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Samsung Unpacked: What to expect from Samsungs new smartwatches
Samsung Unpacked is right around the corner, and with it, we'll be getting new Samsung Galaxy Watches. The pressure is on with this generation for Samsung, so here's what we know, what we expect and what we want from the company's latest wearables.
iClever Q950 Kids Headphones bring ANC to little listeners — buy them for under $70
TL;DR: iClever’s Q950 Kids Headphones are now on Amazon for $69.99. They pack hybrid ANC, an 80dBA volume limit, 60-hour battery life, and a kid-proof design.
Opens in a new window Credit: iClever iClever Q950 Kids Headphones $69.99 at AmazonShop Now
iClever has launched the Q950 Kids Headphones, a new pair of wireless over-ear headphones designed to make listening safer for younger users. Available in the U.S. from iClever and Amazon for $69.99, the Q950 comes in two colors: blue and purple.
The headphones are built around iClever’s SafeSound technology, which keeps volume capped at 80dBA while adding noise cancellation to help kids hear clearly without needing to turn the volume all the way up.
What makes the Q950 stand out is its TÜV Rheinland Hearing Care certification, a third-party certification that recognizes the headphones’ focus on safer listening and hearing-friendly design. For parents, that adds an extra layer of confidence that their kids are using headphones designed with hearing health in mind.
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!Beyond hearing protection, the Q950 packs features you’d usually expect from adult headphones. Wear Detection automatically pauses audio when the headphones are removed, Transparency Mode lets kids hear what’s happening around them without taking the headphones off, and Bluetooth Audio Sharing allows two headphones to connect to the same device for shared listening.
Battery life reaches up to 60 hours on a single charge, while ANC still works when using the included wired AUX connection. Built for everyday use, the Q950 includes an adjustable headband, soft ear cushions, and rotating ear cups for a comfortable fit as kids grow.
Grab the iClever Q950 Kids Headphones on Amazon for safer listening on the go.
These 7 ESP32 projects will save you way more than they cost to build
ESP32 boards are popular for home projects because they're small, versatile, and, most of all, cheap. Not only are ESP32 boards affordable, but if you use them for the right projects, they can also help you save money. Here's how.
You don’t need to build a Pi-hole anymore—this cloud tool does it without hardware
For a long time, Pi-hole was the go-to option for anyone that wanted to use DNS filtering on their home network. It is easy enough to set up on any old laptop, PC, or even a low-power Pi and then connect it to your network.
The one-time darling of the Android world is officially leaving the US
OnePlus is officially exiting the U.S. and Europe after months of shrinking its presence. Parent company Oppo has confirmed that OnePlus will no longer release new products in North America or Europe, although it will continue to provide support.
Spotifys Managed Accounts are now free for more families — how to set up kid-friendly accounts
TL;DR: Spotify's Managed Accounts are now free for more families. Parents can create kid-friendly Spotify accounts with parental controls, private profiles, and personalized music recommendations without needing a Premium Family subscription.
Spotify is making it easier for parents to give younger listeners their own music experience without handing over the keys to the entire app. Previously available only with a Premium Family subscription, Managed Accounts are now free for parents on any Spotify plan in the U.S., UK, Australia, France, Germany, the Netherlands, and several other supported regions.
Spotify says more countries, including Canada, New Zealand, and much of Europe and Latin America, are already live or will be added soon.
What is a Spotify Managed Account?A Managed Account is a kid-friendly version of Spotify designed for listeners under 13. It gives children their own Spotify profile while letting parents stay in control through built-in parental settings.
Instead of opening up the full Spotify experience, Managed Accounts focus on music. Kids can listen to Spotify's music catalog, create playlists, and discover new artists, but podcasts, audiobooks, video content, and Canvas visuals aren't included by default.
Kids still get personalized recommendations through features like Discover Weekly, Daylist, and Made for You mixes. They'll also get their own Spotify Wrapped, so the whole family doesn’t end up with one giant mashup of music tastes.
Every new account starts with explicit content filtering turned on automatically, and parents can also block specific artists or songs through Spotify's Parental Controls Hub. Profiles are private and can't be searched by other users, messaging features are disabled, and kids use preset avatars instead of uploading profile pictures.
The idea is to give younger listeners a more independent way to enjoy music while still keeping parents in the driver's seat.
How to create a Spotify Managed AccountParents can set up a Managed Account directly from the Spotify app in just a few steps:
Open Spotify and tap "add account" from the app's side menu
Select "add a child"
Select "create a managed account"
Complete the parental consent process
Choose your child's settings and parental controls
As children get older, Spotify also lets them transition from a Managed Account to a standard Spotify account, giving families a smoother way to grow with the service over time.
Ready to set it up? Learn more about Spotify Managed Accounts here.
All the states Pornhub is blocked in now
The explicit tube site Pornhub is now blocked in 25 U.S. states — half of the country.
This is due to age-verification laws. These laws vary state by state, but typically require visitors to a site with over a third of explicit content to submit a government ID or other form of age authentication. Louisiana was the first state to enact such a bill a couple of years ago, and now others have followed suit. In June 2025, the Supreme Court ruled that Texas's age-verification law was constitutional, setting a precedent for similar bills that came before and after.
The best VPNs for Pornhub: Best for Porn ExpressVPN 30-day money-back guarantee Shop Now Best for security Proton VPN 30-day money-back guarantee Shop Now Best for beginners TunnelBear 30-day money-back guarantee Shop NowAccording to one preliminary study, age verification won't work to keep minors off porn sites. This is because of software like VPNs that allow someone to appear to be in a different location, and because of non-compliant websites. (The Florida attorney general is suing foreign-based porn sites for not instituting age verification.) Yet, these laws keep getting passed — and are encroaching on non-explicit websites as well, experts told Mashable.
