Quordle today: Here are the answers and hints for November 13
2023-03-19 06:19:59author:dointy.com
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Quordle today: Here are the answers and hints for November 13
The weekend is almost over. But you can't go to work tomorrow without finishing your Sunday Quordle.
If Quordle is a little too challenging today, you've come to the right place for hints. There aren't just hints here, but the whole Quordle solution. Scroll to the bottom of this page, and there it is. But are you sure you need all four answers? Maybe you just need a strategy guide. Either way, scroll down, and you'll get what you need.
What is Quordle?
Quordle is a five-letter word guessing game similar to Wordle, except each guess applies letters to four words at the same time. You get nine guesses instead of six to correctly guess all four words. It looks like playing four Wordle games at the same time, and that is essentially what it is. But it's not nearly as intimidating as it sounds.
Is Quordle harder than Wordle?
Yes, though not diabolically so.
Where did Quordle come from?
Amid the Wordle boom of late 2021 and early 2022, when everyone was learning to love free, in-browser, once-a-day word guessing games, creator Freddie Meyer says he took inspiration from one of the first big Wordle variations, Dordle — the one where you essentially play two Wordles at once. He took things up a notch, and released Quordle on January 30(Opens in a new tab). Meyer's creation was covered in The Guardian(Opens in a new tab) six days later, and now, according to Meyer, it attracts millions of daily users. Today, Meyer earns modest revenue(Opens in a new tab) from Patreon, where dedicated Quordle fans can donate to keep their favorite puzzle game running.
How is Quordle pronounced?
“Kwordle.” It should rhyme with “Wordle,” and definitely should not be pronounced exactly like "curdle.”
Is Quordle strategy different from Wordle?
Yes and no.
Your starting strategy should be the same as with Wordle. In fact, if you have a favorite Wordle opening word, there’s no reason to change that here. We suggest something rich in vowels, featuring common letters like C, R, and N. But you do you.
After your first guess, however, you’ll notice things getting out of control if you play Quordle exactly like Wordle.
What should I do in Quordle that I don’t do in Wordle?
Solving a Wordle puzzle can famously come down to a series of single letter-change variations. If you’ve narrowed it down to “-IGHT,” you could guess “MIGHT” “NIGHT” “LIGHT” and “SIGHT” and one of those will probably be the solution — though this is also a famous way to end up losing in Wordle, particularly if you play on “hard mode.” In Quordle, however, this sort of single-letter winnowing is a deadly trap, and it hints at the important strategic difference between Wordle and Quordle: In Quordle, you can't afford to waste guesses unless you're eliminating as many letters as possible at all times.
Guessing a completely random word that you already know isn't the solution, just to eliminate three or four possible letters you haven’t tried yet, is thought of as a desperate, latch-ditch move in Wordle. In Quordle, however, it's a normal part of the player's strategic toolset.
Is there a way to get the answer faster?
In my experience Quordle can be a slow game, sometimes dragging out longer than it would take to play Wordle four times. But a sort of blunt-force guessing approach can speed things up. The following strategy also works with Wordle if you only want the solution, and don’t care about having the fewest possible guesses:
Try starting with a series of words that puts all the vowels (including Y) on the board, along with some other common letters. We've had good luck with the three words: “NOTES,” “ACRID,” and “LUMPY.” YouTuber DougMansLand(Opens in a new tab) suggests four words: “CANOE,” “SKIRT,” “PLUMB,” and “FUDGY.”
Most of the alphabet is now eliminated, and you’ll only have the ability to make one or two wrong guesses if you use this strategy. But in most cases you’ll have all the information you need to guess the remaining words without any wrong guesses.
If strategy isn't helping, and you're still stumped, here are some hints:
Are there any double or triple letters in today’s Quordle words?
Three words have letters occurring twice.
Are any rare letters being used in today’s Quordle like Q or Z?
No.
What do today’s Quordle words start with?
S, C, D, and B.
What are the answers for today’s Quordle?
Are you sure you want to know?
There’s still time to turn back.
OK, you asked for it. The answers are:
STING
CIRCA
DRAMA
BELLY
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TV cops call for other TV cops to step up and donate
You have to either be foolish or actively part of the problem if you fail to recognize at this point that there's a policing problem in the United States.
You know who isn't a fool? Griffin Newman, star of The Tick and co-host of the Blank Check podcast(Opens in a new tab). He also played a cop on TV in a couple episodes of Blue Bloods, and came to the unfortunate revelation that since we can't necessarily rely on IRL cops to do the right thing during this fraught moment, maybe the fictional police can step up to help instead.
So he made a tweet. And he accompanied that tweet with proof of a tangible action taken, a donation to the Community Justice Exchange through ActBlue(Opens in a new tab).
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Brooklyn Nine-Nine's Stephanie Beatriz saw the tweet and passed it along. The actor who plays no-nonsense cop Rosa Diaz on the NBC sitcom followed Newman's lead and did the same thing: an $11,000 donation to the Emergency Release Fund(Opens in a new tab) and another tweet calling on TV cops to step up.
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As of 11:00 a.m. ET on Tuesday morning, Newman and Beatriz were the only two actors who have publicly made the pledge using the template laid out(Opens in a new tab) in the original tweet.
Around 9:00 p.m. ET on Tuesday, Beatriz' co-star Melissa Fumero tweeted in support of the protests, adding that the cast of Brooklyn Nine-Nine and showrunner Dan Goor had made a $100,000 donation to the National Bail Fund Network and encouraged others to do the same.
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And hey, you don't need to be a current or former TV cop to donate. There are real people out in the world right now who need help that extend beyond concern-tweeting and other forms of performative allyship(Opens in a new tab) on social media. If you're financially able, write the check. Want some ideas? Start here.
UPDATE: June 3, 2020, 11:45 a.m. AEST This story has been updated to include the Brooklyn Nine-Nine cast's donation.
Snapchat stops promoting Donald Trumps account in Discover
UPDATE: June 3, 2020, 2:37 p.m. EDT
President Trump's team has apparently not taken kindly to Snapchat's actions. According to the New York Times(Opens in a new tab), Trump's 2020 campaign manager, Brad Parscale, said(Opens in a new tab) "Snapchat is trying to rig the 2020 election." OK, Brad.
The social media dominoes are falling for President Donald Trump.
As protests over the killing of George Floyd and police brutality continue across the country, Trump is doing things likes having protesters teargassed for a photo op and raging against Twitter. Now tech companies are taking action.
Snapchat says that it won't promote the president's account in the Discover section anymore. Axios(Opens in a new tab) first reported the decision, and Snap confirmed the news to Mashable via email. Snapchat made the decision over the weekend.
“We are not currently promoting the President’s content on Snapchat’s Discover platform," a Snap spokesperson said. "We will not amplify voices who incite racial violence and injustice by giving them free promotion on Discover. Racial violence and injustice have no place in our society and we stand together with all who seek peace, love, equality, and justice in America.”
The decision comes after controversy around Trump's tweets that many view as inciting violence against protesters. Twitter affixed labels to two of Trump's recent tweets: one that spread false news about voting by mail, and another that glorified violence, which Twitter blurred out. Meanwhile at Facebook, despite internal protests from employees, Mark Zuckerberg has stuck by the company's decision to allow the content on its platform.
Snapchat's stand is a bit different. Trump's account will remain on Snap, searchable and available to subscribers, and there's no specific content that it is fact checking, removing, or censoring. The change comes in its Discover tab, a section in the app that Snap employees curate. The company's thinking is that people can say what they want on Snapchat as long as it doesn't violate community guidelines. But users are not entitled to the "free promotion" of Discover, which has always been curated. Snap does not want Discover to be a place that amplifies messages of hate.
SEE ALSO:
How tech leaders can do more for racial justice than just tweet
Snap CEO Evan Spiegel alluded to the decision in a memo(Opens in a new tab) sent to employees, which was made public by the company.
As for Snapchat, we simply cannot promote accounts in America that are linked to people who incite racial violence, whether they do so on or off our platform. Our Discover content platform is a curated platform, where we decide what we promote. We have spoken time and again about working hard to make a positive impact, and we will walk the talk with the content we promote on Snapchat. We may continue to allow divisive people to maintain an account on Snapchat, as long as the content that is published on Snapchat is consistent with our community guidelines, but we will not promote that account or content in any way.... we will make it clear with our actions that there is no grey area when it comes to racism, violence, and injustice – and we will not promote it, nor those who support it, on our platform.
Trump lashed out at Twitter's actions by signing an executive order meant to make it easier to sue social media companies for the content posted by their users.
There's no word from the president yet on Snap's actions. But if the situation plays out like the Alex Jones bans, more social media companies could be taking away Trump's megaphones for hate.
Mayor of D.C. has city workers painting Black Lives Matter on street to White House
Washington, D.C. has taken some very visible action to support the Black Lives Matter protests around the country.
On Friday morning, a group of people were seen painting the words "Black Lives Matter" in large yellow letters down two blocks of 16th Street, a two-lane road which leads to the White House.
The painters were commissioned by D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser(Opens in a new tab), per CNN, and when New York Times writer Emily Badger happened upon the city workers on Friday morning, they casually said they were "just paintin' the streets."
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Badger noted that the 16 eye-catching letters, which span the full width of the street, will "be a real middle finger to any federal forces flying overhead."
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If you're curious as to what the statement looks like from above, check out this video that Mayor Bowser shared on Twitter alongside the hashtag #BlackLivesMatter. The video was taken from a roof and music can be heard playing in the background.
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Badger also added that the yellow paint is not temporary by any means — it appears to be the same paint city officials use to stripe road lanes.
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"Black Lives Matter" paint on 16th street near the White House.Credit: DANIEL SLIM / AFP via Getty Images
The lettering comes as protests continue to spread throughout the city and hundreds of people gather each day outside the White House gates to condemn racism, police brutality, and the death of George Floyd — a black man who died on May 25, after a Minneapolis police officer kneeled on his neck for nearly 9 minutes.
After protests outside the White House escalated last Friday night, the Secret Service reportedly ushered Trump — along with Melania and their son Barron — to the underground presidential bunker, where they were said to have remained for nearly an hour(Opens in a new tab).
On Friday morning, Mayor Bowser shared additional tweets that related to the Black Lives Matter paint. The first was a letter she wrote requesting that President Trump "withdraw all extraordinary federal law enforcement and military presence" from the city.
