, and other prying eyes can't see everything you're doing online. A VPN gets exclusive access to your traffic when you're connected to it, so it needs to abide by strict privacy practices and maintain a clean track record. If a VPN is good at unblocking international shows but shoddy in the way it handles your data, that's not a good deal.

With that in mind, the only VPN I recommend for streaming is also the only one I consider exceptionally trustworthy, reliable, and good for streaming. That's Proton VPN.

Opens in a new window Credit: Proton Proton VPN Starting at $4.99/month Shop Now Why Proton VPN?

I should preface this by clarifying that this isn't sponsored content — it's the result of Mashable's ultra-picky VPN testing process, which we've refined over the years based on extensive research and interviews with cybersecurity experts. It mainly revolves around specific privacy indicators, but we also check to see if VPNs can unblock streaming services because, frankly, it matters to a lot of people (including Mashable readers).

Out of all the premium VPN services I've tried, Proton VPN is my top pick for streaming because it ticks the right boxes in the right order. It's good at the main thing a VPN should be good at doing, which is keeping its users safe without a shred of a doubt: It has a no-logs policy that's regularly verified by third-party audits, open sources its apps, issues a transparency report about any legal requests it gets, and offers advanced features like doubly encrypted multi-hop servers. It also just so happens to be good at getting around streaming services' georestrictions, which I think of as a nice added bonus.

Proton VPN has apps for nearly a dozen platforms. Credit: Proton

Proton VPN posits itself as a streaming-friendly service, publishing access guides for nearly 100 streaming services worldwide. In practice, it successfully got me watching Love Island on ITVX from my home in Chicago via one of its London servers. I like that it displays a load percentage indicator for every server so users can see how busy they are at any given time. The more people on a given server, the slower it'll be. Being able to identify uncrowded servers means you won't have to deal with frequent connection slowdowns, which is important when you're trying to load videos.

Proton VPN now has more than 13,600 servers in over 120 countries as of June 2025, which is the biggest and most geographically diverse VPN server network I've encountered. You should never have trouble finding a speedy server in a country where your favorite shows and movies are available. (In testing, my connection speed took a mere 13% hit when I used a British Proton VPN server. That's pretty great, considering my traffic had to travel across an entire ocean.)

SEE ALSO: Proton VPN review: Premium, proven privacy and a free tier with no data limits

Proton VPN also has streaming appeal because it offers a custom Stealth protocol that's specifically designed to get around VPN blocking methods. It was purpose-built for users in counties where authoritarian governments impede VPN usage, and it should make your connection undetectable to streaming services, too.

Proton VPN supports up to 10 simultaneous connections and has apps for myriad platforms (including Android TV, Apple TV, and Firestick), so you can tune in from your smartphone, computer, or TV.

The catch here is that you have to pay for a Proton VPN subscription if you want city-level access to its entire server network, zero speed restrictions, live chat support, and the ability to use it on more than one device. (In other words, its free tier won't cut it.) If it helps, I think its Plus plan is very fairly priced for all that it offers. Read my full Proton VPN review for more info.

Disclaimer: Proton VPN doesn't condone violating copyright regulations, and neither does Mashable.

Opens in a new window Credit: Proton Proton VPN Starting at $4.99/month Shop Now

I think I speak for everyone when I say that streaming prices are getting out of hand. Every year, the monthly fees go up, as does the number of services you need to watch the shows and movies you love.

Fortunately, a good chunk of these streamers will let you test the water before diving in and paying full price for their service. These trials give you the opportunity to sample the streaming library to decide whether it's right for you — or even binge-watch a whole season of a show for free. And watching something for free is a special type of dopamine hit.

While Netflix and HBO Max don't offer free trials, plenty of other major streaming services (as well as smaller, lesser known services) let you try before you buy. Here's a list of all of the streaming services that offer free trials in 2025, including our top picks.

Best free trial: Hulu Opens in a new window Credit: Hulu Hulu (30-Day Trial) Get Deal Why we like it

One of the oldest streaming services around, Hulu still remains a top dog. It's home to Mashable's favorite show of 2024, Shōgun, as well as one of our favorite shows of 2025 (so far), Dying for Sex. Besides its own original content, Hulu is also the streaming home of FX, where you'll find episodes of ABC shows the day after they air, and the place to watch 20th Century Studios, Neon, and Searchlight Pictures films straight from the theater.