While Pornhub is not blocked in Louisiana, it is blocked in these states as of July 2026:
Alabama
Arizona
Arkansas
Georgia
Idaho
Iowa
Kansas
Mississippi
Missouri
Montana
Nebraska
North Carolina
North Dakota
Oklahoma
South Carolina
South Dakota
Tennessee
Virginia
West Virginia
Wyoming
Pornhub isn't blocked in Ohio despite the state's age-verification law, due to a clause stating that establishing age verification methods doesn't apply to a provider of an interactive computer service (Aylo considers itself one).
In Louisiana, where users must submit ID to view Pornhub, the site has seen traffic decline by around 80 percent, Aylo (Pornhub's parent company) told Mashable.
"These people did not stop looking for porn. They just migrated to darker corners of the internet that don't ask users to verify age, that don't follow the law, that don't take user safety seriously, and that often don't even moderate content. In practice, the laws have just made the internet more dangerous for adults and children," Aylo stated when asked for comment by Mashable back in Jan. 2025.
In a statement to Mashable, Aylo continued:
First, to be clear, Aylo has publicly supported age verification of users for years, but we believe that any law to this effect must preserve user safety and privacy, and must effectively protect children from accessing content intended for adults.
Unfortunately, the way many jurisdictions worldwide have chosen to implement age verification is ineffective, haphazard, and dangerous. Any regulations that require hundreds of thousands of adult sites to collect significant amounts of highly sensitive personal information is putting user safety in jeopardy. Moreover, as experience has demonstrated, unless properly enforced, users will simply access non-compliant sites or find other methods of evading these laws.
Industry experts say that, in addition to not working for their intended purpose, age verification laws also raise concerns about privacy protection and safety since websites now have to host (even more of) people's personal information. It will be harder to be anonymous online, which experts warn is dangerous to free speech. Adult industry experts Mashable spoke to in an explainer on age-verification laws advocated for device-level filters, as did Aylo in its statement.
SEE ALSO: YouTube will begin using AI for age verification next weekSome in the adult industry worry about what Trump's second presidential term will bring due to the conservative policy outline, Project 2025, and its measures to ban porn. One of Project 2025's authors, Russell Vought, was caught on a secret recording stating that age-verification laws are the "back door" to a broader porn ban.
This article was first published in 2025 and updated in July 2026.
Home Depot’s Halloween 2026 drop is live — shop the new Skelly, Rotwing Parrot, and more before they sell out
July may not scream Halloween, but Home Depot clearly didn’t get the memo.
The retailer’s 2026 Halloween collection is here, with nearly 30 new decorations and animatronics landing online and in the Home Depot app — including a new app-controlled 12-foot Skelly that takes the iconic lawn skeleton to a whole new level.
The spooky drop is live from July 16, with products available while supplies last. Some decorations will arrive in stores in August, though the most popular animatronics could disappear much sooner.
11-foot Giant-Sized LED Mummy Opens in a new window Credit: The Home Depot 11-foot Giant-Sized LED Mummy $299 at The Home DepotShop Now
If Skelly feels a little too mainstream for your haunted yard, this 11-foot mummy brings a different kind of creepy energy. The towering Grave & Bones Giant-Sized LED Mummy lights up with glowing eyes and a decayed, illuminated chest, while its adjustable shoulders let you adjust its zombie-like stance. Motion activation triggers three spooky sound effects and includes cloth strips that add a worn, just-escaped-from-the-tomb look. It’s rated for both indoor and outdoor use, so it can guard your front yard, entryway, or Halloween party setup all season long.
8-foot Grave & Bones Zombie Velociraptor Opens in a new window Credit: The Home Depot 8-foot Grave & Bones Zombie Velociraptor $299 at The Home DepotShop Now
Forget skeletons and ghosts — this year, Home Depot is bringing a prehistoric monster to the lawn. The 8-foot Grave & Bones Zombie Velociraptor adds a creepy fossil-inspired twist to your Halloween setup with glowing LED eyes and a lit-up mouth, plus a moving jaw and sound effect triggered by motion. It comes with adjustable volume, a built-in timer that can run on a 6-hour on/18-hour off schedule, and ground stakes to keep this oversized predator planted. It takes just one person and about 15 minutes to assemble, so you can spend less time building and more time scaring the neighborhood.
12-foot App-Controlled Skelly Opens in a new window Credit: The Home Depot 12-foot App-Controlled Skelly $379 at The Home DepotShop Now
If you’re only buying one giant Halloween decoration this year, this is the one to check out. This 12-foot Skelly is built to do more than just stand around. Using the Decor Pro app, you can pick from 20 different LCD eye effects, record up to 30 custom voice lines, or talk through Skelly live with built-in voice-changing effects.
Its head moves, its mouth matches your audio, and it can help make your yard the Halloween stop everyone remembers. Designed for indoor and outdoor use, Skelly takes about 60 minutes to put together with two people.
8.5-foot LED Knight Frostbane Opens in a new window Credit: The Home Depot 8.5-foot LED Knight Frostbane $399 at The Home DepotShop Now
The 8.5-foot skeletal knight arrives on a ghostly horse, complete with glowing eyes, a lit-up chest, and three synchronized movements that bring the whole scene to life. The knight’s arm moves, its jaw drops while it speaks five spooky phrases, and the horse’s head sweeps back and forth for a dramatic entrance. Motion-activated and ready to haunt, Frostbane plugs in for power and can be assembled by one person in about 30 minutes.