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And the second was a video that showed a "Black Lives Matter" street sign being added to a lamp post in the city. "The section of 16th street in front of the White House is now officially 'Black Lives Matter Plaza,'" Bowser wrote in her tweet.
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Mashable has reached out to the D.C. Mayor's office for comment and will update this article if we receive a reply.
UPDATE: June 5, 2020, 10:55 a.m. EDT Updated to include a tweet from D.C. mayor, Muriel Bowser.
UPDATE: June 5, 2020, 12:13 p.m. EDT Updated to include two additional tweets from Mayor Bowser.
Related Video: How to donate to support the Black Lives Matter movement
In TikTok protest, witches cast spells to hex cops
Under the light of this week's full moon, a group of witches of TikTok — or WitchTok, if you will — are casting protection spells for protestors and hexes for cops.
With the U.S. a week into protests against police brutality after the killing of George Floyd, a surprising array of subcultures have stepped up to help. K-pop stans flooded police reporting platforms with fancams so informants couldn't snitch on protestors. Even Mennonites showed up(Opens in a new tab) to protest in Minneapolis. And now covens are redirecting their power to protestors.
Organizing under the #witchesforblm hashtag, practicing witches are teaching each other how to cast simple spells, draw sigils, and manifest intentions.
The movement seems to have started with a comment from TikTok user beckydoeslife. This was in response to a TikTok by venxm.exe, in which the practicing witch filmed herself casting a protection spell for protestors rallying against police brutality.
In just five days, the tag #witchesforblm garnered a collective 10 million views on the app.
The tag started when a TikTok user suggested using #witchesforblm to organize.Credit: tiktok / venxm.exe
The tag started when a TikTok user suggested using #witchesforblm to organize.Credit: tiktok / venxm.exe
WitchTok users aim to protect protestors and hex law enforcement, who have been escalating violence against peaceful protestors nationwide all week.
In some videos, like this one from rue.the.day, users act out what they predict will happen to cops after WitchTok casts its spells.
TikTok users are acting out what'll happen to cops after they cast their spells.Credit: tiktok / rue.the.day
In a video for beginners, jes.tkidding suggests a simple hex: write down the names of police officers and use a black candle to burn that paper, and then let the candle burn all the way through. In a video for more experienced practitioners, sorciereverte demonstrates how to write protection sigils that spell out "PROTESTORS ARE PROTECTED FROM POLICE BRUTALITY" and "BLACK LIVES MATTER TODAY AND ALWAYS."
A TikTok user demonstrates simple spells beginner witches can cast.Credit: tiktok / jes.tkidding
A TikTok user demonstrates writing a sigil that says, "PROTESTORS ARE PROTECTED AGAINST POLICE BRUTALITY."Credit: tiktok / sorciereverte
Of course, casting spells probably isn't enough to really make change to a historically racist and unjust system. So in addition to recommending meditating, burning candles, and making "moon water," TikTok user earthytiana suggests(Opens in a new tab) using the power of the full moon to sign petitions, donate to the Black Lives Matter movement, and attend protests.
Enjoy watching as Brits tear down a slavers statue and dump it in the river
If you happen to be looking for the Edward Colston statue in Bristol, England, try finding it at its new location: in the harbor, at the bottom of the river.
If you’re not sure exactly where, you can try checking Google Maps. It’s been updated with the statue’s new underwater location. (It may be changed back when you go to look, though; keep reading.)
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An estimated 10,000 people showed up in Bristol, England on Sunday for a Black Lives Matter protest in solidarity with the hundreds of cities across the United States which have been protesting the police killing of George Floyd.
During the protest, some attendees tied a rope around the memorial of Edward Colston in Bristol, where the bronze statue has stood since 1895. Colston was a 17th century English slave trader and former member of Parliament. He was responsible for transporting more than 100,000 slaves from West Africa.
Some were quick to point out how Colston was a well-known philanthropist, supporting schools, hospitals and various other charities. A number of city landmarks and establishments bear his name. However, what needs to be mentioned along with these charitable efforts is how he funded all this with money he made from the slave trade.
The demonstrators proceeded to topple the statue. One protester kneeled down on its neck after it fell, in a nod to Floyd, who was killed when former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin kneeled on his neck for almost nine minutes while three other officers both looked on and, in two cases, helped.
Protesters then dragged the statue to the harbor and pushed it over a guardrail, where it fell into the Avon River, eliciting cheers from the crowd.
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Shortly after, as word spread, many users on social media platforms like Twitter had noticed that a Google Maps search was now showing the statue’s new location: at the bottom of the river. The statue was later updated with additional info, obviously crowdsourced by users, like how the memorial was “permanently closed.”
I checked Google Maps to confirm. However, at the time that I looked, the updated location of the statue had reverted back to its original spot... where the statue is no longer located.
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Local law enforcement have condemned the toppling of the statue. An investigation has been opened to find out who was responsible for taking it down.
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The Colston statue has been a point of contention in the Bristol community since well before the current police brutality protests. In 2018, the Lord Mayor of Bristol removed(Opens in a new tab) a portrait of the slave trader that hung in city hall. A petition to remove(Opens in a new tab) the statue already existed, garnering 11,000 signatures.
Protests in the wake of the police killing of George Floyd continue to spread across the United States and around the world.
14 Harry Potter things to love that have nothing to do with J.K. Rowling
On Saturday, J.K. Rowling posted her latest string of transphobic tweets, in which she suggested that only women can menstruate and that gender inclusivity erases the female experience. As an ardent Harry Potter fan myself, with a network of friends in the community, I saw my Twitter timeline fill up with exactly one sentiment in response to these tweets:
Fuck that.
This isn't the first time Rowling has been transphobic; previous likes and tweets have followed the line of thought demonstrated on Saturday. I personally expressed my disappointment in her December 2019 tweets, but wrote them off. I assumed she was oblivious and disconnected from the right resources due to shoddy PR, her own ignorance, and that bubble away from reality that most of the ultra-rich and famous seem to occupy.
But again, fuck that.
Saturday's tweets are further evidence of Rowling's ignorance, but there can be no doubt now that it is willful. Even Harry Potter himself, Daniel Radcliffe, couldn't remain silent and issued a statement in solidarity with the queer and trans community(Opens in a new tab).
For a generation that grew up on the Harry Potter values of standing up to power and bigotry, the irony is not lost and the heartbreak is real. It's been a long time coming for some but totally new for others who might not be able to stop loving Potter as easily as they turned on its creator.
Harry Potter has been around long enough that its influence spreads far beyond a certain writer. Songs have been written, merch designed, organizations launched, and discussions furthered far beyonds the limits of what Rowling could ever have imagined. Those of us who read Harry Potter as children are writers, artists, and activists now, equipped to enjoy the wizarding world without her.
So now that you've accepted the Death of the Author(Opens in a new tab), here are 14 places to direct your Harry Potter love that have nothing to do with You-Know-Who.
Note: The author (I mean myself now) knows individuals involved with several items on this list.
1. The Harry Potter Alliance(Opens in a new tab)
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Launched in 2005, the HPA is a social justice organization that works toward gender equity, LGTBQIA+ equality, racial justice, climate change activism, education, and more. It has partnered with groups like the American Library Association, ACLU, and Hank and John Green's DFTBA. In 2010, the HPA raised enough money through fan campaigns to send five airplanes of medical supplies to earthquake relief efforts in Haiti(Opens in a new tab). They have a handy guide on how to advocate for trans people right here(Opens in a new tab).
2. Black Girls Create(Opens in a new tab)
This multifandom resource for black creators encourages fans to recognize that you can love something while still being highly critical of it. They raised $16,000 in a week for organizations helping Black Lives Matter through a Hogwarts house-themed points competition. Through podcasts(Opens in a new tab) like #WizardTeam(Opens in a new tab) and the Doctor Who-themed TARBIS(Opens in a new tab) (Who Watch: Time and Relative Blackness in Space), the BGC community promotes intersectional representation, especially for black women.
3. Hermione Granger and the Quarter Life Crisis(Opens in a new tab)
This breezy web series what would have happened if 25-year-old Hermione Granger didn't marry Ron and become a cop, but questioned it all and hightailed to California to hang out with former classmate Parvati Patil. Created by Eliyannah Amirah Yisrael and starring Ashley Romans, the series imagines how wizardry looks for millennial adults and how the magical and muggle worlds collide. It's even brave enough to suggest Hermione go to therapy, something that would certainly have helped all the adults in Cursed Child. And speaking of that nonsense...
4. StarKid(Opens in a new tab)
Filmed in a 100-seat basement theater at the University of Michigan, A Very Potter Musical became an early viral sensation in 2009. It expertly pokes fun at its source material and expands upon the canon, as with Harry's obvious desire to be the center of attention or Draco's inability to stand still. The cast and characters are more diverse in race and sexuality than any Harry Potter content ever distributed by Warner Bros. or Universal, a statistic that will probably hold up for a very long time.
AVPM spawned a sequel ("There is literally no way forward from this point") and a threequel, but its creators have created over a dozen non-Potter productions since then, including Holy Musical, [email protected]!, Ani: A Parody, and originals like Firebringer and Black Friday.
5. The Gayly Prophet(Opens in a new tab)
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Two Harry Potter fans (Jessie Blount and Lark Malakai Grey) host this weekly podcast that examines the books through a queer feminist lens. They were quick to note after Rowling's comments that this person was being openly transphobic during an uprising in a pandemic and that there is truly no weirder or worse flex.
6. Sorted(Opens in a new tab)
Credit: simon & schuster
Jackson Bird(Opens in a new tab)'s 2019 memoir about coming out as trans is inextricably linked to his experiences in the Harry Potter fandom. Bird's writing is thorough and informative yet never overwhelming. He takes you on his journey through childhood and adolescence, weaving in the boy wizard's influence and the community that ultimately helped him accept who he was and offered support when he declared it. The title refers to the Sorting Hat, but especially to Dumbledore's musing in Deathly Hallows that "I sometimes think we sort too soon." Once again, the fans understand Rowling's message more than it seems she ever could.
7. Man Up Apparel(Opens in a new tab)
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This clothing brand started as a part-time source of cheer apparel and now provides some of the swaggiest HP clothing Warner Bros. could only dream of. The house face hoodies give mascots as much a chance to shine as colors, and the varsity jackets will be the envy of every former high school athlete you meet. Best of all for this Ravenclaw: The Ravenclaw colors of blue and bronze and the house eagle are resplendent, putting that hideous blue-gray raven gear from the movies to shame.