It was one of the most affordable streamers at just $7.99 per month, but it underwent a price hike last summer, putting it on par with many other streamers at $9.99 per month (with ads). Where Hulu truly stands out amongst the crowd, however, is its extremely generous free trial. If you've never subscribed to Hulu before, you can try it out for an entire month before having to pay anything.

Runner-up: Prime Video Opens in a new window Credit: Prime Video Prime Video (30-Day Trial) Get Deal Why we like it

Prime Video can sometimes be an after thought, as it's just one perk of an Amazon Prime membership. However, the streaming service is actually home to plenty of excellent shows — like one of our favorite shows of 2025, Overcompensating, and two of our favorites from 2024, Mr. and Mrs. Smith and Fallout — as well as hit movies like Challengers, Conclave, Blink Twice, and My Old Ass.

It's $14.99 per month if you choose to subscribe to Prime or just $8.99 per month for Prime Video on its own. Either way, you'll get a free 30-day trial to kick things off. And the best part is that it's not just for newbies; returning Prime members are eligible for free trials as well.

Every streaming service that offers a free trial in 2025Acorn TV

• Trial length: 7 days

• Price: $8.99 per month

AMC+

• Trial length: 7 days

• Price: starting at $6.99 per month

Apple TV+

• Trial length: 7 days

• Price: $9.99 per month

BET+

• Trial length: 7 days

• Price: starting at $5.99 per month

Britbox

• Trial length: 7 days

• Price: $8.99 per month

Cinemax

The Cinemax trial is only available via Prime Video as an add-on.

• Trial length: 7 days

• Price: $9.99 per month

Criterion Channel

• Trial length: 7 days

• Price: $10.99 per month

Crunchyroll

• Trial length: 7 days

• Price: starting at $7.99 per month

Discovery+

• Trial length: 7 days

• Price: starting at $5.99 per month

DirecTV Stream

• Trial length: 5 days

• Price: starting at $84.99 per month

Disney+

Though Disney+ does not offer a free trial on its own, it’s included in Hulu + Live TV. So, you can try it for free with that free trial.

• Trial length: 3 days through Hulu + Live TV

• Price: $82.99 per month for Hulu + Live TV; $9.99 per month for Disney+

ESPN+

Though ESPN+ does not offer a free trial on its own, it’s included in Hulu + Live TV. So, you can try it for free with that free trial.

• Trial length: 3 days through Hulu + Live TV

• Price: $82.99 per month for Hulu + Live TV; $11.99 per month for ESPN+

Fubo TV

• Trial length: 7 days

• Price: $84.99 per month

Hallmark+

• Trial length: 7 days

• Price: $7.99 per month

Hulu

• Trial length: 30 days

• Price: starting at $9.99 per month

Hulu + Live TV

• Trial length: 3 days

• Price: $82.99 per month

MGM+

• Trial length: 7 days

• Price: $6.99 per month

MLB.TV

• Trial length: 7 days

• Price: starting at $29.99 per month

Mubi

• Trial length: 7 days

• Price: $14.99 per month

NBA League Pass

• Trial length: 7 days

• Price: starting at $16.99 per month

Paramount+

• Trial length: 7 days

• Price: starting at $7.99 per month

Peacock

Though Peacock no longer offers a free trial directly, a free trial of Instacart+ will unlock two free weeks of streaming.

• Trial length: 14 days through Instacart+

• Price: $99 per year for Instacart+; starting at $7.99 per month for Peacock

Philo

• Trial length: 7 days

• Price: $28 per month

Prime Video

• Trial length: 30 days

• Price: $14.99 per month for Amazon Prime; $8.99 per month for Prime Video only

Screambox

The Screambox trial is only available through Prime Video as an add-on.

• Trial length: 7 days

• Price: $4.99 per month

Shudder

• Trial length: 7 days

• Price: $8.99 per month

Starz

• Trial length: 7 days

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Sundance Now

• Trial length: 7 days

• Price: $6.99 per month

YouTube TV

• Trial length: 5 or 10 days

• Price: $82.99 per month

This content originally appeared on Mashable for a US audience and has been adapted for the UK audience.

