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Demogorgons are cool and all, but sometimes the best stories on Netflix aren't the scripted ones. I love delving into a good documentary because they offer glimpses down the rabbit hole of odd and fascinating topic you never knew existed, as well as unprecedented access behind the scenes of some of the world's highest profile people and their lives.

On Tuesday, Grindr's head of global government affairs, Joe Hack, posted on its blog that the app supports the Republican-backed App Store Accountability Act.

The act is one of a slew of online safety bills U.S. lawmakers considered this week, as reported by WIRED, including the controversial Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA), which critics claim would chill free speech by censoring online LGBTQ content.

SEE ALSO: I tried Sniffies and it made getting laid as a gay man almost too easy

The App Store Accountability Act would require age verification at the App Store level. App Store providers (like Apple and Google) would have to verify an individual's "age category" using personal data (such as an email address or Social Security number). Should a user be a minor, they'd have to obtain parental consent before downloading an app or making an in-app purchase.

The act was introduced back in May in the House by Michigan Rep. John James, and in the Senate by Utah Sen. Mike Lee, both Republicans. This year, Lee also reintroduced the Interstate Oscenity Definition Act, which would seek to redefine what falls under "obscene" material (which isn't protected by the First Amendment). Experts told Mashable the bill would basically ban porn.

But in terms of the App Store Accountability Act, Grindr's Hack wrote, "We support Rep. John James's App Store Accountability Act because it strengthens" the work the app does to keep minors off, including age gating, device-level bans, human moderation, AI tools, and partnerships with child safety organizations.

"The bill creates a single, secure age-verification process at the app-store level and allows developers to receive a verified age signal. This approach, supported by nearly 90% of parents, is safer and more consistent than requiring users to verify their age separately across many apps," Hack continued.

"By contrast, the UK and EU are moving toward fragmented rules that force adults to share sensitive personal information with thousands of apps, creating unnecessary privacy and safety risks," Hack wrote. This references the UK's Online Safety Act, which requires visitors of sites with material that's "restricted to adults" to submit personal information such as ID or a facial scan.

Recently, free speech experts and child safety experts told Mashable that device-level filtering is the preferred method of age verification, as it doesn't require these data checks every time someone wants to go on certain websites. An example is California's AB 1043, which requires operating systems to request an age or birthday during setup, and then creates a signal of a user's age bracket to send to apps (but not websites). AB 1043 takes effect in 2027.

SAVE $200: As of Dec. 5, get the Google Pixel 10 (Unlocked, 256GB) for $699 at Amazon, down from its usual price of $899. That's a discount of 22% and the lowest price we've seen.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Google Pixel 10 (Unlocked, 256GB) $699 at Amazon
$899 Save $200   Get Deal

The new year is almost upon us, and that means it's time to start making good on all the resolutions you have planned. If that includes getting a new smartphone, we've got one that can help you kick off the year on a great foot with some awesome new tech that you'll actually want to pick up.

As of Dec. 5, get the Google Pixel 10 (Unlocked, 256GB) for $699 at Amazon, down from its usual price of $899. That's $200 off and a discount of 22%. It's also the lowest price we've seen.

SEE ALSO: New Google Pixel feature could let your employer see your messages

The Pixel 10 isn't even six months old, and it's getting this significant discount. It's a great phone for beginners and power users alike, with a Tensor G5 chip that can power plenty of AI features, the same as the Pro, for less money. It isn't as robust as the Pro, but it's still got everything else going for it as an upgrade from the Pixel 9.

That includes a third rear telephoto camera lens, a better processor, and improved battery. It also boasts a gorgeous 6.2-inch display with plenty of ways to edit your photos and a range of other fun options that make it a good candidate for your new daily driver phone.

All this, and you get a still-new phone for $200 off, which is the lowest price you're likely to see this phone for in the coming months. Best to get it while it's hot if you're thinking about switching.

Ever recorded a college lecture and found the audio crystal clear, only to have your concert footage from that very day come out sounding like trash? This happened to me, and after some digging, I found the specific setting to blame—and why you shouldn't actually deactivate it completely.