8. Mark Reads Harry Potter(Opens in a new tab)
Writer Mark Oshiro(Opens in a new tab) has made a career of watching and reading things(Opens in a new tab) (and is now an author(Opens in a new tab) too) because their voice is so utterly entertaining. They started Harry Potter for the first time in 2010(Opens in a new tab) with little to no prior exposure (the podcast Potterless(Opens in a new tab) started a similar journey in recent years) and there is nothing quite like experiencing the joy of a grown adult becoming obsessed with Rubeus Hagrid for the first time.
9. Carry On(Opens in a new tab)
Credit: St. Martin's Griffin
Rainbow Rowell's YA fantasy novel is a spinoff of her own Fangirl, but the characters are undeniably influenced by Harry Potter and Draco Malfoy as they occupy a slightly different magical realm. Simon Snow is his world's Chosen One, guided by "the Mage" and anointed by a prophecy — and as if that's not enough, he finds it harder and harder each day to deny the attraction he feels to his so-called enemy Basilton (a.k.a. Baz). Carry On and sequel Wayward Son (yup) are the Drarry fic you crave on ink and paper, and a beautiful example of how joyous and easy it is to write a queer magical story.
10. Puffs(Opens in a new tab)
The now-closed off-Broadway play about "a certain school of magic and magic" tells the story we all know through the eyes of Hufflepuff students — sometimes confused, often endangered, and always nice even in the face of certain danger brought upon them by the Boy Who Lived. It may not be running anymore, but the show lives on digitally(Opens in a new tab).
11. Vegard(Opens in a new tab)
This European YouTuber happily declares "Harry Potter (minus JKR)" in their Twitter bio(Opens in a new tab), and has a wonderful time exploring the books, movies, spells, and more in video form regardless. Vegard proves there is no end to answers to the question of how one can manifest one's Harry Potter love, whether it's explaining the story drunk, editing oneself into scenes, talking about it to Siri, and so much more.
12. Wizard rock
The musical genre launched in the early 2000s now boasts hundreds of musicians and bands who sing about the series, including to challenge its heteronormativity or ridiculousness wherever they can. The wizard rock community has long been a haven for queer fans, and the growing roster of artists(Opens in a new tab) means more diverse talent joining its ranks every day.
13. The Wizard Tailor(Opens in a new tab)
@thewizardtailor(Opens in a new tab)
Get in the car, looser, we’re going to Beauxbatons 🦋 ##tiktokprom(Opens in a new tab)##harrypotter(Opens in a new tab)##passthebrushchallenge(Opens in a new tab)##passthebrush(Opens in a new tab)##beauxbatons(Opens in a new tab)##french(Opens in a new tab)##hp(Opens in a new tab)##hpcosplay(Opens in a new tab)##hpcos(Opens in a new tab)
♬ Theme from "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire" (Potter Waltz) - Movie Sounds Unlimited(Opens in a new tab)
This TikTok creator and cosplayer known as Michael is doing the ridiculous and yet very important work of recreating popular TikToks with a Harry Potter spin(Opens in a new tab). Apologies in advance to all your friends for the slew of links you're about to send them.
14. Binge Mode: Harry Potter(Opens in a new tab)
Though it does occasionally praise the author, The Ringer's Binge Mode podcast hosted by Mallory Rubin and Jason Concepcion provides exceptional analysis and raucous commentary as they reread the Harry Potter books. No amount of Fantastic Beasts movies (and we hope there are no more) could conceive of anything as brilliant as "McGalleon," a headcanon about McGonagall's aggressive sports betting and how it clouds her objectivity as a teacher. You'll learn to turn down the volume when Jason yells, and you'll love it.
Its OK to post on social media even though you havent replied to texts
I don't know who needs to hear this, but it's perfectly OK for someone to post on social media even though they haven't replied to your text messages yet.
Sure, it's polite and respectful to respond to messages and answer questions as soon as possible, but taking a few hours — or even days — to do so doesn't always mean someone is actively trying to be rude or disrespectful toward you.
It's easy to get annoyed with people who take a while to respond to messages — especially if you see them tweeting, sharing articles to Facebook, or posting Instagram stories in the meantime. Trust me, I get it.
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I used to make every effort to reply to texts within seconds of receiving them, so I often got frustrated when others took a while to respond to me. When people would leave my texts unanswered and I'd see them post on social media, I'd admittedly wonder, "What the hell?" But then, something changed.
I grew increasingly overwhelmed with work, life, and all the chaos going on in the world, and my anxiety made it impossible to text anyone back. I started having to wait until it subsided to reply to people, and that's when I realized delayed responses aren't always what they seem.
SEE ALSO:
13 mental health resources for black people trying to cope right now
Sending a text seems like one of the simplest tasks in the world. You tap your phone screen to form words and smash the send button, right? Most of the time I do consider texting to be an extremely low-energy task, but much like in-person conversations, communicating digitally sometimes requires real effort, vulnerability, and thoughtfulness. That's not always easy to give.
Texting and using social media require different levels of effort
At some point over the past few years, I began staring at light gray iMessage bubbles that read things like, "How are you?" or "How was your week?" in absolute terror. My thumbs became paralyzed at the sight of daunting questions that required deep levels of introspection or explanation on my part, so I'd put off responding until I felt up to the challenge.
I occasionally let my text messages pile up unanswered, but I kept living my life and posting to social media. It seemed like a good system, until one of my friends called me out.
"Hi, remember me???" a friend replied to my Instagram story one Saturday. She had texted me the day before, and I hadn't forgotten to respond. I'd had a truly horrible week and wanted to take the weekend to recover. I had every intention of replying to her non-urgent text on Monday, but because she saw me using Instagram, she felt I should have texted her back already.
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Unless the person you message has read receipts turned on, you likely won't be able to tell when, or if, they've had a chance to read your texts. If you picture someone being too busy to stop and look at their phones — as I'm sure my friend was doing with me — it's easy to rationalize delayed responses. But if a person you've messaged posts to social media before replying to you, their silence in DMs is often taken as a slap in the face.
The common thought process here is that if someone has the time to casually be online, then they must have time to reply to your text. If they're on social media, they're clearly using technology, so why can't they take a few extra minutes to answer you?
On the surface, this logic makes sense. But it's not always as simple as someone failing to carve out time. People might be posting to social media during a quick break from work, they could be using social media to distract themselves from daily dread, or they might quickly post something in the presence of other people and not have the time to devote to texting. There's also the chance that they just might have forgotten to reply.
When my friend called me out for not answering her, I replied honestly. I explained that for me, posting on social media requires much less effort than engaging in a personal conversation. I told her I was taking the weekend to recharge my social batteries, and she was super understanding. We ended up having a really productive conversation about how texting isn't always as easy as it sounds.
Sometimes self-care means not texting back right away
Depending on the conversation topic and where you're at in life mentally/emotionally, chatting with people can be challenging.
Reminding myself that texts like, "How are you?" can demand significantly more detailed responses than than texts like, "Have you watched Better Call Saul yet?" helps me understand and justify delayed responses. And acknowledging that mindlessly scrolling through Twitter or posting photos of food can be easier than talking about your life helped me accept that it's perfectly fine to use social media in between receiving and answering texts.
How have I been? What a stacked question.Credit: screenshot / nicole gallucci
Sometimes self-care means not texting back right away, and that became extraordinarily clear to me this year amid the coronavirus pandemic and George Floyd protests.
When my mind was racing to grapple with all the new coronavirus social distancing guidelines, medical research, and death tolls, I had trouble replying to texts in a timely manner. I did, however, find some semblance of calm on Instagram, and I continued sharing informative updates on Twitter.
And after George Floyd died on May 25 after a Minneapolis police officer kneeled on his neck for nearly 9 minutes, I barely texted anyone for days. I took time to watch protests spread around the world; to read books and articles, and to watch films to further educate myself on the history of racism and police brutality. I made an effort to donate to organizations, sign petitions, and support black-owned businesses.
Though I didn't feel ready to reply to non-urgent texts for a full week, I felt it was imperative that I continue to use my social media platforms to help raise awareness on the issues at hand and share invaluable resources.
Exceptions to the rule
If you're not in the right mindset to reply to text messages immediately, you shouldn't. Prioritizing your mental health is important. But you should also choose which texts to leave hanging on a case-by-case basis.
Always keep a message's content and urgency in mind. If someone's asking a question that requires an immediate response, do your best to respond in a timely fashion. And if someone needs help, you obviously shouldn't ignore them.
Wait a bit, but don't ghost people forever.Credit: vicky leta / mashable
If you wait to text back, be sure to acknowledge and apologize for the delay when you do get around to it. You can even be upfront with people and let them know upon receiving their message that you need a day or two to get back to them — that way you can relax without the unanswered text lingering in the back of your mind. Be honest with people if you're too overwhelmed to chat, but please avoid using that viral text reply template.
And remember, there's definitely a difference between waiting until you feel emotionally ready to text someone back and straight-up ghosting them. Don't ghost people, that's rude as hell.
Be kind to yourself and others
Ultimately, it's crucial to keep in mind that you never know exactly what someone is going through when they receive your text messages.
Cut yourself, and others, some slack, and try not to read too much into text delays — even if you see people posting on social media before they've replied. (If the wait really bothers you, you can always confront them about it. And you might end up having an eye-opening talk like I did with my friend.)
As someone who's avoided replying to family members and friends I absolutely adore because of sheer emotional exhaustion, I can tell you that delays aren't always ill-intentioned. Sometimes people are just overwhelmed.
Now you can identify plants and pooches right in Snapchat
Have you ever seen a dog so adorable or a plant so lush out in the wild that you had to know what it was right then and there?
Snap announced new partnerships on Thursday with the apps Dog Scanner(Opens in a new tab) and PlantSnap(Opens in a new tab) that will allow Snapchat users to do just that. Snapchatters can identify dogs or plants they encounter in the real world by scanning them right in Snapchat.
When you press and hold on the camera screen in Snapchat, lenses that are relevant to what the camera is pointing at are unlocked. For example, if I point and hold the camera on my dog right now, lenses that put sunglasses or heart eyes specifically formatted for the shape face of a dog appear.
Now, if you point the camera at a particularly Good Boy you see, you can access a lens that tells you what breed the dog is, using the data and A.I. of Dog Scanner, which recognizes nearly 400 dog breeds (my dog would get 100 percent purebred mutt). And if you focus your lens on a tree, bush or bud that catches your eye, you'll be able to identify 90 percent of known plants and trees with the PlantSnap integration.