Not every Halloween setup needs a 12-foot skeleton. Here are all the other new decorations joining Home Depot’s 2026 lineup:
6.5-Foot Wicked Woods Animated LED Stalking Scarecrow — $159
6-Foot Grave & Bones Animated LED John the Last Call Mixologist — $179
6-Foot Wicked Woods Color Changing LED Scowling Sapling — $179
3.5-Foot Animated LED Mohawk — $179
7.5-Foot Grave & Bones Animated LED Soul Stealing Reaper — $199
3-Foot Animated LED Stitch — $199
4.5-Foot Grave & Bones Color Changing LED Groundbreaker — $199
7-Foot Wicked Woods Animated LED App-Controlled Lethal Lily — $299
The scares don’t stop here — explore the full Home Depot Halloween 2026 lineup before popular picks sell out.
Siri AI beta available now: 7 things to try
Earlier this week, Apple launched the first public beta of iOS 27. With it comes the new, smarter Siri, which is now both a standalone app, and a set of features embedded into various apps across the operating system.
The new Siri truly is smarter, but the name confusion (Siri is now called Siri AI) as well as the fact that some features are baked into other Apple apps can make things overwhelming for users. Let's check out which new Siri AI features are truly worth trying out.
SEE ALSO: How to try the Siri AI beta: Join the waitlistBefore we start, one caveat: Almost none of these features are available in China and Europe due to issues with regulators. While it appears that the problems in China have been resolved, Apple still doesn't have a timeline for Siri AI launch in Europe.
Also, for instruction on how to install the public beta and get your hands on the new features, Mashable's published a guide.
Siri, the appFor the longest time (since 2011 actually, when Siri was first introduced) Apple refused to give Siri a proper body. The idea is that it's the invisible helper, the voice you interact with, but not something you want to tap and chat with.
Then came the OpenAI ChatGPT era, and everything changed. It took Apple a few years, but the company relented, and with iOS 27, the company launched Siri as a standalone app.
Featured Video For You Is ChatGPT Changing the Way We Write?So what's the experience like? Well, think ChatGPT, Claude, or Gemini. You start the app, and you're welcomed by a grid of your previous convos with Siri. Start a new one, either by voice or by typing, and Siri will answer. Since this is a smarter Siri, you needn't be afraid of asking something more complex than "what's the weather like tomorrow." And it's not just general purpose queries such as "will the yellow cards in the World Cup semifinal carry over to the final" — you can also ask personal questions, including mentioning the content from your past emails, notes, and events.
Visual Intelligence This is, indeed, a traditional cricket ball. Credit: AppleThis is a really useful one, because it ties to the way you use your iPhone in ways that weren't possible before. Say you're on YouTube, and a video showing a moment from a famous TV show pops up; the problem is, you just can't remember the show's name. No problem; invoke Siri by long-pressing the side button on your phone, and ask it about the content you're watching on the display right now. Pretty cool, right?
You can do that in various contexts; whatever's on your screen at the moment, Siri can tell you something about it.
Same goes for the stuff that's in front of you, in real life. The new Siri mode in the Camera app lets you point your lens at anything and get Siri to provide some information on what you're seeing.
Image PlaygroundThis feature has been here before but it's been...well, maybe not a complete joke, but definitely a cartoon version of the real thing; that is, the only type of images it could generate were cartoon-looking ones.
With Siri AI, this has changed. You can now get realistic photos such as futuristic cityscapes and beautiful landscapes, or combos such as a bear dancing on a massive block of cheese.
Even better, once an image has been generated, you can tweak it with additional prompt. If you want a sign saying CHEESE above that image you've just created, tell Siri to add it and it'll show up in the next iteration.
It's not the most advanced AI-based image generation out there, but it does the job and for many users, it'll be the quickest and most convenient option.
Photo editing The image is good, I just need more space around the subject. Credit: AppleOpen a photo, tap the edit button, and you'll see an option on the bottom right called Tools. Tap that, and you'll see three options. The Clean Up lets you tap or circle an unwanted object to make it disappear. That feature already existed (it might work a little better now), but the other two are new.
Extend will use Siri AI to make the picture bigger. Pinch to zoom out, and the AI will analyze the photo and add more stuff at the edges to make the photo larger. It doesn't always work, but when it does, it does feel a little magical.
The other new option is Reframe, which lets you change the perspective of the photo after you've taken it. Don't expect miracles here (I'd only use this on photos that desperately need it) but again, when it does work it's pretty cool.
Writing with SiriSiri AI is now baked into various writing and communication tools across iOS. For example, in the Notes app, just above the keyboard, you'll see an option called "Write with Siri." Tap that, and write by using a prompt instead of actually entering text.
This can be pretty powerful. Let's say you want to sum up an entire trip itinerary, or write a movie plot (without spoilers!), but you don't actually want to type all that. Well, instead, just tell Siri what you want and it'll generate the text for you.
You can also highlight a chunk of text and tell Siri to generate an image that relates to it, or use it to solve math problems.
Smarter Calendar and Reminders entries Sometimes you'll need to tap on things and provide additional context, but the new Calendar is way better than before. Credit: AppleSiri is baked into Apple's Calendar app, too, allowing for natural language recognition. For example, you can create a new event and describe what you want to do (dinner with wife at Joe's tomorrow at 7 p.m.), and the Calendar app will automagically recognize the right people from your Contacts, and create the event at the right time.
Same goes for Reminders, which is an app I feel I should use more but it just never clicked for me. Once again, describe what you need to be reminded of, and details such as location, time, and date will be picked up automatically.
Shortcuts that you'll actually want to useLet's face it: Shortcuts is the best iOS feature that almost no one uses, simply because the idea of turning a chain of events/commands into a single command sounds too intimidating for a lot of people.
Now, thanks to Siri AI, you can just describe the shortcut and have it created automatically. To access this feature, open Shortcuts, tap New Shortcut, and describe what you want the Shortcut to do. Want the iPhone to audibly tell you that it's been charged to 90 percent? Just type that down into the Shortcuts app, and you're done.
Want to get started? Here's how to get try the Siri AI beta.