Calibre just dropped version 8.16.1, and it brings a new feature that lets you ask an AI what book you should read next. This latest update builds on the AI capabilities the Calibre team has been adding over the past few months, which follows the trend of adding AI whenever possible.

The 2026 World Cup is just around the corner and today, Dec. 5, is a big day on the road to the biggest event in sports.

At 12 p.m. ET, live from the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington , D.C., the 2026 World Cup draw will take place. And, if you're wondering how you can watch the World Cup Draw live, the event will be broadcast live.

How to watch the 2026 World Cup Draw

Fox holds the broadcast rights to the event in the U.S. and will start its pre-show at 11:30 a.m. ET, 30 minutes before the draw begins.

You can get live updates on the draw at FIFA.com, or tune into the broadcast online via Fox One. (If you're a Prime member, you can add Fox One to your Prime Video account for free with a 7-day trial.)

If you're not in the United States, you can check out the global list of official broadcasters at the FIFA website. You can also check the FIFA YouTube channel to see if it's streaming live in your region.

How to watch the 2026 World Cup Draw online

If you don't have access to Fox, either because you don't have cable or a digital TV antenna, then you'll need a live TV service to tune in to all the World Cup action. So, if you want to watch the World Cup draw live and follow World Cup coverage, you'll need to plan ahead. Some of Mashable's favorite cable TV alternatives include:

How to watch the World Cup Draw live: Best Free Option Fox One Prime Video Add-On Free trial (7-day free trial (then $19.99/month)) Get Deal Best for Sports Streaming Fubo Free trial (1-month free trial ($48.99/month)) Get Deal Best Cable TV alternative Sling TV Plans start at $4.99/month Get Deal What is the 2026 World Cup draw?

The 2026 World Cup draw will basically place each national team into twelve groups of four. These teams play each other in the opening group stage to see who advances to the next rounds of the World Cup so being placed in a particular group can be an important factor in how far a team gets.

This is the very first World Cup draw for the newly expanded World Cup, which now features 48 teams instead of 32. Of the 48 teams, 42 countries have already clinched their spot in the World Cup with the remaining spots to be determined next year. Each team has been placed in one of four pots for the World Cup draw. One team from each pot will be placed in one of the 12 groups at the draw.

Host countries USA, Canada, and Mexico have all been placed in the same pot with favorites such as Argentina and Brazil, which basically ensures the host countries' teams don't have to play some of the better teams early on in the tournament.

And even if you aren't a soccer fan, the 2026 World Cup draw is going to have plenty of guests to pique your interest. Kevin Hart, Danny Ramirez, and Heidi Klum are co-hosting the event. Sports legends like Tom Brady, Shaquille O'Neal, Wayne Gretzky, and Aaron Judge will all be on hand to assist in the draw. Plus, there will be performances from artists such as The Village People, Robbie Williams, and Andrea Bocelli. 

If you're wondering about the music choices, noted YMCA fan President Donald Trump's attendance at the event should explain a lot. FIFA president Gianni Infantino has gone to great lengths to appease Trump as the U.S. hosts its first World Cup since 1994. FIFA is expected to award Trump with the FIFA Peace Prize at the event. (It's not the Nobel Peace Prize he's been campaigning for, but it's something.)

In addition, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and President of Mexico Claudia Sheinbaum, both of whom Trump has been feuding with over trade and tariffs, will be in attendance, so things could get interesting.

The 2026 World Cup kicks off on June 11 in Mexico City with the final game being held on July 19 at MetLife Stadium in the New York / New Jersey metro area.

Homebrew (or “Brew”) began as a tool to ease installation on macOS, where Apple likes to lock everything down to its App Store. But does it have a place on Linux too, where package managers are commonplace, and the user has more control?

Stop me if this sounds familiar—Google Messages is changing how you pick, send, and view media like pictures and videos inside the app. After running a test and overhauling the entire UI this summer, then rolling back those changes, it now appears that Google is yet again revamping media controls for its text and RCS platform.

SAVE 25%: As of Dec. 5, you can get the PlayStation VR2 Horizon Call of the Mountain bundle for $299.99, down from $399.99. That's a 25% discount and a $100 savings.