Gotta snap that plant!!!Credit: snap
Snap announced the new features at the Snap Partner Summit, which it held virtually Thursday.
The ability to identify two of earth's best things — dogs and plants — through your smartphone, of course already exists; Dog Scanner and PlantSnap are standalone apps. But it's helpful that the capability comes within Snapchat itself if you're either someone who uses the app frequently already, or doesn't want to have to download a new app for each object you want your smartphone to help identify.
Plus, more categories are coming soon. An upcoming integration with the food and cosmetics scanning app Yuka(Opens in a new tab) will let Snapchatters unlock nutrition facts when they point and hold the camera at a food item. Snap already lets you point and hold to identify a song through Shazam, solve math problems with Photomath, and identify (and shop for) products sold on Amazon.
The dog and plant integrations are the sort of typically playful and fun feature that Snapchat is known for. However, the lens product also holds opportunity for further monetization for the company, as Snap CEO Evan Spiegel pointed out during a Q&A with reporters. For example, Snap unveiled a partnership with Louis Vuitton that allows users to point and hold on the monogram logo, which then takes users to content about their new collection. It's easy to see how — similar to the Amazon integration — this could lead to not just brand content and awareness, but shopping.
Snap made some other announcements around lenses for both developers and users Thursday. It's making more lens development templates available, such as ways to interact with — wait for it — feet (this could enable experiences like virtually trying on shoes).
On the user side, pointing and holding in a neighborhood will now unlock "local lenses," which lets users actually decorate buildings and other landmarks in AR. It's kind of like a shared street art experience, in which users build on each other's creations, that anyone in the physical space can access.
Snapchat's innovation in AR has helped the company keep its creative edge, even as companies like Facebook continually try to copy it. The biggest trouble with Snapchat's AR products is keeping track of all the things the app can do in a sometimes difficult to navigate lens ecosystem. But with a new voice search feature and a souped up Activity Bar, also announced Thursday, Snap's working on that, too.
Fox News used doctored images to, uh, report on Seattle protests
A protest against the police killing of George Floyd and police brutality in Seattle has been mostly characterized by drum circles, speakers(Opens in a new tab) and movie screenings. But if you only tuned into Fox News for coverage of these demonstrations, you might think it was full of burning buildings and armed guards.
On Friday, Fox News published several digitally altered images of the demonstrations on its website, which the Seattle Times caught(Opens in a new tab). It's not clear who is responsible for tweaking the images.
One photo, shown on Fox's homepage on Friday, placed a man with a rifle standing in front of a sign that reads "You are now entering Free Cap Hill." The street scene and the man who appears in it come from two different photos, taken more than a week apart.
The sign in that photo refers to the newly-dubbed Capitol Hill Autonomous Zone, a stretch of six blocks set up by protesters in Seattle's Capitol Hill neighborhood to create "a police-free" independent zone, The Guardian reported(Opens in a new tab). It was established after the Seattle police abandoned a precinct in the neighborhood(Opens in a new tab) and converted the area into a festival-like space.
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The conservative outlet also published a photo of a person running past a fiery building and car to accompany stories on the Seattle protest. The headline read "CRAZY TOWN." The photo is actually from St. Paul, Minn. and was taken on May 30, according to the Seattle Times.
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After the Times reached out to Fox News about the photos, they were removed. But a Fox News spokeswoman also said the following, "We have replaced our photo illustration with the clearly delineated images of a gunman and a shattered storefront, both of which were taken this week in Seattle’s autonomous zone.”
The Times pushed back on this statement writing in its article that "the gunman photo was taken June 10, while storefront images it was melded with were datelined May 30 by Getty Images."
Though, as the Times reports, the demonstration has seen armed protesters it is nothing like the scene Fox attempted to purport with its misleading use of images.
As a photojournalism ethics educator told the Times, "I think it’s disgraceful propaganda and terribly misrepresentative of documentary journalism in times like this, when truth-telling and accountability is so important,” said Kenny Irby. “There is no attribution. There is no acknowledgment of the montage, and it’s terribly misleading.”
On Saturday, Fox News appended an editor's note to the stories featuring altered images expressing regret for "these errors."
A FoxNews.com home page photo collage which originally accompanied this story included multiple scenes from Seattle’s “Capitol Hill Autonomous Zone” and of wreckage following recent riots. The collage did not clearly delineate between these images, and has since been replaced. In addition, a recent slideshow depicting scenes from Seattle mistakenly included a picture from St. Paul, Minnesota. Fox News regrets these errors.
UPDATE: June 13, 2020, 4:06 p.m. EDT Added the editor's note that's been appended to stories on the Fox News website featuring the misleading images.
In honor of Trumps birthday, people tweet praise for Obama
Donald Trump turned 74 on Sunday. So, naturally, people celebrated the occasion by tweeting about the person who perhaps gets under his skin the most: Barack Obama. (Sunday was also Flag Day, but we feel like that wasn't the impetus here.)
The former president trended on the platform(Opens in a new tab) for much of the day, frequently under hashtags like #BarackObamaDay, #ObamaDayUSA, and #ObamaDayJune14th. Users tweeted corny praise for the former president alongside statements about Trump's incompetence. Some were oblique: "Smart intelligence leadership. I miss that every day," one person wrote. Others were more pointed: "Best president in my lifetime. Right @realdonaldtrump? You're the worst," wrote another(Opens in a new tab).
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Still others made references to Saturday's ramp fiasco, when Trump stepped gingerly down a ramp after his West Point graduation speech, got made fun of, then lied about it being slippery in a later tweet. One user, for example, tweeted a photo(Opens in a new tab) of Obama walking down a "slippery wet sidewalk."
SEE ALSO:
Michelle Obama to 2020 graduates: 'Finish the work the generations before you have started'
While not explicitly related to Obama, #AllBirthdaysMatter — a troll-y reference to the dismissive slogan "All lives matter,"(Opens in a new tab) which is often employed in attempts to discredit the Black Lives Matter movement — also trended briefly above Trump's birthday. Of course, the K-pop fans participated.
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Like most Resistance Twitter(Opens in a new tab) trends, the tweets skewed largely corny, were very reductive, and suffered from an overuse of hashtags. But Trump also takes the bait on this kind of thing all the time, so perhaps it genuinely bothered him. In any event, we're sure the Krassenstein brothers(Opens in a new tab) would be proud.
Samsungs fancy self-emptying stick vacuum just dropped its price again — plus more of todays best deals
We've rounded up the best deals we could find on March 23 — here are some of our top picks:
BEST STREAMING DEAL: MGM+ as an add-on for Prime Video(Opens in a new tab) — $2.99/month$5.99/month for two months (save $6)
BEST VACUUM DEAL: Samsung Bespoke Jet cordless stick vacuum with all-in-one Clean Station(Opens in a new tab) — $421.73$899 (save $477.27)
BEST COMPUTER DEAL: Acer Chromebook Spin 513 convertible laptop (Qualcomm Snapdragon 7c, 8GB RAM, 64GB eMMC)(Opens in a new tab) — $349.99$459.99 (save $110)
Looking to do some retail therapy? We've rounded up some of the best deals we could find for you on March 23, so you know what's worth your time and hard-earned cash.
We're seeing price drops on vacuums, computers and monitors, audio products, and plenty of Apple and Amazon devices. Keep scrolling to check out our top picks for the best deals of the day.
Best streaming deal
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Credit: MGM+
Our pick: MGM+ as an add-on for Prime Video
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$2.99/month at Amazon for two months (save $6)
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Why we like it
Today's your last chance to sign up for two months of MGM+ as a Prime Video add-on for just $2.99/month. Formerly known as Epix, MGM+ offers thousands of ad-free on-demand movies and TV series, live TV, and the ability to download shows and movies to watch offline. Like other streamers, MGM+ has its own original series like A Spy Among Friends, War of the Worlds, and NFL Icons, plus plenty of films you already know and love like Skyfall, There's Something About Mary, and Friday the 13th. After your two-month subscription is up, you can choose to renew at full price ($5.99/month) or cancel.
More streaming and subscription deals
Apple TV+(Opens in a new tab) — free$6.99/month (save $20.97) for three months
Apple Music(Opens in a new tab) — free$10.99/month (save $43.96) for four months
Dashpass(Opens in a new tab) — free for Roku users$9.99.month (save $59.94) for six months
Grubhub+(Opens in a new tab) — free for Amazon Prime members $9.99/month (save $119.88) for one year
HBO Max and Cinemax bundle add-on for Prime Video(Opens in a new tab) — $20.99/month$25.98/month (save $4.99/month)
MGM+ as an add-on for Prime Video(Opens in a new tab) — $2.99/month$5.99/month (save $6) for two months
SiriusXM(Opens in a new tab) — free$9.99/month (save $39.96) for four months
Sling TV(Opens in a new tab) — $20/month$40/month (save $20) for your first month
Starz(Opens in a new tab) — $3/month for three months $8.99/month (save $17.97)
Starz and MGM+ bundle add-on for Prime Video(Opens in a new tab) — $11.99/month$14.98/month (save $2.99/month)
YouTube TV(Opens in a new tab) — $62.99/month$72.99/month (save $30) for your first three months
Best vacuum deal
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Credit: Samsung
Our pick: Samsung Bespoke Jet cordless stick vacuum with All-in-One Clean Station
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$421.73 at Amazon (save $477.27)
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Why we like it
The Samsung Bespoke Jet cordless stick vacuum and All-in-One Clean Station(Opens in a new tab) just hit a new all-time low in the woody green color. Just yesterday, it was down to $449.99 (reg. $899), but on March 23, you can slash another $28 off on the sleek forrest option and grab it for $421.73. The other two color options, midnight blue and misty white, remain at $449. We like the Samsung Bespoke Jet for its auto-emptying dustbin after each cleaning and its aesthetic element. We don't particularly appreciate its $900 price tag, which makes this 53% discount a total steal.