This Samsung Odyssey G5 gaming monitor is down to its lowest price in months — save $80 at Amazon
TL;DR: The Samsung 27-inch Odyssey G5 G53F QHD gaming monitor is on sale for $169.99 at Amazon, down from its $249.99 list price.
Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Samsung 27-Inch Odyssey G5 (G53F) $169.99 at Amazon$249.99 Save $80 Get Deal
A decent QHD gaming monitor no longer has to push your setup close to premium OLED price brackets, and Amazon has now dropped one of Samsung’s faster Odyssey G5 models well below $200.
As of July 16, the Samsung 27-inch Odyssey G5 (G53F) gaming monitor is on sale at Amazon for $169.99. With $80 removed from the $249.99 list price, that’s 32% off the display price — the lowest price we've seen since April (confirmed with price tracker camelcamelcamel).
The listing is shipped and sold directly by Amazon, with free delivery currently set for July 21. Prime members can get it sooner, with delivery showing for July 17 at the time of writing. Thankfully, Amazon is also including its standard 30-day return or replacement window, which is ideal if anything goes wrong with your order.
This Samsung monitor’s 27-inch IPS panel with 2560 x 1440 resolution gives you a stunning jump above standard 1080p. It’s a nice middle ground since it doesn’t push your PC’s graphics card nearly as hard as when trying to hit full 4K.
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!These types of monitors are best in rigs where you’re trying to prioritize the smooth gameplay that comes with higher FPS, and the G5’s 200Hz refresh rate will more than have you covered for high-speed games like League of Legends, Rocket League, Marvel Rivals, Overwatch, and of course — Fortnite.
If you’re a single-player gamer who’s catching up on Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced or you’re looking for a new monitor for Grand Theft Auto VI, the G5’s HDR10 will make these games look amazing — courtesy of the feature adding brighter highlights and more detailed shadows, while the IPS panel offers a wide 178-degree viewing angle and more consistent color across the screen.
Samsung has also added a few practical gaming tools. Black Equalizer can brighten darker areas to make enemies easier to spot, Virtual Aim Point puts an adjustable crosshair on-screen, and Auto Source Switch+ automatically changes inputs when a newly-connected device turns on.
Score the Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 4 portable speaker for over $40 off at Amazon
SAVE OVER $40: As of July 16, the Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 4 portable speaker is on sale for $51.44 at Amazon. That's $48.55 off its list price of $99.99.
Opens in a new window Credit: Ultimate Ears Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 4 $51.44 at Amazon$99.99 Save $48.55 Get Deal
If you're looking for a good portable speaker for your summer festivities, the Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 4 is one of our favorites. Right now, it's 49% off at Amazon.
As of July 16, the Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 4 portable speaker has dropped from its list price of $99.99 to $51.44, saving you just over $48 in total. Not to mention, this deal price is incredibly close to its lowest-ever price of $49.39, so why not pick it up now?
SEE ALSO: 16 summer hosting essentials that cost under $25 at AmazonWe have a lot of love for the Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 4. In our roundup of the best portable Bluetooth speakers, it landed as the top pick under $100. It's "a powerhouse for its size and price." When it comes to the sound profile, it's "well-rounded and can get loud."
Our roundup highlights that "you can drop it from heights of up to five feet without worrying about destroying it." And on top of that, "It’s also waterproof with an IP67 rating. If you drop it in water, it can float for up to 30 minutes and come out the other side working completely fine." Perfect for a day at the pool or beach. Plus, it has a battery life that can keep you listening for up to 14 hours.
If its caught your eye, don't miss out on this chance to save on the Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 4 portable speaker at Amazon.
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Magic: The Gathering The Hobbit Play Booster Box preorders are now on sale — save $10 at Amazon
TL;DR: The Magic: The Gathering The Hobbit Play Booster Box is available to pre-order for $199.70 at Amazon, down from its $209.70 list price.
Opens in a new window Credit: Magic: The Gathering Magic: The Gathering Avatar The Last Airbender Jumpstart Booster Box $199.45 at Amazon$209.70 Save $10.25 Pre-order Here
There’s still almost a month to go before Magic: The Gathering returns to Middle-Earth, but Amazon has now made the expansion’s biggest standard booster product slightly cheaper ahead of launch.
As of July 16, the Magic: The Gathering The Hobbit Play Booster Box is available to pre-order at Amazon for $199.70 via Kings Games. That takes $10 off its $209.70 list price, bringing the complete 30-pack display down by around 5% — ahead of the expansion’s release date of Aug. 14.
At that price, you’ll be paying roughly $6.66 per Middle-Earth-centric Play Booster before tax. The listing is sold and shipped directly by Amazon, comes with its pre-order price guarantee, and is currently marked as final sale, so it can’t be returned, refunded, or replaced once purchased.
Walmart has the same Play Booster Box listed for $159.99, while TCGplayer’s lowest shipping-included listing is $160.99. That means both deal prices are lower than The Hobbit Play Booster Box’s market price of $161.65.
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!Keep in mind that Walmart’s listing is sold and shipped by third-party marketplace seller Cataclysm Games rather than Walmart itself. It’s also marked as non-returnable, although free shipping and a pre-order price guarantee are included.
Whichever retailer you choose, the sealed display includes 30 Magic: The Gathering The Hobbit Play Boosters and one traditional foil Middle-earth Box Topper card. Designed for drafting, Limited games, and building decks, each booster contains 14 cards, including one to three cards of rare or higher rarity, three to five uncommons, seven to nine commons, one land, and one traditional foil card of any rarity.
Teens talking to Meta AI about suicide will trigger alert
When teens talk to Meta AI about suicide or self-harm, the conversation will trigger a parental notification, Meta said in a blog post Thursday.
The new policy expands on existing teen measures designed to inform parents about how their child is using Meta AI. Only parents using Instagram supervision controls will receive the notification. Eventually, caregivers using parental controls for other Meta apps will receive alerts as well.