Smartphones are dirty. You've probably heard the toilet seat comparisons: The average phone is anywhere from seven to 10 times dirtier than most loos, depending on who you ask, and one in six is supposedly contaminated with fecal matter. If you're checking your phone as often as most people — that is, about once every 10 minutes — that's a lot of exposure to a lot of muck and bacteria.

Brands such as Apple recommend swabbing your phone with a soft, lint-free cloth, a hint of warm, soapy water, and a dab of rubbing alcohol. But as with cleaning any electronic device, this requires a careful hand: Any excess moisture can do damage if it gets into a port or crack. You also risk stripping the screen's protective coating, which makes it more prone to smudges and fingerprints.

Consider, too, that you really have no way of telling whether you missed a spot when you give your phone a quick wipe-down — those germs could still be chilling there while you text, talk, and watch TikTok. There's got to be a better way, right? That's the general idea behind ultraviolet (UV) phone sanitisers.

What is a UV phone sanitiser?

Sanitising devices that use UV light to kill pathogens and superbugs have been around in the medical field for decades now, but consumer-friendly adaptations are a more recent development and gained significant popularity amid COVID-19.

A UV phone sanitiser is essentially just a small plastic or metal box containing a couple of UV bulbs or lamps, which shine onto your device during the disinfection cycle. Aside from avoiding moisture, fumes, and residue, the most obvious draw is the sheer convenience factor: You just pop your phone into the sanitiser's chamber, close its lid, and let it do its thing for about five to 10 minutes. For best results, make sure you take your device out of its case before sanitising it — you can run that through separately.

How does UV light kill germs?

UV light is a form of electromagnetic radiation you usually encounter in the form of sunlight, though it can also be recreated using artificial light sources. There are three different types of UV rays:

• UV-A rays have the longest wavelengths. You'll find these in tanning beds, bug zappers, and in the blacklights of your local club.

• UV-B rays have slightly shorter wavelengths. These can help skin produce Vitamin D3 (but may also cause sunburn) and are mostly used in tanning beds alongside UV-A radiation.

• UV-C rays have the shortest wavelengths. These are typically used for disinfection purposes, as they can damage microbes' DNA. This either kills them outright or prevents them from functioning and reproducing.

Note: All mentions of UV light hereafter refer to UV-C rays specifically.

Is UV light dangerous?

UV light is more dangerous to a microbe than human beings, but the U.S. Food and Drug Administration recommends exercising caution around it: "Direct exposure of skin and eyes to UV-C radiation from some UVC lamps may cause painful eye injury and burn-like skin reactions. Never look directly at a UVC lamp source, even briefly."

The FDA also notes that UV light can degrade plastic and polymers, but fear not: You'd need hours of continuous exposure to do any notable damage to your phone.

Do UV phone sanitisers really work?

PCMag has already tackled this topic in a thorough explainer, which you can read here. (Full disclosure: PCMag is owned by Mashable's publisher, Ziff Davis.) We won't rehash the whole thing, but the gist of it is this: Kind of.

While UV light itself is really good at eliminating and stopping the spread of certain bacteria (including E. coli and Salmonella), the kinds of UV sanitisers being sold to the public are pretty dinky compared to the ones used in hospitals. And while most manufacturers say their phone sanitisers are 99.99% effective against common germs, very few back up their claims with third-party lab testing.

We already know that hand-washing, wearing masks, social distancing, and getting vaccinated are quite good at keeping us germ-free — and those methods are all free or extremely cheap. All things considered, UV sanitation should be a second line of defence against viruses and bacteria.

What is the best UV phone sanitiser?

We have searched high and low for the best UV sanitisers for your phone. We've tried to find something for every budget, and it's worth checking out everything in this list before making any sort of decision.

These are the best UV phone sanitisers in 2025.

TL;DR: Watch U21 Euro 2025 for free on Channel 4. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The European Under-21 Championship showcases some of the best young players from the continent, and fans can live stream every game without spending anything.

If you're interested in watching U21 Euro 2025 for free from anywhere in the world, we've got all the information you need.

What is U21 Euro 2025?

The European Under-21 Championship is a biennial football competition contested by men's under-21 national teams of the UEFA member associations. The tournament is comprised of 16 European men's under-21 national teams, with a group stage followed by knockout fixtures.

England are the defending champions.

When is U21 Euro 2025?

The 2025 UEFA European Under-21 Championship is the 25th edition of the competition. This year's tournament takes place from June 11-28 and is hosted by Slovakia.