More vacuum deals
Eufy RoboVac 25C WiFi robot vacuum(Opens in a new tab) — $96 $249.99 (save $153.99)
Shark ION AV753 robot vacuum(Opens in a new tab) — $149.99$229.99 (save $80)
Dyson V7 Advanced cordless vacuum cleaner(Opens in a new tab) — $229.99$399.99 (save $170)
Samsung Jet 75 Pet cordless stick vacuum(Opens in a new tab) — $299.99$399 (save $99.01)
Samsung Bespoke Jet cordless stick vacuum with all-in-one Clean Station(Opens in a new tab) — $421.73$899 (save $477.27)
Roborock Q5+ robot vacuum(Opens in a new tab) — $499.99$699.99 (save $200)
Best computer deal
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Credit: Acer
Our pick: Acer Chromebook Spin 513 convertible laptop (Qualcomm Snapdragon 7c, 8GB RAM, 64GB eMMC)
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$349.99 at Amazon (save $110)
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Why we like it
Simple and lightweight, yet powerful and versatile, the Acer Chromebook Spin 513 gives you the best of both worlds. It's a different configuration of one of our favorite Chromebooks that offers up to 13.5 hours of battery life, 8GB of RAM, a Qualcomm Snapdragon 7c processor, and two USB-C ports for convenience. Usually $459.99, you can slash 24% off and snag the Spin 513 for its lowest price ever at $349.99.
More computer and monitor deals
Acer Vero BR277 27-inch full HD IPS zero-frame monitor(Opens in a new tab) — $139$249.99 (save $110.99)
Samsung T35F 27-inch FHD 1080p computer monitor(Opens in a new tab) — $139.99$219.99 (save $80)
ASUS 11.60-inch Vivobook L210 laptop (Intel Celeron N4020, 4GB RAM, 128GB eMMC)(Opens in a new tab) — $199.99$249.99 (save $50) + one year of Office 365 Personal
Samsung 32-inch M50B FHD smart monitor(Opens in a new tab) — $209.99$299.99 (save $90)
Acer Nitro XZ320Q 31.5-inch 1500R curved full HD zero-frame gaming monitor(Opens in a new tab) — $229$449.99 (save $220.99)
Acer Chromebook Spin 314 convertible laptop (Intel Pentium Silver N6000, 4GB RAM, 128GB eMMC)(Opens in a new tab) — $289.99$379.99 (save $90)
Acer Chromebook Spin 513 convertible laptop (Qualcomm Snapdragon 7c, 8GB RAM, 64GB eMMC)(Opens in a new tab) — $349.99$459.99 (save $110)
Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 FE (64GB, WiFi)(Opens in a new tab) — $409.99$529.99 (save $120)
HP Envy Desktop (Intel Core i9, 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD) with keyboard and mouse(Opens in a new tab) — $1,229.99$1,699.99 (save $470)
Apple device deals
AirPods Pro (2nd generation)(Opens in a new tab) — $199.99$249 (save $49.01)
2021 10.2-inch iPad (WiFi, 64GB)(Opens in a new tab) — $249.99 $329 (save $79.01)
Apple Watch Series 8 (GPS + Cellular, 41mm)(Opens in a new tab) — $429$499 (save $70)
Apple Watch Series 8 (GPS + Cellular, 45mm)(Opens in a new tab) — $459$529 (save $70)
2020 MacBook Air 13-inch laptop (M1 chip, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD)(Opens in a new tab) — $799.99$999 (save $199.01)
2021 MacBook Pro 14-inch laptop (M1 Pro chip, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD)(Opens in a new tab) — $1,599$1,999 (save $400)
2021 MacBook Pro 16-inch laptop (M1 Pro chip, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD)(Opens in a new tab) — $1,999$2,499 (save $500)
2021 MacBook Pro 16-inch laptop (M1 Pro chip, 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD)(Opens in a new tab) — $2,199$2,699 (save $500)
2022 MacBook Pro 16-inch laptop (M2 Pro chip, 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD)(Opens in a new tab) — $2,499$2,699 (save $200)
2021 MacBook Pro 16-inch laptop (M1 Max chip, 32GB RAM, 1TB SSD)(Opens in a new tab) — $2,799$3,499 (save $700)
Amazon device deals
Fire TV Stick(Opens in a new tab) — $19.99$39.99 (save $20 with code NEW23)
Fire TV Stick 4K(Opens in a new tab) — $24.99$49.99 (save $25 with code UP4K23)
Fire TV Stick 4K Max(Opens in a new tab) — $32.99$54.99 (save $22 with code FTVMAX22)
Echo Show 8 (2nd gen(Opens in a new tab)) — $74.99$129.99 (save $55)
Halo Rise bedside sleep tracker(Opens in a new tab) — $99.99$139.99 (save $40)
Echo Show 15(Opens in a new tab) — $194.99$249.99 (save $55)
Echo Show 15 + Alexa voice remote for Fire TV(Opens in a new tab) — $224.98$279.98 (save $55)
Other home deals
Ecobee SmartSensor for doors and windows (2-pack)(Opens in a new tab) — $59.99$79.99 (save $20)
AeroGarden Harvest with gourmet herb seed pod kit(Opens in a new tab) — $79.95$164.95 (save $85)
Ecobee SmartCamera indoor security camera(Opens in a new tab) — $79.99$99.99 (save $20)
Arlo Essential wireless video doorbell(Opens in a new tab) — $99.99$199.99 (save $100)
Sensi Touch smart thermostat(Opens in a new tab) — $127.28$169.99 (save $42.71)
AeroGarden Harvest Elite with gourmet herb seed pod kit(Opens in a new tab) — $139.95$205.95 (save $66)
Arlo Essential spotlight camera (2-pack)(Opens in a new tab) — $159.99$229 (save $69.01)
Eufy Security eufyCam 2C Pro 2-camera kit(Opens in a new tab) — $199.99$319.99 (save $120)
Audio deals
Sony WF-C500 wireless Bluetooth earbuds(Opens in a new tab) — $68$99.99 (save $31.99)
Jabra Elite 4 Active Bluetooth earbuds(Opens in a new tab) — $77.07$119.99 (save $42.92)
Beats Solo3 wireless headphones(Opens in a new tab) — $130.01$199.95 (save $69.94)
Google Pixel Buds Pro(Opens in a new tab) — $149.99$199.99 (save $50)
JBL Xtreme 2 portable Bluetooth speaker(Opens in a new tab) — $179.99$349.99 (save $170)
LG S65Q 3.1ch high-res sound bar(Opens in a new tab) — $196.99$399.99 (save $203)
Sony SRS-XG300 X-Series portable Bluetooth party speaker(Opens in a new tab) — $198$349.99 (save $151.99) + 4 free months of Amazon Music Unlimited
Bose SoundLink Revolve+ (Series II) portable Bluetooth speaker(Opens in a new tab) — $229$329 (save $100)
JBL Boombox 2 portable Bluetooth speaker(Opens in a new tab) — $299.95$449.95 (save $150)
What are romance scams and how can you avoid them?
"I fell in love with him and he also claimed to feel the same way for me," said a victim of a romance scam, who requested anonymity. They met a man called "Bob" on Facebook, who claimed to be in South Africa working for the military.
After talking for some time, Bob said he wanted to visit the victim, who lives in the United States. Sure enough, he started asking for money: "He told me he had some trouble with his bank card not working in South Africa and couldn’t get funds to pay for his flight," anonymous said. "He asked if I could send the money to pay for his [flight] and other things."
The victim, like so many others, sent money to the grifter. Romance scams are a multimillion dollar problem, and it appears to be only getting worse. According to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), people reportedly lost $547 million from romance scams(Opens in a new tab) in 2021, an 80 percent jump from the year prior. But what exactly are romance scams, and how can you avoid them?
What are romance scams?
Romance scams(Opens in a new tab) are also called confidence scams because they require the scammer gaining the victim's trust. They're a form of social manipulation where scammers often create fake profiles on dating or social media platforms to start talking to victims and get them emotionally attached, said trial lawyer and partner at The Clark Law Office(Opens in a new tab) David Clark.
SEE ALSO:
Match Group rolls out campaign to stop romance scams
Scammers often target people who are vulnerable — say if they're elderly or recently divorced or widowed. However, "it's important to remember that these scams can happen to anyone, regardless of their level of financial knowledge," said Tommy Gallagher, a former investment banker and the founder of Top Mobile Banks(Opens in a new tab), a site dedicated to digital banking.
Once they gain victims' trust, scammers will start asking for money. They'll come up with excuses like they have a medical emergency, or even that they want to visit the victim, just like Bob did. When the victim starts sending money, the scammer will demand more and more until they're financially drained, said Clark.
Unfortunately, that's what happened to the victim Mashable spoke to: "Every day, he [brought] up one issue or the other, demanding for more money that I ran out of money and went into debt," they said. "When he realized I had no money left, he stopped replying to my messages and stopped taking my calls." That's when it dawned on them that Bob was a scammer.
"It typically takes a significant loss of money before victims notice things to be wrong and resist."
"When it comes to matters of the heart, even the most rational of individuals can throw caution to the wind," said Gallagher.
People may fall for romance scams because grifters meet their emotional needs, commented licensed therapist and vice president of marketing at Divorce Answers(Opens in a new tab), Lauren Cook-McKay. Scammers master what victims want to hear: promises of love, compliments, messages of empathy and compassion.
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"In fact, it typically takes a significant loss of money before victims notice things to be wrong and resist," Cook-McKay said. "This is because when our emotional needs are being met, we're willing to look past the negative in an attempt to preserve that source of emotional support."
There are multiple types of romance scams, according to Clark:
Military scam, when the scammer pretends to be a member of the military — like Bob.
Oil rig scam, when they pretend to work as an oil rigger.
Exchanging intimate media, when the scammer gets the victim to send nude photo or video to use them for blackmail.
"But no matter what type of romance scam it is," Clark said, "the scammer will always make excuses to avoid their victim, such as they're too far away and can't meet with the victim or avoid video calls."
How can I avoid romance scams?
Be cautious when meeting online, and be skeptical of anyone who asks for personal information or money too soon, said Gallagher. Never give money to someone you haven't met in person, and never share details like bank account numbers or your Social Security number.
Some dating apps, like Tinder, have verification features where users can prove they are who they say they are. Tinder and other Match Group dating apps have even started rolling out features to help people sniff out scammers. In the UK, Match and OurTime partnered up for a similar campaign with the City of London Police and reporting center Action Fraud.
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If you're using a service without verification or your match is unverified, you can do a reverse image search. Clark recommends doing this on Google or a site called Social Catfish(Opens in a new tab).
You can also stop talking to someone who refuses to meet in-person or on video; it's a major red flag.