SEE ALSO: What to do when your teen replaces you with a chatbot"We worked with parents and experts to understand which AI conversations warrant an alert — such as those where a teen makes a clear reference to hurting themselves, even if that reference is subtle," Meta said.
Parents in the U.S., United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia will receive alerts. The feature will be globally accessible by the end of the year.
How do Meta AI crisis alerts work?Meta AI already cites crisis helplines and encourages teens considering suicide or self-harm to seek help from a trusted adult. Now, parents will get an alert about such conversations. Meta said it would err on the side of caution for the time being.
While concerning chats are flagged by artificial intelligence, Meta manually reviews them before sending an alert. The parent also receives expert-developed suggestions for discussing self-harm and suicide with their child.
Parents will receive the alert via an app notification and a separate email, text, or WhatsApp message, depending on the contact information they provided.
"Meta's claim that it will alert supervising parents if their teen's AI chat suggests they may be at risk of self-harm is a step in the right direction, but the announcement should be greeted with skepticism," Brendan Bouffard, staff attorney for the children's advocacy nonprofit Fairplay, told Mashable in a statement.
Bouffard said Fairplay's 2025 research on Meta's Teen Accounts found ineffective or nonexistent safety tools. Meta said the report misrepresented how its safety tools work.
Meta alerts parents whose child may have discussed suicide or self-harm with Meta AI. Credit: Courtesy of Meta The types of alerts parents can receive from Meta. Credit: Courtesy of MetaIn February, Meta launched a similar suicide and self-harm notification feature for Instagram.
Dr. John Ackerman, clinical manager for the Center for Suicide Prevention and Research at Nationwide Children's Hospital, told Mashable at the time that he welcomed expanded protections for teens. He noted, however, that such a feature could amount to "lip service" if notifications are inaccessible, difficult to navigate, or don't lead to "actionable change."
Ackerman told Mashable that alerts for Meta AI chats involving suicide and self-harm may be helpful for families.
"Parental monitoring tools for social media and AI can help parents spot concerns early, start supportive conversations, and connect their child with help when signs of suicide are noted," he said in email following Meta's announcement Thursday.
Ackerman added that parents need clear guidance on using safety settings. He also noted that platforms concerned with teen safety should address factors that can contribute to a crisis, like social comparison, cyberbullying, sleep disruption, and patterns such as excessive use and repetitive searching.
New limited content setting for Meta AIMeta also announced Thursday the addition of a limited content setting for Meta AI. It debuted that feature for Instagram last year.
That setting enables Meta's strictest filters. Meta AI is already trained not to engage in sexual or romantic conversations with teens, or provide alcoholic drink recipes, for example, according to the company.
When the limited content setting is turned on, Meta's models become even more aggressive in identifying problematic prompts and decline to answer a broader range of queries. Meta said the approach further reduces "the chance of potentially inappropriate conversations."
Teen safety concernsChild safety advocates have criticized Meta's recent parental control updates as insufficient.
In April, Meta gave parents some insight into their child's conversations with Meta AI. The feature highlights broader topics, such as school, entertainment, writing, health, and wellbeing. Parents can click on the topic for additional but limited detail.
Fairplay executive director Josh Golin said the feature burdens caregivers with monitoring their child's online activity in lieu of "building a safe product to begin with."
Meta continues to face legal scrutiny for its performance on child safety. Earlier this year, Meta lost two separate landmark trials related to child safety protections and the allegedly addictive design of its products. The company said it will appeal both verdicts, but hundreds of pending lawsuits alleging child harm have yet to be tried.
UPDATE: Jul. 16, 2026, 10:29 a.m. PDT This story has been updated with additional information from Meta and Fairplay.
If you're feeling suicidal or experiencing a mental health crisis, please talk to somebody. You can call or text the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988, or chat at 988lifeline.org. You can reach the Trans Lifeline by calling 877-565-8860 or the Trevor Project at 866-488-7386. Text "START" to Crisis Text Line at 741-741. Contact the NAMI HelpLine at 1-800-950-NAMI, Monday through Friday from 10:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m. ET, or email info@nami.org. If you don't like the phone, consider using the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline Chat. Here is a list of international resources.
Want to keep Gemini AI out of your Gmail? Here’s how.
AI really, really, really wants to write your emails for you, and with Google's AI Gemini now in your inbox, your Gmail can feel a little out of your hands.
If you're worried about privacy, feel like your writing skills are becoming too reliant on AI, or simply don't need Gemini features, it's pretty easy to disable Gemini in Gmail, as well as other Google platforms like Drive, Calendar, Meet, Maps, and more.
SEE ALSO: Is ChatGPT ruining your attraction to your partner?Here's a handy guide to switching it off.
How to turn off Gemini in Gmail Total Time- 5 min
- Laptop
- desktop or smartphone
- Gmail
Step 1: Open Gmail.
Step 2: Go to Settings.
It's the icon that resembles a cog.
Step 3: Click "See all settings."
Step 4: In the "General" section, scroll to "Google Workspace smart features."
Step 5: Click "Manage Workspace smart feature settings."
Credit: Mashable screenshot / GoogleStep 6: Toggle smart features on or off.
If you're looking to turn off Gemini in Gmail, toggle off "Smart features in Google Workspace." This will also turn off the AI for Drive, Calendar, Docs, Sheets, Slides, and Meet. The second toggle for "other Google products" will switch Gemini off for Maps, Wallet, Google Assistant, and the Gemini app itself.
Credit: Mashable screenshot / GoogleStep 7: Click "Save" at the bottom right of the pop-up.
If you want to turn Gemini on again in Gmail, follow the same steps. It's your life.
Featured Video For You Is ChatGPT Changing the Way We Write? What happens when you turn off Gemini AI in Gmail?Switching off Gemini will remove the "Help me write" prompt, AI Overviews, email summaries, search personalisation, and other AI features. Hitting the "/" key will no longer trigger a Gemini AI prompt.