How to watch U21 Euro 2025 for free

U21 Euro 2025 is available to live stream for free on Channel 4. Games will be shown on Channel 4, 4seven, and Channel 4 Sport YouTube.

Channel 4 content is geo-restricted to the UK, but anyone can access these free live streams 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 live stream all the action from U21 Euro 2025 for free from anywhere in the world.

Live stream U21 Euro 2025 for free by following these simple steps:

1. Sign up for 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. Connect to Channel 4

5. Live stream U21 Euro 2025 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 they do tend to offer pretty generous money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can watch U21 Euro 2025 without committing with your cash. This is obviously not a long-term strategy, but it gives you enough time to stream every U21 Euro 2025 fixture before recovering your investment.

If you want to retain permanent access to free streaming platforms from around the world, you'll need a subscription. Fortunately, the best VPN for streaming live sport is on sale for a limited time.

What is the best VPN for Channel 4?

ExpressVPN is the best choice for streaming live sport on free platforms like 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

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

Live stream U21 Euro 2025 for free from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

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.

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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.

SEE ALSO: NYT's The Mini crossword answers for June 28 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: Thrown at the park

• Green: A whole lot

• Blue: Given when breaking road rules

• Purple: Created useful objects

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: Things a dog can fetch

• Green: Great many

• Blue: Possible results of a traffic violation

• Purple: Industrial Revolution inventors

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 #748 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• Things a dog can fetch: BALL, BONE, FRISBEE, STICK

• Great many: DROVE, HOST, LOAD, SCORE

• Possible results of a traffic violation: BOOT, POINTS, TICKET, TOW

• Industrial Revolution inventors: BELL, DIESEL, SINGER, WATT

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 June 28

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.

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

Strands requires the player to perform a twist on the classic word search. Words can be made from linked letters — up, down, left, right, or diagonal, but words can also change direction, resulting in quirky shapes and patterns. Every single letter in the grid will be part of an answer. There's always a theme linking every solution, along with the "spangram," a special, word or phrase that sums up that day's theme, and spans the entire grid horizontally or vertically.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable

By providing an opaque hint and not providing the word list, Strands creates a brain-teasing game that takes a little longer to play than its other games, like Wordle and Connections.

If you're feeling stuck or just don't have 10 or more minutes to figure out today's puzzle, we've got all the NYT Strands hints for today's puzzle you need to progress at your preferrined pace.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for June 28 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for June 28 NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: ... not included

The words are power-related.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

These words are things powered by batteries.

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 Batteries Required

Featured Video For You Strands 101: How to win NYT’s latest word game NYT Strands word list for June 28

• Batteries Required

• Camera

• Toys

• Clock

• Flashlight

• Remote

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.

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

If you just want to be told today's word, you can jump to the bottom of this article for today's Wordle solution revealed. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable SEE ALSO: NYT Connections today: Hints and answers for June 28 Where did Wordle come from?

Originally created by engineer Josh Wardle as a gift for his partner, Wordle rapidly spread to become an international phenomenon, with thousands of people around the globe playing every day. Alternate Wordle versions created by fans also sprang up, including battle royale Squabble, music identification game Heardle, and variations like Dordle and Quordle that make you guess multiple words at once. 

Wordle eventually became so popular that it was purchased by the New York Times, and TikTok creators even livestream themselves playing.

What's the best Wordle starting word?

The best Wordle starting word is the one that speaks to you. But if you prefer to be strategic in your approach, we have a few ideas to help you pick a word that might help you find the solution faster. One tip is to select a word that includes at least two different vowels, plus some common consonants like S, T, R, or N.

What happened to the Wordle archive?

The entire archive of past Wordle puzzles was originally available for anyone to enjoy whenever they felt like it, but it was later taken down, with the website's creator stating it was done at the request of the New York Times. However, the New York Times then rolled out its own Wordle Archive, available only to NYT Games subscribers.

Is Wordle getting harder?

It might feel like Wordle is getting harder, but it actually isn't any more difficult than when it first began. You can turn on Wordle's Hard Mode if you're after more of a challenge, though.

SEE ALSO: NYT's The Mini crossword answers for June 28, 2025 Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

A piece of a tree trunk.

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 S.

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...

STUMP.

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 June 28

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.