Ask questions pertaining to their identity, or ask for proof. If they say they're in the military, for example, ask to see their military ID card. "They can also ask the person what their MOS [military occupation specialty code] is. The MOS identifies the person's job title," Clark said. "They can also ask questions about the military culture, such as basic training or their favorite MRE [Meal, Ready-to-Eat] treat."
If you've already given a scammer money, contact your bank and credit card companies and let them know what happened, Gallagher said. You can report them to the dating site you met them on, and report them to the FTC(Opens in a new tab) as well.
Beyond researching your matches and calling out scammers, Cook-McKay said to "stop falling in love with being in love." Learn how to meet your own emotional needs and validate yourself, so you don't turn to others; seek out the help of a mental health professional if needed.
Most importantly, Gallagher said, don't be ashamed to reach out to friends and family for support. You're not alone. "By being aware of the dangers and taking the necessary precautions," he said, "we can all protect ourselves and our loved ones from the heartless actions of these scammers."
These reliable, cheap meat thermometers are kitchen essentials
Cooking a meal, in many ways, is like any other project: You can't do the job right if you don't have the tools.
As a relatively skilled home-cook though, I'm kind of allergic to kitchen gadgetry. I'm suspicious of tools that promise ease or claim to perfect one kitchen task. I'm sooner to praise a stalwart tool that does many things well — a good Dutch oven, a large cast-iron pan, hell, even well-designed tongs — than a doohickey you'd spot on an infomercial or Instagram ad.
All that said, there is one ridiculously simple gadget I think most home cooks need: a reliable, instant-read thermometer to make sure you're cooking your food to the desired temperature. .
If you're a real chef, you probably don't need a digital meat thermometer. You can touch a steak, look at a salmon filet, or just know when a chicken thigh is properly cooked. For the rest of us, however, a good thermometer eliminates guesswork. It removes a variable from the cooking process and, frankly, provides a bit of comfort (if you're new to this cooking thing) that you're not going to sicken folks with undercooked meats.
The problem is, a good meat thermometer that accurately delivers the temperature is hard to find. I've cycled through a bunch and they've all suffered from similar issues. Most thermometers read way too slowly and you're forced to stand over the cooking vessel — even, perhaps, removing the meat from the heat — while the number slowly climbs. In my experience, this problem gets worse with time because most thermometers don't seem to handle cleaning well. And, finally, many thermometers feel cheap and flimsy — I've had the display cover fall off multiple purchases. To be clear, I only buy cheap thermometers. My reasoning behind that is simple: it's a freaking thermometer and it feels silly to pay more than a few bucks.
With all that said, I've finally found a meat thermometer brand that has mostly solved those issues: ThermPro.
Specifically, I got an instant-read probe(Opens in a new tab) and stainless steel thermometer(Opens in a new tab) that has a heat-proof cord, which allows you to leave the probe in a piece of meat in the oven/smoker/grill.
The instant-read probe costs just $13.99(Opens in a new tab). The thermometer with a cord costs $17.99(Opens in a new tab). They're both well worth the cost.
The corded ThermPro.Credit: Amazon / Thermpro
Let's state the obvious. These are not sexy purchases. They are wildly practical.
If you're not cooking with a good thermometer, you're missing out. The two ThermPro thermometers give fast, accurate readings. You'll see what temperature your meat is within a couple of seconds. They're sturdy — the probe is (apparently) waterproof, and while I haven't intentionally soaked it, I do wash it without issue. Both thermometers give clear readings and aren't weighed down by complicated functions.
The probe ThermPro meat thermometer.Credit: Amazon / thermpro
The probe does two things: the screen lights up (to make it easier to read while grilling at night) and gives you a temperature. The oven thermometer has a couple of extra features. It has a timer that will go off when your meat hits the desired temperature and if you need help choosing the right temperature, it has programmed temps for every kind of meat. You can program your hunk of beef to medium, for instance, and let the thermometer do its thing. I can also safely read temps up to 572 degrees Fahrenheit, meaning you could use it to measure fryer oil in a pinch. Both thermometers are magnetized on the back, which can be helpful if you want to slap it on the side of a grill or oven.
There are a few drawbacks to the ThermPros. I've found with my instant-read probe, for instance, it's best to fully insert the thermometer's tip through the side of a piece of meat to get an accurate reading. If you just prod from the top, it can sometimes give a wonky reading because it isn't submerged fully. I also broke my original wired thermometer because I accidentally left it outside in the rain all night... but frankly, that's on me.
Steak!Credit: Tim Marcin / Mashable
A nice little side effect is that a good thermometer helps you become a better cook. You start to learn what a medium steak, or a finished piece of salmon look and feel like. I still need the thermometer but I don't have to check it all the time. Here is a flank steak I grilled to about medium, thanks, in part, to my meat thermometer.
With the pandemic still gripping the U.S. and the world at large, it's likely you're cooking now more than ever. I get that a good meat thermometer isn't really a cool cooking purchase but it's one you'll appreciate nearly every time you use it. It'll make your life easier and is well worth a pricetag safely under 20 bucks.
I tried TikToks viral lettuce water sleep aid. It was kind of gross and I slept horribly.
Don’t trust anything on the internet — until Mashable tries it first. Welcome to the Hype Test, where we review viral trends and tell you what's really worth millions of likes.
I'm not a great sleeper — I routinely function on roughly five hours — so I'm open to trying anything that'll help me catch some Zs.
OK, so I'm not great at putting down my phone before bed, but I live online so that feels impossible. But when lettuce water started going viral on TikTok as a sleep aid, I figured, sure, let's give it a go. So, yes, last night before bed I drank a mug of lettuce tea.
In case you haven't seen viral lettuce water TikToks(Opens in a new tab), it is — disturbingly — exactly what it sounds like. Picture making a nice cup of tea, except instead of steeping a tea bag you are dunking leaves of lettuce in hot water. Then you drink that cabbagey concoction. This remedy, supposedly, makes you quite sleepy. Somehow, this has become A Thing all over TikTok.
The process began with going to the closest grocery store and picking up a decent looking bag of romaine (shouts to Ozzie's Fresh Market(Opens in a new tab)). I've seen all kinds of lettuce used in TikToks, but I selected romaine because I like romaine salads and I figured I shouldn't be wasteful with the leftovers.
I washed roughly four or five leaves of romaine. From there, I heated up a mug of water and — lord help me — dunked them in.
Making lettuce water is simple but feels quite wrong.Credit: Tim Marcin / Mashable
I let the lettuce, erm, steep, until the leaves look thoroughly soggy and I could smell a cabbagey aroma coming off the mug. From there, I removed the lettuce — except for a few chunks of romaine that broke off — and well, there was nothing to do but sip.
Sip I did. It wasn't the grossest thing in the world. It wasn't pleasant, mind you, but it wasn't awful. My notes on the taste read:
Tastes exactly like...lettuce water
Weirdly thick? Can water be thick?
Savory water. Like chicken stock except cabbagey
Imagine drinking tea that has a sulfuric, earthy aftertaste — that's lettuce water. Unlike tea, the water didn't really change color or anything, but trust me when I say it had a distinct lettucey taste and odd viscosity.
I gulped through most of the mug but, admittedly, dumped the last sip or two because it was filled with chunks of romaine.
I used my Newseum mug for this super important jounalistic endeavor.Credit: Tim Marcin / Mashable
Now, the million dollar question: Did it make me sleepy? TL;DR: Not really. I was already kind of sleepy before the mug of lettuce, but it didn't make me extra drowsy. In fact, I made the lettuce water shortly before 11 p.m. and ended up not being able to pass out until after 1 a.m. Another not so great night of sleep.
To be fair, however, I have always had trouble sleeping and most remedies don't tire me out. Benadryl, for instance, does nothing to make me drowsy. Other folks have reported(Opens in a new tab) it actually does work for them, so I could be in the minority here. In fact, a 2017 study showed(Opens in a new tab) romaine can help with sleep, noting "seed and leaf extracts derived from romaine lettuce induced an increase in the sleep duration at low and high doses respectively."
"Romaine lettuce is an interesting and valuable source of sleep potentiating material," the study in the journal(Opens in a new tab)Food Science and Biotechnology read.
Still, will I be drinking lettuce water before bed any time soon? Probably not, since it didn't really work for me. But I will be making a salad this weekend. So that's something.
The K-pop industry has always been skilled at monetizing fan-artist relationships, but has been frustratingly slow to digitize them. Until 2019, merchandise and albums were often only available through third party websites, and official fan communities were hosted on Korean-language forums.
In the past three years, a handful of platforms have bubbled up to deliver monetized exclusivity, and the ability to message your favorite artist directly — for a price. Because even with K-pop artists' frequent updates to Instagram, YouTube, Twitter, and Tiktok, fans are still willing to pay for content from their idols. The best apps are now global one-stop shops for merchandise, original video content, fan-to-fan interaction, and exclusive posts from the artists themselves.
SEE ALSO:
The 16 best K-pop songs of 2022 (so far)
The three main players are WeVerse, Universe, and Lysn, which combined host the content of more than 100 acts across the industry. We broke down their main features, pricing, and pros and cons, and how they compare to newer, more niche apps like Phoning and Fab.
WeVerse is easy to use and offers much of its content for free.Credit: Mashable Composite; WeVerse
WeVerse
The basics: Weverse is a mobile app and website owned and operated by HYBE Entertainment, the company behind BTS. It hosts exclusive free and paid content for 63 acts from HYBE (BTS, TXT, Seventeen), YG Entertainment (Blackpink, IKON, Treasure), small and independent labels (CL, Sunmi, Everglow, Oneus), and a handful of non Korean acts (PrettyMuch, Lil Huddy). As of March 2022(Opens in a new tab), the app has more than 6.8 million monthly users. Given the backing and guidance of HYBE, WeVerse stands to become the most robust fan community app on the market.
Features: Fans join a free community for their favorite artist where they can post, comment on other fan posts, and see WeVerse-exclusive photos, videos, and text updates from the artists themselves. A home feed combines posts from the artists you follow with suggested content from other artists to promote discovery, while a notification tab lets you toggle between posts from one artist at a time. Official merchandise and fan memberships are available through the Weverse Shop, and editorial content is sprinkled throughout the app via WeVerse Magazine. A live streaming feature has recently been added as a result of WeVerse's merger with live streaming platform VLive.
Pros: WeVerse is the most comprehensive and easy-to-use platform on this list, encompassing merchandise, original content, and fan-to-fan and fan-artist interaction. And because WeVerse is a closed platform (versus, say, Twitter) HYBE artists especially seem to let loose a bit more, showing off their personalities in posts, comments, and pics.