Opens in a new window Credit: PlayStation PlayStation VR2 'Horizon Call of the Mountain' bundle $299.99 at Best Buy
$399.99 Save $100   Get Deal

If you've been waiting to buy a PlayStation VR2, now's your chance to get a bundle deal for just $299.99.

As of Dec. 5, you can get the PlayStation VR2 Horizon Call of the Mountain bundle for $299.99, down from $399.99. That's a 25% discount and a $100 savings. But, you'd better hurry, Best Buy is listing this as a "3-Day Deal," so time's running out.

SEE ALSO: The 3 best gaming laptops with Nvidia GPUs in 2025, so far

This headset is the next generation of VR. It features 4K HDR visuals, 110-degree field of view, and advanced VR2 Sense technology (which includes eye tracking, headset feedback, and 3D audio). The best part? It's the complete bundle, so you get the headset, the Sense controllers, and Horizon Call of the Mountain to jump straight into conquering those "colossal peaks." This is the lowest we've seen this bundle, so don't miss the deadline.

Bluetooth is a well-worn technology that you might be tempted to write off in your smart home, especially if your server doesn’t already have Bluetooth capabilities. I wasn’t going to bother, but then I saw an opportunity to pick up a cheap adapter and gave it a shot.

On Friday, Netflix announced it would be buying Warner Bros. for a whopping $82.7 billion.

The deal, which still needs to be approved by the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), would see Netflix acquiring Warner Bros. and its film and TV studios, along with HBO and HBO Max. Netflix will now also own the Warner Bros. catalogue, including major film franchises like DC and the Monsterverse. How will the theatrical releases of upcoming Warner Bros. film look now that they're owned by a streaming service? Here's what we know.

SEE ALSO: Netflix is officially buying Warner Bros. What happens next? The good news: Theatrical releases of Warner Bros. films aren't going anywhere yet.

Don't worry, the next Dune film won't be zapped straight to streaming. According to the SEC filing and a statement from Netflix and Warner Bros. Discovery, "Netflix expects to maintain Warner Bros.' current operations and build on its strengths, including theatrical releases for films."

According to Variety, Warner Bros. currently has contracts in place to release films in movie theaters through 2029. Bloomberg also reported that continued theatrical releases were a major part of Netflix's bid to acquire Warner Bros., so the streamer appears committed to keeping Warner Bros. films in cinemas.

SEE ALSO: How much does Netflix cost per month? The bad news: Those Warner Bros. theatrical releases could look shorter.

However, Netflix CEO Ted Sarandos has made comments that could point to shorter theatrical runs for Warner Bros. films, not unlike Netflix's limited releases of its own films.

"It’s not like we have this opposition to movies in theaters," Sarandos said in a Friday conference call with press and investors, Variety reported. "My pushback has been mostly in the fact of the long exclusive windows, which we don’t really think are that consumer friendly, but when we talk about keeping HBO operating, largely as it is, that also includes their output movie deal with Warner Bros., which includes a life cycle that starts in the movie theater, which we’re going to continue to support.”

He continued, saying, "I think, over time, the windows will evolve to be much more consumer friendly, to be able to meet the audience where they are quicker."

On Dec. 4, Variety reported that a group of anonymous Hollywood A-listers are lobbying Congress about the acquisition, with theatrical releases being a top concern. Sources told Variety that Netflix's proposal for the acquisition included theatrical windows as short as two weeks prior to a streaming release. Another source denied this shorter timeline, saying release periods would actually be longer.

Netflix's current theatrical release plan for its own films involves shorter release periods in limited theaters. You won't find films like Frankenstein or Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery at big movie chains like AMC or Regal.

Netflix has moved into wider theatrical releases in 2025, with KPop Demon Hunters and the Stranger Things Season 5 finale both getting releases in AMC and Regal theaters. However, those runs are limited to two to three days, with Netflix continuing to prioritize streaming exclusivity.

SAVE $25: As of Dec. 5, get the Razer Kraken Kitty V3 X for $34.99 at Woot, down from its usual price of $59.99. That's a discount of 42%.