Belkin Switch 2 cases Best charging case Belkin Nintendo Switch 2 Charging Case $69.99 at Amazon Shop Now Best Travel Case Belkin Travel Case for Nintendo Switch 2 $29.99 at Amazon Shop Now

A few weeks ago, I finally got my hands on a Nintendo Switch 2. I absolutely love it so far, but up until now, I hadn't been able to use one of its key features: The ability to take the handheld anywhere.

Of course, that's not entirely true. I technically could've taken the console on the go with me for the whole time I've had it, but I personally couldn't. In other words, there's no way in hell that my paranoid self was going to bring my new Nintendo Switch out into the world without a carrying case. (In my opinion, every Switch should come with a case, but making us buy everything separately is on-brand for Nintendo.)

The days of my Nintendo Switch 2 being a homebody are over, though, because Belkin's new charging case is just the thing I needed to feel comfortable traveling with my precious console. I never know what to expect when it comes to third-party accessories — they can be hit or miss — but this one is a home run.

First off, the case itself looks great. The durable, hardshell exterior is sleek and not overcrowded with graphics and branding, which I tend to like a lot more than a maximalist approach. It comes in three different color options — I got the one in sand, but I think the charcoal and pistachio green variants are really cool, too. The real star of the show is inside the case, though.

Once you open it up, you'll find an integrated rechargeable power bank nested in the center, secured by a small velcro strap. The Switch console fits over it perfectly and doesn't scratch against anything when placed in the case. When you're in need of some extra juice, you can thread the included USB-C cord out from under the handheld and start charging either while you play or while it's sitting in the case. It's super convenient, and being able to safely charge my Switch while I'm out and about means I get to spend more time actually using the console and less time waiting for it to fuel up. The battery even has a small LCD display that tells you exactly how much power it has left, which has already saved me from accidentally leaving my apartment with a dead power bank.

The little strap that holds the battery in is a nice touch. Credit: Dylan Haas / Mashable I can't wait to fill out these card slots with new games. Credit: Dylan Haas / Mashable SEE ALSO: I spent $10 on 'Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour' and got way more than I was expecting

The case also has a nice amount of extra storage, including a mesh pocket that can hold cords, accessories, and more. I personally use mine to store the battery cord, a charging block for when I need to plug the power bank in, and my Joy-Con covers that are meant to be used for the Switch's mouse mode. There's also an extra flap in front of the pocket that can hold up to 12 Nintendo Switch game cards. While the only games I have at the moment are digital copies, I'm excited to start filling up those card slots with new titles soon.

A perfect fit. Credit: Dylan Haas / Mashable

It's not like Belkin's case is totally revolutionary — we've seen charging cases before — but it is well-made, convenient, and the best one you're going to find at the start of the Switch 2 era.

Belkin Nintendo Switch 2 Charging Case $69.99 at Amazon
Shop Now

UPDATE: Jun. 27, 2025, 2:13 p.m. EDT This article was originally published in March 2023. It has been updated in January 2025 and again in June, in light of SCOTUS's age verification ruling. It includes original interviews from 2023 as well as updated law information.

Free speech online has been attacked in recent years, from the (delayed) TikTok ban to the death of net neutrality. Given President-elect Donald Trump's second term on the horizon and the proposals of Project 2025 (a conservative wishlist for said term) a real possibility, U.S. lawmakers will likely continue to target access to the free and open internet. One such example is the growing trend of age-verification bills, which mandate individuals to provide proof of age in order to access adult content, or in some cases, even to browse social media platforms. Experts warn that these bills pose serious threats to digital privacy and free speech.

What are age-verification bills?

In 2022, Louisiana passed Act 440, which requires visitors to sites with over 33.33 percent of adult content to use a commercial age-verification system (AVS) to prove they're over 18, such as with a government-issued ID. The law went into effect on Jan. 1, 2023.

Following this, a wave of similar bills emerged across the country. As of publication in early 2025, age-verification laws have been enacted in Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Idaho, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisana, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, and Virginia. Georgia's version, SB 351, will take effect July 1, 2025. The Free Speech Coalition, a porn industry lobby group, has been tracking these bills through a comprehensive database.

On Jan. 15, the Supreme Court heard Free Speech Coalition v. Paxton, a case about Texas's age-verification law. Then on June 27, SCOTUS decided to uphold the law, clearing the way for such laws throughout the country.