Cons: If you're a fan of a WeVerse artist, you'll have to create an account and download the app at some point since much of their merchandise and content isn't available anywhere else. While there does seem to be some content curation in the home feed, a lack of moderation of fan-made posts on the site has led to rampant racism(Opens in a new tab) and hateful language within certain fandoms. There is a fair amount of anonymity (and lack of accountability), given that users can choose a different display name in each community they belong to.
Pricing: Free to download, paid content available for purchase.
Some of the content on Universe's Discover feed is free, but you may need to buy Universe currency to access certain features.Credit: Mashable Composite; Universe/ NCSoft
Universe
Overview: WeVerse wields the significant corporate backing of HYBE, while Universe leverages the resources of leading video game developer NCSoft. Universe made a big splash upon launch in January 2022, with lots of original content, including a heavy investment in app-exclusive music videos and original series.
Features: Fans join communities for artists called "planets" for free. Artists can post text and videos in their planets, but photos seem to be the main attraction on Universe. Like WeVerse, Universe offers exclusive subscriptions and merchandise and hosts impressive, highly produced original content. The app’s most unique element is its use of AI to read artist's posts in their voice. Fans can also pay to direct message artists, who see the messages in what is essentially a large group chat and reply to the whole group, but cannot reply to a fan directly.
Pros: It is really, really cool to hear an artist express their thoughts in their own voice. Universe's original content is a huge draw, in addition to Universe-exclusive artist posts.
Cons: Originally clunky and reliant on creepy AI-based features(Opens in a new tab) when it launched, Universe has since scaled back to become much more streamlined. But it can still be confusing to use. The app is over-designed (for example, why are communities called "planets?"), and its currency system is so complicated that fans have created guide videos(Opens in a new tab) to help other fans understand it. If you're a fan of a Universe artist, you'll have to create an account and download the app at some point since much of their content isn't available anywhere else.
Pricing: Free to download, watch select content, and see artist posts. Three kinds of currency exist within Universe: Klap (currency earned through completing tasks that can also be purchased), Love (purchased currency), and raffle tickets (also purchased). You can only pay for certain content with Love. Bundles of these currencies can be purchased on the app for anywhere from $.99 to $299.
On Bubble for JYP, all content is locked behind a paywall.Credit: Mashable Composite; Dear U Co./ Bubble for JYP
Bubble
The basics: Bubble was created by SM Entertainment as a way for their artists to connect with fans. The Bubble app for SM groups is named Lysn, and the company has also created an app just for JYP Entertainment artists called "JYP Bubble." Fans pay to gain access to an artist's bubble and view app-exclusive content from their favorite artist.
Features: Once you pay to subscribe to an artist, you can view and download their photos, videos, and audio notes. You can also send messages to that artist, but are limited to three at a time and a character count corresponding to how long you've been on the app: 30 characters for the first 49 days, 50 characters after, and so on. Like on Universe, artists see these messages in what is essentially a large group chat and reply to the whole group, but cannot reply to a fan directly. For fans, the user interface looks like a personal chat between you and the artist. A live streaming feature was recently added to Bubble for JYP.
Pros: You're paying for content that won't be available anywhere else. Fans do share Bubble content to Twitter, but is it both illegal and generally frowned upon by other fans.
Cons: Lysn does not produce original content, facilitate fan-to-fan interaction, or provide access to a store. You must pay to gain access to all artist content. As on Universe, messaging with an artist is one-sided. So you may ask an artist what they had for lunch, but when they write "I had a salad earlier!" you'll never be sure if they saw your question or are answering someone else's or just telling fans about their day. Even so, some fans say they don't mind.(Opens in a new tab)Also, the translation feature isn’t always entirely accurate, which has led to some confusing, albeit entertaining, mishaps(Opens in a new tab).
Pricing: Free to download but you'll need to buy one ($3.99), two ($6.99), or three ($9.99) tickets, with each ticket granting you one month's access to a single artist's Bubble.
Phoning's Y2K-tastic home page offers free messages from New Jeans and other goodies like a virtual album decorating feature.Credit: Mashable Composite; WeVerse/ Phoning
Phoning
Overview: As part of the pre-album release roll out of HYBE's newest girl group, NewJeans, the company announced the group would have their own app instead of joining their label mates on WeVerse. Phoning's ‘90s-era Nokia-chic theme pairs with the look of the debut album and Gen Z's current obsession with Y2K nostalgia.
Features: The app mimics a phone, and the members of NewJeans appear as "friends" in a contact list. Live streams appear as a "call" from a member, which you can pick up to watch as they happen or tune in on-demand later via a call log. Members also send messages and photos to each other in a group chat for about 20 minutes every day. Fans watch the messages roll in but cannot participate or message the members directly (yet). The app also has a calendar of the group events, a photo gallery, a virtual try-on feature where you can dress avatars of the members in different outfits, a virtual album-decorating feature, and a handful of other fun freebies.
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Pros: Phoning is adorable, and its modern take on Y2K aesthetics feels like a fresh, tangible extension of NewJeans’ music. Plus, its features are free and so unique you won’t find them anywhere else.
Cons: Phoning is slow… like 1999 slow. Pages can take a while to load, and the navigation isn’t always intuitive. There’s also no way to talk to other fans through the app. Notification settings can only be turned off and on, and a lively 20-minute convo between the members results in hundreds of daily notifications. So you have to choose between no notifications from the app or dozens.
Pricing: Free to download and use.
You'll only be able to see the most basic info for your faves on Fab, unless you want to buy a post for 10 points.Credit: Mashable Composite; NEOWIZ Lab
Fab
Overview: Fab launched in February 2022 with Loona as its inaugural artist. In March, they added group NINE.i.
Features: Members of Loona are considered separate artists in the app and post separately. NINE.i post as a group. Loona members occasionally update their "status," which is free to view, but all other posts are hidden behind a paywall.
Pros: You're paying for content that won't be available anywhere else. If you're an Orbit or NINE.i fan, this is the app you need to be on.
Cons: If you're not a fan of Fab's two artists, this is not the app for you. It's limited to paid artist posts only; there is no way to connect with other fans, no original content, and no store.
Pricing: Free to download, but each post costs 10 points to view. You can purchase points (anywhere between 100 for $.99 and 2300 for $19.99) or earn single points by watching ads.
TikTok users parody East Asian fetishization with Americacore videos
What do energy drinks, chicken nuggets, and inaccessible healthcare have in common? They're all Americacore.
TikTok users are spoofing videos that romanticize other cultures by referring to day-to-day aspects of American life as "Americacore." As of Sunday, the tags #americacore(Opens in a new tab) and #americancore(Opens in a new tab) each have over 30 million views on TikTok, and the tag #Americacoreuwu(Opens in a new tab) has about 140,000 views.
Under the guise of celebrating "Americacore," TikTok users are recording their trips to Target and Walmart, eating snacks like Goldfish crackers and Funfetti cookies, and using paper plates. Paired with gentle music and soft filters, the video trend mimics the way many Americans fetishize East Asian culture, but misrepresent them in "aesthetic" content.
Lifestyle influencers have long made content from visiting "unique" Korean grocery stores, for example, but to any Korean or Korean-American person, buying chips at H-Mart is about as aesthetically pleasing as buying chips at Ralph's.
Americacore is not to be confused with Americana, though. This is not a celebration of folk music(Opens in a new tab) and art, but a criticism of how Americans engage with other cultures.
In one video romanticizing "Americacore," a TikTok user pours a can of Monster Energy into a teapot emblazoned with the American flag(Opens in a new tab), and serves with a Twizzler, which they refer to as "rubber pocky."
It's reverse Orientalism at its finest.
Americacore videos parody "kawaii" videos fetishizing East Asian cultures.Credit: tiktok / lavender_goat
The videos poke fun at the way Americans often woefully misrepresent other cultures.Credit: tiktok / lavender_goat
The videos are as much of critique of American norms as they are of the way Americans tend to idealize and infantilize East Asian cultures. Videos by lifestyle influencers visiting Asian grocery stores, for example, have been criticized as crossing the line between cultural appreciation and fetishization. The trend pokes fun at the absurdity of white Americans' fascination with arbitrary aspects of East Asian food, music, and traditions.
TikTok user kinokino1226 parodied lifestyle influencers who exalt common Asian snacks as exotic by visiting her local Safeway(Opens in a new tab).
"Fun fact: Americans are very patriotic," kinokino1226 captioned her video, posing for an "aesthetic photoshoot" with American flag-wrapped grocery store flowers.
Nothing more American than visiting SafewayCredit: tiktok / kinokino1226
TikTok users made sure to "respect vegan culture."Credit: TIKTOK / KINOKINO1226
With the worldwide success of the K-pop and anime industries, Asian culture is often misrepresented as a monolith(Opens in a new tab) rather than a diverse set of rich, individual cultures. The distillation of Asian heritage into a palatable melting pot of cute packaging, exotic skincare routines, and popular music only perpetuates harmful stereotypes. Americacore, as Vice notes, turns the fetishization of East Asia back on itself(Opens in a new tab).
Ironically, as some Twitter users pointed out, other countries do romanticize American products the way Americans romanticize East Asian ones.
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Before you post pictures of the "exotic" snacks you may have scored from the Asian grocery store, consider whether you'd portray Oreos and red plastic cups the same way. Those, dear reader, are simply Americacore.
Weird Spotify Playlists is an unexpected meme that pushes the boundaries
There are now memes on Spotify. Yes, Spotify.
Starting in the first week of August my Twitter feed became inundated by the account Weird Spotify Playlists(Opens in a new tab), which posts screenshots of playlists where weird doesn't even begin to cover it.
The account quickly gained half a million followers and posts a handful of bizarre playlists daily. The account crowdsources playlists in their dms and on the Weird Spotify Playlists(Opens in a new tab) subreddit, which has over 14,000 members. The Twitter is run by Matt(Opens in a new tab) who runs a handful of other Twitter meme pages like True, I Guess...(Opens in a new tab) and Weird Knock-Off Brands(Opens in a new tab).
The Weird Spotify Playlist trend is the next phase of the playlist that dates back to the mix tape(Opens in a new tab), as pointed out by Miles Klee of Mel Magazine. This phase rejects the classic idea of a playlist — the songs on the list aren't exactly intended for listening. Instead these playlists make jokes that rely on the playlist title and song titles. They can even tell strange and unexpected stories through the titles.