It won't quite clear all traces of Gemini from Gmail, however. You'll still see the sparkle icon at the bottom of all of your emails.
But clicking that icon or using the "Help me write" keyboard shortcut (Ctrl-H on Windows; Option-H on Macs) will result in a pop-up window explaining that you'll need to turn on Gmail smart features again in order to use Gemini.
Lego is releasing the biggest Art Masterpiece ever: Everything you need to know about Gustav Klimt – The Kiss
Lego's Art line is gaining a huge new addition, which is great news if you've been looking for a serious challenge this summer.
The Lego Art Gustav Klimt – The Kiss is coming soon. It's the largest Art Masterpiece set ever released, totaling a whopping 4,000 pieces. Priced at $299.99, preorders aren't live just yet, but it's not long until you can order. According to a press release, Lego Insiders will get early access from Aug. 1, while everyone else will be able to grab it from Aug. 4. Make sure to mark your calendars!
Opens in a new window Credit: Lego Lego Art Gustav Klimt – The Kiss (31221) $299.99 at LegoLearn More
This Art set was made in collaboration with the Belvedere Museum in Vienna, where the original painting is kept. Stephanie Auer, a Curator of 19th- and 20th-Century Art at the museum, worked with Milan Madge, Master Model Designer at the Lego Group, to help bring it to life.
Speaking on the collaboration, Auer notes that "Working as a curator for the adaptation of Klimt’s The Kiss into a Lego Art set was a once-in-a-lifetime experience." She continues: "Together with Milan Madge, we had extensive discussions about Gustav Klimt’s symbolism, ornamentation, and artistic techniques, as well as how these could be represented using Lego bricks. Distinctive features such as the flatness and composition were carefully translated into LEGO bricks — always with the goal of staying true to the spirit of the original work.”
Credit: LegoWith 4,000 pieces, it uses creative elements such as circles, spirals, studs, flowers, and gold metallic bricks to create the iconic piece. It's a build that's sure to keep you busy. It's important to note that it's a set recommended for adults, but the whole family might need to get involved to tackle this monster set.
Credit: LegoLego Insider? Aug. 1 is your time to shine. Everyone else — you'll just have to wait a few extra days for it to drop on Aug. 4.
The Anker Solix C300 power station is perfect for camping vacations — and its on sale for under $250 at Amazon
SAVE $49: As of July 16, the Anker Solix C300 is on sale for $249.98 at Amazon. That's a 16% discount on the list price.
Opens in a new window Credit: Anker Anker Solix C300 $249.98 at Amazon$298.99 Save $49.01 Get Deal
From keeping your gadgets powered on camping trips to providing peace of mind during unexpected outages, a portable power station can be an incredibly useful bit of kit.
There are options of all sizes to choose from, but if you're looking for something compact to keep your most-used devices powered, then this latest Amazon deal on the Anker Solix C300 is definitely something to check out. As of July 16, it's priced at $249.98. That's a $49 discount. It can power laptops, phones, cameras, and drones, so if you're heading on an outdoor adventure, this will keep you connected.
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!This unit delivers 300W of continuous power (with a 600W surge) from its 288Wh battery. It features eight charging ports in total, including three AC outlets, a car socket, two 140W USB-C ports, an additional USB-C port and a USB-A port.
It can be recharged in a number of ways, including via a wall outlet, car charger, USB-C PD 3.1, or through compatible solar panels (sold separately). The battery is built to last, thanks to its LiFePO4 batteries that are rated for up to 3,000 charge cycles. That equates to around 10 years of use.
Head to Amazon to get this Anker power station deal.
The Pokémon TCG Perfect Order Booster Display Box gets price cut at Amazon — save over $25
TL;DR: The Pokémon TCG Mega Evolution Perfect Order Booster Display Box is on sale for $227.20 at Amazon, down from its $254.99 typical price.
Opens in a new window Credit: The Pokémon Company Pokémon TCG Perfect Order Booster Display Box $227.20 at Amazon$254.99 Save $27.79 Get Deal
Perfect Order has been one of the more affordable Pokémon TCG expansions to come out recently, but we still love deals.
As of July 16, the Pokémon TCG Mega Evolution set’s 36-pack Perfect Order Booster Display Box is available at Amazon for $227.20. That's 11% of its $254.99 list price — totalling a $27.79 discount. This third-party listing from Collectors Edition will get to you between July 22-23 at the time of writing, and its new low price means you’ll only be paying $6.31 per pack. That's $2.68 cheaper than buying individual Perfect Order Booster Packs for $8.99.
First launched in March 2026, Perfect Order brought lots of Pokémon and Mega evolutions from the hit Pokémon Legends: Z-A video game to the TCG — with over 120 cards in the expansion. Each booster pack contains 10 random trading cards, giving you 360 cards to open across the entire display before accounting for duplicates.
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!For any trading card collectors willing to shop outside Amazon, you can save even more at TCGplayer — listings now going as low as $191.86 with shipping included for sealed boxes.
You can also buy individual cards on TCGplayer, including the MHR Zygarde ex, SIR Meowth ex, SIR Mega Zygarde ex, SIR Mega Clefable ex, and SIR Rosa’s Encouragement.
NYT Mini crossword answers, hints for July 16, 2026
The Mini is a bite-sized version of The New York Times' revered daily crossword. While the crossword is a lengthier experience that requires both knowledge and patience to complete, The Mini is an entirely different vibe.
With only a handful of clues to answer, the daily puzzle doubles as a speed-running test for many who play it.
So, when a tricky clue disrupts a player's flow, it can be frustrating! If you find yourself stumped playing The Mini — much like with Wordle and Connections — we have you covered.
SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable SEE ALSO: How to play Pips, the newest NYT gameHere are the clues and answers to NYT's The Mini for Thursday, July 16, 2026:
Across"In summary …," in internet shorthandThe answer is TLDR.
Meet The Mashable 101: Our list of the content creators shaping the internet today
___ Valley (French wine area)The answer is Loire.
The answer is Inbox.
The answer is Zero.
The answer is ASAP.
The answer is Tones.
The answer is Libra.
The answer is Droop.
The answer is Rex.
The answer is Liza.
If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.
Are you also playing NYT Strands? See hints and answers for today's Strands.
Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to the latest Mini Crossword.
The girlbossification of AI enters its influencer era
Kylie Jenner's latest fashion campaign is selling more than a pair of sunglasses.
In the ad for Meta's new "Kylie Edition" AI-powered glasses, Jenner moves through an unusually glamorous version of an ordinary morning. She touches up her manicure, looks through her closet, drinks green juice, and briefly inspects the work being done around her home. She eventually slips away from her assistants, drives to a billboard bearing her own face, and spray-paints "XO Kylie" across it.
This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.Meta's fashion-first approach for the June 2026 campaign extended far beyond the ads, though. The company also introduced 26 combinations of frames, colors, and lenses, launched a dedicated Instagram account, plastered Jenner's face on billboards in New York and Los Angeles, and hosted a star-studded launch event. Fashion heavyweights and creators like Law Roach, Nara Smith, and Peggy Gou attended the debut.
It's clear that this rollout doesn't position the glasses, which Meta and Ray-Ban have been selling in some form since 2021, as some complicated new gadget. Instead, it's selling them as a fashion accessory...and a trendy one at that.
This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.Meta isn't alone in this approach. Tools powered by artificial intelligence have quietly woven themselves into beauty routines, shopping apps, and podcasts, all targeted toward female consumers. The Cut called this phenomenon the "Girlbossification of AI" in a May 2026 article, and the marketing tactic is still gaining momentum in the industry.
It isn't coincidental. A 2026 Pew Research Center survey found 27 percent of men said they used chatbots daily, compared with 20 percent of women. Men were also more likely to use them for work and to say the technology improved their productivity.
Lean In, the workplace-empowerment nonprofit founded by former Meta executive Sheryl Sandberg, found a similar divide. Sandberg’s 2013 book of the same name helped define the “girlboss” era. In the organization’s survey, 33 percent of men said they used AI daily or constantly at work, compared with 27 percent of women. Men were also more likely to receive encouragement and opportunities to experiment with the technology.
For AI companies, women represent an untapped market — they know the technology exists but haven't woven it into their daily lives. That creates a clear opportunity: build products that integrate AI into activities women already do, like shopping, getting ready, creating content, and managing their day-to-day tasks.
Early demand, according to Meta, suggests the demographic can indeed be accessed this way. At one creator event shortly after the release, every colorway of the Kylie glasses had sold out before many reporters arrived, while other women at the event were asking for the same frames by name.
The interest extended beyond the room. In the week surrounding the launch, Glossy reported data from Dash Social showing that Meta Glasses generated 275 million social media impressions, 9 million engagements, and 97,000 mentions. Jenner’s 3 dedicated Instagram posts promoting the collection received a combined 5.5 million likes, while the new @metaglasses account approached 100,000 followers within 11 days of going live.
Other celebrities have helped promote the tech, including model and F1 “WAG” Alexandra Saint Mleux, Blackpink’s Jennie, performer Doja Cat, and Oscar-nominated actress Teyana Taylor.
This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.Together, those efforts place the glasses in front of audiences that care as much (or more) about who is wearing them as the technology inside, helping the product circulate online like any other popular accessory.
Influencers offer another opportunity for AI companiesInfluencers are another marketing conduit for AI products — as seen through the beauty AI company, Swan Beauty.
The startup sells a $795 smart mirror that can analyze a user's skin, recommend products, guide makeup application, and record content. Though it's been available since 2023, the company shot to internet fame after placing the mirror in the center of an event that young women were probably going to watch anyway.
Back in April 2026, Swan AI flew content creator Brigette Pheloung — better known online as Acquired Style — and 16 of her closest friends to a villa in St. Barth's for a bachelorette weekend dubbed "Acquired A Husband."
Pheloung and her twin sister Danielle (also an influencer) documented the trip across social media, where the mirror made appearances alongside coordinated outfits, makeup routines, friendship content, and a private plane. Several guests, including Lauren Wolfe and Kit Keenan, were creators with substantial followings of their own.
This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.The exposure paid off. The company reported its TikTok profile views rose by 140,000 percent and saw a 650 percent week-over-week increase in mirror sales, a 4,535 percent increase in iOS app downloads, and a 4,900 percent increase in subscriptions following the trip.
Like Meta’s Kylie campaign, the partnership pitched the product as both aspirational and accessible (well, as accessible as a $795 mirror can be).
Entrepreneurs Phoebe Gates (daughter of Bill Gates) and Sophia Kianni have also found a different way to market their AI shopping platform, Phia, to female consumers: by creating a parallel podcast targeting entrepreneurial women.
The former Stanford roommates launched Phia in April 2025. Its browser extension and app help shoppers compare prices, find secondhand alternatives, and estimate whether an item is likely to retain its resale value. The company says it has since reached 1.5 million users and partnered with 9,600 brands.
Phia’s public identity, however, extends well beyond the shopping tool. Gates and Kianni also host The Burnouts, a weekly podcast about building a company in their 20s while navigating friendship, dating, money, and, as the title suggests, burnout.
This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.Guests have included Paris Hilton, Kris Jenner, Chelsea Handler, and Karlie Kloss.
This forward-facing, founder-focused approach has made Gates and Kianni part of Phia’s appeal. Listeners follow their friendship, the company’s growth, and the complications of building both at the same time. Their profiles have risen alongside the startup — the pair were named to the TIME100 Next list, and they both received Forbes 30 Under 30 recognition.