In the UK, similar legislation will go forward in late July. France also instated age-verification in June 2025, only for its law to be suspended weeks later until it's ruled legal under EU law.

Project 2025 and age-verification bills

Project 2025 calls for an outright porn ban and for porn creators to be imprisoned. One of the authors of Project 2025, Russell Vought (who Trump asked to return as the head of the Office of Management and Budget), was caught on a secret recording stating that age-verification bills are a "back door" way to do just that.

"We came up with an idea on pornography to make it so that the porn companies bear the liability for the underage use," Vought told two men undercover as potential donors for his conservative think-tank Center for Renewing America, as reported by The Intercept, "as opposed to the person who visits the website getting to just certify" their age.

"We've got a number of states that are passing this," Vought also said, "and you know what happens is the porn company then says, 'We’re not going to do business in your state.' Which of course is entirely what we were after, right?"

What Vought is referring to is companies like Pornhub blocking states with age-verification laws. As of January 2025, Pornhub is blocked in 17 U.S. states.

The downsides to "porn passport" laws

While these bills may initially seem sound — no one wants children to access adult content — they are steeped in political implications, as stated above. Even beyond that, the experts say that they won't work for their (so-called) intended purpose and will cause a host of problems.

In terms of the former, these statutes are difficult to enforce and easy to get around. For one, there are going to be websites based in other countries that won't comply with these regulations, said Mike Stabile, director of public affairs at the Free Speech Coalition. "My greatest fear when I looked at [these bills] was that this is…going to push kids to more and more dangerous sites," he said.

For another, software like VPNs (virtual privacy networks) are built to make it seem like the user is somewhere they're not. Days after the Louisiana law went into effect, a Redditor asked if they can use a VPN to get around it. "Yep," the top comment read. "So easy a five year old can do it."

Beyond enforceability, experts say they cause a tremendous privacy risk.

"The immediate concerns are that there is no foolproof age-verification system that is not intrusive, comprehensive, effective, and can be introduced quickly," said Jason Kelley, associate director of digital strategy at the Electronic Frontier Foundation, a nonprofit focused on defending digital rights. Since there aren't systems in place to implement these regulations, tech companies will scramble to respond to these laws. They may do the right thing or the wrong thing unintentionally, like setting up an AVS that's insecure because they don't know how AVS works, or they may do the wrong thing intentionally to gather people's data. 

"You create this whole ecosystem, where people's individual behaviors — the websites that they visit — can be tracked and connected to their identity," Kelley continued. "We're essentially creating this immediate requirement for people to share their private information alongside their pornography preference with companies that don't necessarily have a system in place to protect that data."

SEE ALSO: Stripperweb empowered strippers. Where will they go now?

A longer-term concern is that there will be a domino effect, which is already happening with the copycat bills. If they were all to pass, Kelley said we'd have an extremely complicated system where different states accept different forms of verification. This could lead to these websites requiring verification from everyone regardless of state to ensure they comply. 

"The end result is that we won't have access that's anonymous to much of the web," Kelley said of these flurry of age-verification bills, "which is important for free speech" and other things, like privacy protection. If all these bills went into effect, many people wouldn't be able to access the internet at all without an ID. As it is, there's a "digital divide" where millions of Americans don't have an adequate internet connection at home; verification would only exacerbate this issue of access. While those who do have IDs could get through these barriers, they would need to give up anonymity to do so.

If all these bills went into effect, many people wouldn't be able to access the internet at all without an ID, and those who could access would need to provide documentation.

That's not the only potential issue. As former senior security analyst Max Eddy at PCMag (which is owned by Ziff Davis, Mashable's parent company) warned, identity theft could increase in the wake of these laws. It's already happening: "We've already heard reports of phishing going on in Louisiana, where people are impersonating adult sites, and getting people to upload their ID and then selling those IDs…for Bitcoin," Stabile said. "We expect that…identity theft is going to skyrocket." 

Users aren't the only people impacted by these laws; adult creators are, too. 

Online sex workers are already pushed offline due to bills FOSTA-SESTA, an amendment to Section 230 meant to stop sex trafficking, but has resulted in the removal (or shadowbanning) of sex workers and remotely sexy content from major social platforms like Facebook and Instagram. (Only a single trafficker has been prosecuted under FOSTA-SESTA in its first five years.) Should age-verification bills progress, the problem will inevitably worsen.