Opens in a new window Credit: Woot Razer Kraken Kitty V3 X $34.99 at Woot
$59.99 Save $25   Get Deal

If you're looking for a good way to interact with your teammates or co-op partners in the year's biggest games, you can't go wrong with an affordable headset. That goes double when the headset has kitty ears. Cyber Monday may have come and gone, but that doesn't mean you can't still save some serious cash on a great headset, especially if you like to walk on the cute side.

As of Dec. 5, get the Razer Kraken Kitty V3 X for $34.99 at Woot, down from its usual price of $59.99. That's $25 off and a discount of 42%.

SEE ALSO: Razer's new cat-ear gaming headset is sleeker, better connected, and $20 cheaper

This lightweight gaming headset is compatible with PlayStation, Xbox, PC, Switch, and more. It's meant for long-term wear, with a comfortable headband that features fun kitty ears that'll look positively "purrfect" when you're playing your favorite game. But they go far beyond looking cute. They're also a great pick when it comes to gaming headsets.

They feature a hyperclear carotid mic with an improved pickup pattern from the previous Razer Kraken headset, with 40mm 3-part drivers for better audio as well: clearer highs, richer mids, and improved, deeper lows. They also support 7.1 surround sound and can connect across platforms.

This is a fantastic option for anyone who values great comms and audio in-game but wants a bit of flair in their gaming headset. It's super affordable, looks cute, and a fun twist on the typical "gaming" aesthetic. Get yours before Woot sells out of this absolutely adorable peripheral.

If you're anything like me, you've already hastily consumed the first four episodes of Stranger Things 5. Don't sit there twiddling your thumbs, though. Netflix has plenty more shows to keep you entertained.

SAVE 49%: As of Dec. 5, you can get the Bose QuietComfort Headphones (with ANC) for just $179, down from $349, at Amazon. That's a 49% discount and a $170 price cut.

Bose QuietComfort Headphones (with ANC) $179 at Amazon
$349 Save $170   Get Deal at Amazon Get Deal at Best Buy

You don't need to splurge on the flagship model to get great sound and legendary noise cancellation from Bose. Our editors at Mashable recently tested every pair of Bose headphones and earbuds, and we named the standard Bose QuietComfort Headphones our Runner-Up for Best Headphones. And right now, you can get 'em for nearly half the price.

SEE ALSO: Bose QuietComfort Ultra headphones: How the first and second generations compare

As of Dec. 5, you can get the Bose QuietComfort Headphones (with ANC) for just $179, down from $349, at Amazon. That's a 49% discount and a $170 price cut. It's also the lowest price we've ever tracked for these headphones.

They feature active noise cancellation, which Mashable's shopping reporter Samantha Mangino says "was phenomenal," noting that she felt like she was in her "own world without the chaos of my fellow travelers interrupting" her peaceful ride. Plus, they’re seriously comfortable. The plush cushions are designed for long listening sessions, and they last up to 24 hours on a single charge.

While the Ultra version includes spatial audio, the standard QuietComfort delivers "full, rounded sound" that'll please most listeners, especially students who need reliable noise-blocking and a long-lasting battery. So, if you want great audio without paying a premium, this deal is the one to jump on.

As we march toward one of the last weekends of the year, it’s time again to take a look at some homelab projects you should tackle. This weekend, I think it’s time you get your network in order. From setting up VLANs and configuring static IPs to having a VPN available to access your network when out of the house, here’s three homelab projects to tackle this weekend.

You need a plan for when disaster strikes, and I don’t just mean being prepared for a hurricane or wildfire. What do you do to stay connected and preserve your data when your phone is shattered or, worse, lost for good?

As Microsoft continues giving everyone reasons to drop Windows in favor of a more reliable and open platform, there's no better time to explore what Linux has to offer. Here are a few good apps worth your time if you've got a Linux computer to play with this weekend.

The weekend is so close I can almost smell it—and that means it’s time for another roundup of Raspberry Pi projects to try out over the next few days. This weekend, I’m focusing on building out self-hosted media servers and controllers to help simplify audio listening and controlling.

It's official: Netflix is buying Warner Bros. in a sale worth a towering $82.7 billion.

Announced by Netflix on Friday, the two companies have reached a "definitive agreement" in which Netflix will acquire Warner Bros. and all its film and TV studios, including HBO and its streaming platform HBO Max. According to the SEC filing, the sale was "unanimously approved" by both Netflix and WBD's boards.