This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.That cultural reach has helped the start-up attract serious funding — and serious scandal (more on this below). The company raised a $35.5 million Series A in 2026, bringing its total funding to $43.5 million. Its backers include a litany of famous women: Khloé Kardashian, Mindy Kaling, Sydney Sweeney, Paris Hilton, Alix Earle, Jessica Alba, Priyanka Chopra Jonas, and Rachel Zoe (to name a few). Gates told Vogue that Phia deliberately sought out cultural figures who "reflected the customers it wanted to reach."
Celebrity can be appealing — and many prominent women are using their own platforms to encourage followers to adopt the technology through both organic and paid promotion.
This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.Reese Witherspoon became one of the loudest voices back in April, when she told her 30 million Instagram followers in a (now-deleted) Instagram post that only three of the 10 women in her book club had tried AI, and just one felt confident using it. Critics accused her of repackaging pressure to adopt the technology as empowerment, particularly after her company, Hello Sunshine, partnered with Purdue University on AI courses for young women.
She also told Glamour in September 2025, “It’s so, so important that women are involved in AI because it will be the future of filmmaking...you can be sad and lament it all you want, but the change is here."
This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.Mel Robbins made a similar case through a paid partnership with Microsoft Copilot. She encouraged women, in an Instagram post that was also deleted, to use the chatbot to organize their finances by uploading bank statements, bills, and debt information. She also filmed a podcast episode about the topic, interviewing AI leader Allie K. Miller titled, "How to Use AI to Make Money, Save Time, and Be More Productive".
Privacy experts and social media users quickly filled the comments warning against sharing sensitive records without understanding the risks, and Robbins later clarified she should have explained those risks more clearly.
Other celebrities have presented AI less as a career requirement than as an unavoidable part of modern life. Sandra Bullock has urged people to understand the technology and find constructive ways to use it. Demi Moore made a similar argument at the Cannes Film Festival, saying, “AI is here. To fight it is a battle that we will lose,” and urging people to find better ways to work with the technology.
Paris Hilton has dove deep into the AI waters: she was Android’s first “icon-in-residence,” using Gemini Canvas to build Iconic Ideas, uses an AI model trained on her past interviews, appearances, and creative work to help develop new ideas and content, and hosted an Android Innovation Challenge where young women used AI tools to create apps aimed at improving their lives or communities.
Even Sophia Moruso, the entrepreneur who helped popularize the term “girlboss,” has called on more women to begin using AI.
This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.The messages are different, but the promises are broadly the same: AI can help women work faster, manage their money, create more content, and protect the societal progress they have already made.
“These differences — which are not that small, but are smallish now—will compound over time, which is why we think it’s so important for people to understand them and acknowledge them,” Sandberg told Fast Company back in April.
This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.These celebrities may be selling different products, partnerships, or personal philosophies, but they're all peddling AI less like a specialized technology and more like another skill all women should add to their lives. "Evolve or get left behind," as the saying goes.
Not everyone is taking the baitThe effort to make AI feel fashionable, useful, and accessible hasn't eliminated the fact that many women still approach it with caution — and for good reason.
Privacy, job displacement, misinformation, bias, and the rapid pace of development continue to shape how people view the technology. A 2026 study found that women were roughly twice as likely to expect AI to harm them personally as they were to anticipate any benefits.
This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.Those concerns aren't hypothetical, especially when AI shows up in sunglasses, beauty tools, or shopping apps.
Meta glasses, for example, can take photos and videos from the wearer’s point of view, raising privacy concerns, especially amongst women: some male creators have used the glasses to secretly film women in public and then uploaded the footage for content.
Meta has also faced reports of users deliberately hiding the small white light that turns on during recording, and you don't have to look far for ways to circumvent this crucial privacy feature. The company has addressed these concerns and, in July, announced another update that shuts off the camera if the light has been damaged or tampered with. Still, concerns persist.
This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.Phia has also faced scrutiny, especially in the past week. A July 9 Bloomberg investigation found that the extension could insert Phia’s affiliate tracking information into purchases the company had not helped generate. In some tests, it replaced the referral code belonging to the publisher or advertisement that originally sent the shopper to the retailer. That could allow Phia to receive credit, and potentially a commission, for a sale driven by someone else.
Impact.com, one of the affiliate platforms used by Phia, suspended the company while it reviewed the activity. Phia said the behavior resulted from code introduced in a recent update, affected only a subset of users, and was fixed after the company was alerted. But it was already too late, as the revelation quickly spread across social media, where users questioned whether Phia’s explanation was enough to restore trust.
This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.Though, some also defended Gates as a 23-year-old, first-time founder.
This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.Swan has also raised questions: an Allure reviewer discovered that the mirror counted her smile lines and under-eye lines as wrinkles, which lowered her skin score before suggesting ingredients and products. She wrote that the product, in some ways, lowered her self-esteem.
The app’s own disclosures say it may collect personal information, photographs, videos, and other user data, adding another concern to a device that already combines facial analysis, personalized advertising, shopping, and content creation.
This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.None of those concerns means these AI products have no use. Meta’s glasses offer translation, communication, and accessibility features. Phia can help shoppers compare prices. Swan can guide users through makeup tutorials and track changes in their skin.
But as AI is packaged for women in prettier and more familiar ways, the question is whether products are actually making women's lives better...or simply finding a better way to sell to them.
Foldable Phones Live Q&A and What to Expect at Samsungs Galaxy Unpacked Event
Join us as we dive into the world of foldable phones and pontificate about what's on the horizon for Samsung at its upcoming Galaxy Unpacked summer event. CNET's mobile team will be taking your questions live and breaking down Samsung's newest foldable screen tech.