"It's just going to censor us," said adult performer and advocate Alana Evans. "How is it going to affect a platform like Twitter?" Currently, Twitter does allow adult content, and Evans sees it as the only platform that has a safe space for performers — but that status hangs in the balance. "If Twitter decides that we can't advertise my cam links anymore" or similar links, she said, "it would kill my business. It would kill my income."

How to protect children from adult content

"I worked my butt off to keep my kids away from that material," said Evans, who's a parent. "The most important thing is actually being aware of what your kids are doing in the first place." This includes checking their devices and having open conversations about sex and porn. She's had talks with her son, who's now an adult, where she explained that porn isn't real but rather a "theatrical version" of sex. 

"I don't think parents should be afraid of having that conversation," Evans said. One reason teens look at porn is simply because they're curious. "If you're having a conversation with them," she continued, "the curiosity is taken away."

Like Evans, Stabile also calls on parents to be involved with their kids' internet browsing and to have those conversations. There's lots of content beyond porn that's not appropriate for kids — portrayals of violence, for example — and it may be impossible to protect kids from seeing any of it, but you can talk to them about it. 

Beyond conversations, Stabile recommends device-level filters that block all websites that are registered RTA, or "Restricted to Adults." "It signals to filters, whether it's your Apple filter or Net Nanny or something like that, that this site should be blocked," he explained. It doesn't matter if a child tries a VPN or some other workaround — the site will be blocked on that device. 

The idea behind these bills "is not wrong," said Evans — no one, especially those in the adult industry, wants children watching their content. These bills, however, create risks and can cascade into an online privacy and censorship nightmare that hurts sex workers and other internet users. 

"If even a few of them [age-verification bills] pass in different contexts, it will be dangerous for everyone in the United States who goes online," Kelley warned, "because we will not be able to access things privately."

UPDATE: Jun. 27, 2025, 4:51 p.m. EDT This article has been updated with information about the latest age verification laws and a recent Supreme Court ruling.

Today, the Supreme Court has decided to upload Texas's age-verification law for porn sites. The decision is 6-3, with Justices Kagan, Sotomayor, and Jackson dissenting.

Around a third of states in the U.S. have enacted such laws. They typically require sites with more than a third of explicit content to require viewers to submit some verification of age, such as a facial recognition scan or a government ID. In January, SCOTUS heard a case about the constitutionality of Texas's law in particular, Free Speech Coalition v. Paxton.

What did SCOTUS rule on age verification?

SCOTUS had to decide what standard to use to review the law: strict scrutiny (the most rigorous review) or rational basis (which is less strict).

SEE ALSO: Thinking about a kid-friendly smartphone? Here are your options.

But the majority of justices decided that the Texas law is subject to intermediate scrutiny, which is in the middle. The opinion, delivered by Justice Clarence Thomas, states that the law "has only an incidental effect on protected speech, and is therefore subject to intermediate scrutiny."

The opinion goes on to state, "[A]dults have no First Amendment right to avoid age verification. Any burden on adults is therefore incidental to regulating activity not protected by the First Amendment. This makes intermediate scrutiny the appropriate standard under the Court's precedents."

Writing the dissent, Justice Elena Kagan argues the opposite. "Texas's law defines speech by content and tells people entitled to view that speech that they must incur a cost to do so. That is, under our First Amendment law, a direct (not incidental) regulation of speech based on its content — which demands strict scrutiny."

Reactions to the SCOTUS age-verfication ruling

"My mind went to the nightmare of actually enforcing this law," said Ricci Levy, president and CEO of the sexual freedom nonprofit Woodhull Freedom Foundation. Levy asked who would determine which sites fall under this law — and suspected sites will err on the side of enacting age-verification rather than risk violating it.

Legal counsel for Woodhull, Lawrence G. Walters, asked, "How do you possibly determine whether a platform like Reddit has 33.3 percent material that is potentially obscene as to minors?" That itself, he said, is a difficult determination, "and the default will likely be additional censorship."

Adult industry attorney Corey D. Silverstein told Mashable that he agrees with the dissenting justices, and that based on past First Amendment cases, strict scrutiny should apply. 2004's Ashcroft v. ACLU, also about whether an act to prevent children from accessing online porn violated the First Amendment, is one such case. (In Ashcroft, the court ruled that it did.)