The sale's total equity value (what Netflix pays for WBD's shares) sits at $72 billion with an enterprise value (what Netflix pays for WBD plus debt) of $82.7 billion, with Netflix valuing WBD at $27.75 per share.

SEE ALSO: What does Netflix's purchase of Warner Bros. mean for theatrical releases?

Netflix landed the winning bid after WBD rejected three offers from Paramount Skydance, and a bid from Comcast to merge NBC Universal with Netflix. The landmark sale is expected to close after WBD's Global Networks division, Discovery Global (a separate company from WBD's Streaming and Studios, they were split in June 2025), becomes a new publicly-traded company in Q3 2026.

Next, Netflix and WBD need to have their filed agreement approved by the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

"Our mission has always been to entertain the world," said Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos in a press statement. "Together, we can give audiences more of what they love and help define the next century of storytelling." Netflix co-CEO Greg Peters added that the acquisition "will improve our offering and accelerate our business for decades to come."

"Today’s announcement combines two of the greatest storytelling companies in the world to bring to even more people the entertainment they love to watch the most,” said WBD CEO and president David Zaslav in a statement.

What does this mean for your streaming services?

Essentially, the Netflix/WBD deal means the same streamer that owns mega hits Stranger Things and KPop Demon Hunters will also own HBO's library, including the Game of Thrones and Harry Potter universes, as well as DC Comics and Warner Bros. Games. That's a lot of IP. The deal is the biggest streaming move for Warner Bros. Discovery since it merged HBO Max with Discovery+ in 2023.

In its release, Netflix said it "expects to maintain Warner Bros.' current operations and build on its strengths, including theatrical releases for films." Mashable's Belen Edwards examined what Netflix's purchase of Warner Bros. mean for theatrical releases.

As for your personal streaming habits, the company described the titles of HBO and HBO Max as "a compelling, complementary offering" for Netflix customers, which sounds like we'll probably be seeing bundles or merged content libraries up ahead.

"By adding the deep film and TV libraries and HBO and HBO Max programming, Netflix members will have even more high-quality titles from which to choose," the company said. "This also allows Netflix to optimize its plans for consumers, enhancing viewing options and expanding access to content."

Netflix also mentions the acquisition would allow the company to expand studio production capacity and increase investment in original content.So until the SEC approves the deal, nothing will change in either of your streaming services. For now.

The European Commission on Friday issued a landmark €120 million fine to Elon Musk-owned X for breaching transparency requirements of the Digital Services Act (DSA).

The fine, the equivalent of about $140 million and the first issued under the European Union's DSA, is linked to the "deceptive design of its ‘blue checkmark', the lack of transparency of its advertising repository, and the failure to provide access to public data for researchers," the EU release states.

SEE ALSO: Elon Musk's X rolls out feature that shows users' country of origin – then suddenly removes it

The "blue checkmark" is front-and-center in the ruling, stating that the once-free, now-paid checkmark deceives users and violates the DSA requirement to prohibit deceptive design practices. The blue checkmark now makes it difficult to verify authentic accounts and makes it easier for users to be scammed, according to the ruling.

"While the DSA does not mandate user verification, it clearly prohibits online platforms from falsely claiming that users have been verified, when no such verification took place," the ruling states.

The ruling also cites a lack of transparency within X's ad repository, stating that it has limited information about the content of advertisements and who is paying for them, which makes it difficult for researchers and the public to scrutinize.

X also failed to provide researchers access to public data as required by DSA.

The ruling follows a nearly two-year investigation launched in December 2023 to determine whether X violated DSA requirements related to the spread of illegal content and the effectiveness of its efforts to combat misinformation, the release states.

"Deceiving users with blue checkmarks, obscuring information on ads and shutting out researchers have no place online in the EU," said Henna Virkkunen, executive vice-president for European Commission for Tech Sovereignty, Security and Democracy.

X now has 60 business days to bring forward plans to address its use of blue checkmarks, 90 days to address EU concerns regarding its ad repository and public data access to researchers or face further fines, according to the ruling.