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My personal favorite is "You and Your Dog Named Timothee Chalamet Are At The Dog Park And No One's Around." It's a creative and random theme for a playlist, but what is most impressive about it and the trend itself is that the playlist creators are able to pull off these themes with song titles. When I read the playlist title I thought there is no way the creator Existential Desk could create this narrative from song titles on Spotify, but sure enough there is a track called "Timothee Chalamet, Where Are You Going?"
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Some trends on Weird Spotify Playlists include ingredient playlists and POV playlists.
The POV playlists make fun of the trendy, highly curated POV lists that go viral on TikTok, like "pov: you're the main character"(Opens in a new tab) or "pov ur the hot ex."(Opens in a new tab) Both playlists have over 30,000 likes on Spotify.
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This trend is a response to Spotify becoming another performative social media platform for younger users. The app is more than just a music streaming platform — your friends can follow you and see what you're listening to at all times.
And if your playlists are public, anyone who finds your profile can see them, so they've become another way to define yourself on the internet. On Instagram you post the best pictures of yourself that reflect your desired vibe and aesthetic, on Spotify you do the same thing, but with your playlists. You only feature the playlists you want people to think you listen to on your profile.
Not to mention Spotify's analytics like Spotify Wrapped are designed to be shared on other social media platforms. Spotify even has its own influencers.
Rather than creating cool playlists, these users are subverting the norm and making fun of the idea of a playlist. They take advantage of the wealth of music on Spotify and the social media aspects of the platform and use playlists to create memes.
Facebook, nonetheless, is undeterred.(Opens in a new tab) From today, the social network's Facebook Dating platform is expanding to Europe after launching in the U.S. and 19 other countries around the world.
For the uninitiated, Facebook Dating is an "opt-in space within the Facebook app". You can create a Facebook Dating profile that's separate from your main profile (you'll need to be over 18 and using the most recent version of the app).
The launch comes nine months after the intended release date was halted(Opens in a new tab) at the 11th hour after a leading data regulator raised concerns about privacy and the processing of personal data. In February, the Irish Data Protection Commission (DPC) visited Facebook's Dublin office and flagged that the social media company hadn't given ample information about how Dating would work, and hadn't given the regulator enough notice of the product launch (Facebook gave them just a few days warning). "Facebook has provided detailed clarifications on the processing of personal data in the context of the Dating feature," deputy commissioner Graham Doyle told(Opens in a new tab) TechCrunch. "Facebook has also provided details of changes that they have made to the product to take account of the issues raised by the DPC."
Facebook Daters have access to several features including Stories, much like you'd share on Instagram or non-dating Facebook. You can also share your existing Facebook or Instagram Story to your dating profile.
There's also a feature called Secret Crush, which lets you select up to nine of your Facebook friends or Instagram followers who you might be interested in. If your crush adds you to their Secret Crush list, you'll get a match. But if the crush you've selected isn't on Facebook Dating or they didn't add you to their crush list, then they'll never know how you feel. Unless you tell them, of course.
Virtual Dates are also an option for users — which is to be expected given the current, errr, situation we find ourselves in. Once you've matched with someone and you feel ready to, you have the option of video calling each other. Initiating a call will send an invite, which your match will need to accept before joining the call.
Much like non-dating Facebook, there are also events and groups, which can help you find people with similar interests.
SEE ALSO:
Tinder launches apocalyptic Swipe Night in the UK and around the world
There are security measures in place, like the ability to report and block anyone, as well as the prevention of people sending photos, links, payments, or videos in messages. Your Facebook friends won't be informed that you've joined Dating, nor will they be suggested as potential matches.
In case you're worried about your main Facebook profile being taken over by dating content, fear not. Your Dating profile, messages, and matches won't show up in your Facebook News Feed.
Facebook Dating is now available in the United Kingdom, Ireland, France, Germany, Spain, Greece, Italy, Belgium, Luxembourg, Bulgaria, Poland, Portugal, Austria, Norway, Switzerland, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Croatia, Hungary, Lithuania, Latvia, Malta, Netherlands, Romania, Sweden, Slovenia, Slovakia, Iceland, and Liechtenstein.
Snapchat stops promoting Donald Trumps account in Discover
UPDATE: June 3, 2020, 2:37 p.m. EDT
President Trump's team has apparently not taken kindly to Snapchat's actions. According to the New York Times(Opens in a new tab), Trump's 2020 campaign manager, Brad Parscale, said(Opens in a new tab) "Snapchat is trying to rig the 2020 election." OK, Brad.
The social media dominoes are falling for President Donald Trump.
As protests over the killing of George Floyd and police brutality continue across the country, Trump is doing things likes having protesters teargassed for a photo op and raging against Twitter. Now tech companies are taking action.
Snapchat says that it won't promote the president's account in the Discover section anymore. Axios(Opens in a new tab) first reported the decision, and Snap confirmed the news to Mashable via email. Snapchat made the decision over the weekend.
“We are not currently promoting the President’s content on Snapchat’s Discover platform," a Snap spokesperson said. "We will not amplify voices who incite racial violence and injustice by giving them free promotion on Discover. Racial violence and injustice have no place in our society and we stand together with all who seek peace, love, equality, and justice in America.”
The decision comes after controversy around Trump's tweets that many view as inciting violence against protesters. Twitter affixed labels to two of Trump's recent tweets: one that spread false news about voting by mail, and another that glorified violence, which Twitter blurred out. Meanwhile at Facebook, despite internal protests from employees, Mark Zuckerberg has stuck by the company's decision to allow the content on its platform.
Snapchat's stand is a bit different. Trump's account will remain on Snap, searchable and available to subscribers, and there's no specific content that it is fact checking, removing, or censoring. The change comes in its Discover tab, a section in the app that Snap employees curate. The company's thinking is that people can say what they want on Snapchat as long as it doesn't violate community guidelines. But users are not entitled to the "free promotion" of Discover, which has always been curated. Snap does not want Discover to be a place that amplifies messages of hate.
SEE ALSO:
How tech leaders can do more for racial justice than just tweet
Snap CEO Evan Spiegel alluded to the decision in a memo(Opens in a new tab) sent to employees, which was made public by the company.
As for Snapchat, we simply cannot promote accounts in America that are linked to people who incite racial violence, whether they do so on or off our platform. Our Discover content platform is a curated platform, where we decide what we promote. We have spoken time and again about working hard to make a positive impact, and we will walk the talk with the content we promote on Snapchat. We may continue to allow divisive people to maintain an account on Snapchat, as long as the content that is published on Snapchat is consistent with our community guidelines, but we will not promote that account or content in any way.... we will make it clear with our actions that there is no grey area when it comes to racism, violence, and injustice – and we will not promote it, nor those who support it, on our platform.
Trump lashed out at Twitter's actions by signing an executive order meant to make it easier to sue social media companies for the content posted by their users.
There's no word from the president yet on Snap's actions. But if the situation plays out like the Alex Jones bans, more social media companies could be taking away Trump's megaphones for hate.
Bumble is campaigning to make cyberflashing illegal in England and Wales
Cyberflashing is a term that describes the act of sending non-consensual explicit photos via airdrop or messaging app.
The violation is not currently illegal in England and Wales. Bumble wants to change that.
The dating app is launching a campaign called #DigitalFlashingIsFlashing pushing for the criminalisation of cyberflashing.
Per(Opens in a new tab) YouGov data, 41 percent of women aged between 18 and 36 "have been sent an unsolicited photo of a man's private parts." Researchers have found(Opens in a new tab) that women are often overwhelmingly the target of this gendered act.
Mashable has previously reported on the impact of using minimising language, such as "unsolicited dick pics" to describe cyberflashing, causing survivors to question the seriousness of the violation and whether it was "bad enough" to warrant the trauma they feel.
SEE ALSO:
It's time to stop saying 'unsolicited dick pics.' Here's why.
Research carried out by Bumble found that 48 percent of women aged 18 to 24 had received a non-consensual sexual photo in the last year alone, with 59 percent reporting they felt less trusting of others online afterwards, with one in four stating they feel violated.
Journalist Sophie Gallagher has interviewed(Opens in a new tab) nearly 100 women on the record about their experiences of cyberflashing, most recently reporting on how lockdown hasn't stopped cyberflashing(Opens in a new tab). (Bumble's research shows that more than one in four women say cyberflashing has increased during the pandemic.) While interviewing her for my book Rough, Gallagher told me, "The evidence clearly shows that such online sexual violence does not sit in a separate arena to its offline equivalents. It exists on a spectrum of harm."
Gallagher said that it's certainly not a case of cyberflashing being 'less damaging' because it's an online violation. "And let’s be clear, the harms — which include everything from humiliation and distress to fear, changing behaviours such as routes home or how they engage with their smartphones — are no less extensive than those experienced with old school flashing," she added.
In 2019, Bumble introduced a feature called "Private Detector," that alerts users when someone sends them an explicit photo and all photos containing nudity will be blurred. Whitney Wolfe Herd, founder and CEO of Bumble, also successfully campaigned to make unsolicited explicit images illegal in Texas. Bumble is also pushing(Opens in a new tab) for similar legislation in California and New York.
The #DigitalFlashingIsFlashing campaign will call on the UK government to acknowledge the need for a new law in England and Wales criminalising the sending of non-consensual explicit images. Cyberflashing has been criminalised in Scotland for more than a decade.
Bumble plans to work with U.N. Women to hold cross-party parliamentary consultations with lawmakers and experts. Wolfe Herd said in a statement that the dating app has been taking steps to tackle cyberflashing for years, citing Private Detector and the Texas cyberflashing law.
"Cyberflashing is a relentless, everyday form of harassment that causes victims, predominantly women, to feel distressed, violated, and vulnerable on the internet as a whole. It's shocking that in this day and age we don't have laws that hold people to account for this," she said. "This issue is bigger than just one company, and we cannot do this alone. We need governments to take action to criminalise cyberflashing and enforce what is already a real-world law in the online world."
Professor Clare McGlynn QC of Durham University, an expert in cyberflashing, said that cyberflashing is not a small act. "It is a form of sexual intimidation that can have devastating impacts on women and young girls," she said in a statement. "For some women, cyberflashing is worse than being flashed in the street — with the offender unknown, no-one seeing what is happening, and it feeling like an invasion into the very personal space of your phone which is impossible to ignore or forget."
Related video: How two strangers are battling a revenge porn nightmare