Silverstein said that if a law impedes a person's free speech rights, it is supposed to use the least restrictive means to achieve a compelling interest. That's what strict scrutiny is, he said.

"I don't understand how they got outside of strict scrutiny," he said. The intermediate scrutiny standard is rare, he continued, but it was also used to uphold the TikTok ban earlier this year. (President Trump has since delayed the TikTok ban more than once.)

Walters told Mashable the same. The majority opinion tries to justify the ruling by claiming the internet has changed and more people, including children, have ready access.

"But this law is a content-based restriction on speech. It burdens adult access to speech, and that falls — or has fallen — squarely in the category that requires strict scrutiny," he said.

Now, this ruling opens the door for the government to be able to create other burdens on adults attempting to access various types of speech, Walters said.

The outward reason for these laws is to protect children. As Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton (the Paxton in Paxton) posted on X, "This is a major victory for children, parents, and the ability of states to protect minors from the damaging effects of online pornography."

"Companies have no right to expose children to pornography and must institute reasonable age verification measures. I will continue to enforce the law against any organization that refuses to take the necessary steps to protect minors from explicit materials," he continued.

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"They can sit here and people are blue in the face that this is about protecting children," Silverstein told Mashable, "but I'm not buying what they're selling."

"If that were, in fact, the case...when they [wrote] these statutes, they would have found a way to make it far less burdensome," he explained. (Also, in an early study out of NYU, results suggested that age verification doesn't work because minors can use VPNs to circumvent the age checks, or go on sites that aren't complying with the laws.)

Walters pointed to a brief filed by the International Centre for Missing & Exploited Children (ICMEC) last year, in opposition to the Texas law. Among other arguments, ICMEC stated that the law could harm children because it makes them more vulnerable to exploitation on foreign-held sites that aren't subject to the law, and that children can just use a VPN to access explicit material.

Silverstein, like other critics of age verification Mashable spoke to, is in favor of device-level filters instead.

Age verification, free speech, and Project 2025

Since before the 2024 election, free speech advocates and those in the adult industry feared what would happen if Project 2025 (the conservative policy blueprint for President Trump's second term) was set into motion. Project 2025 calls for an outright ban on pornography and the imprisonment of its creators. In January, Oklahoma Senator Dusty Deevers introduced a bill to do just that. Last month, Republicans introduced another bill that would effectively ban porn.

One of Project 2025's writers, Russell Vought (who now leads the Office of Management and Budget) was caught on secret recording last year calling age verification a "back door" to banning porn.

Today's decision will change the adult entertainment industry, Silverstein said. "Age verification in the United States is not going anywhere, and so that's going to be the new norm," he said, "and there are many people that will now not have the ability to view content that is constitutionally protected" if they don't want to submit their ID or other identifying information to a third-party.

The decision extends beyond explicit content, as well. Both Silverstein and Aaron Mackey, the Electronic Frontier Foundation's free speech and transparency litigation director, called SCOTUS's decision a blow to free speech rights. It will also, Mackey said, endanger people's online privacy.

"Today's decision in Free Speech Coalition v. Paxton is a direct blow to the free speech rights of adults," Mackey wrote in a statement emailed to Mashable. "This ruling allows states to enact onerous age-verification rules that will block adults from accessing lawful speech, curtail their ability to be anonymous, and jeopardize their data security and privacy. These are real and immense burdens on adults, and the Court was wrong to ignore them in upholding Texas' law."

Pornography has historically been the "canary in the coal mine" for free expression, Alison Boden, executive director of the adult industry trade organization, Free Speech Coalition, said in a statement shared on Bluesky.

“As it has been throughout history, pornography is once again the canary in the coal mine of free expression,” said Alison Boden, Executive Director of the Free Speech Coalition. “The government should not have the right to demand that we sacrifice our privacy and security to...

— Free Speech Coalition (@fsc.bsky.social) June 27, 2025 at 12:00 PM

"The government should not have the right to demand that we sacrifice our privacy and security to use the internet. This law has failed to keep minors away from sexual content yet continues to have a massive chilling effect on adults," Boden continued. "The outcome is disastrous for Texans and for anyone who cares about freedom of speech and privacy online."

UPDATE: Jun. 27, 2025, 4:00 p.m. EDT This article has been updated with expert commentary.

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