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Today's Connections: Sports Edition is for people who are ready for Opening Day.

As we've shared in previous hints stories, this is a version of the popular New York Times word game that seeks to test the knowledge of sports fans.

Like the original Connections, the game is all about finding the "common threads between words." And just like Wordle, Connections resets after midnight and each new set of words gets trickier and trickier — so we've served up some hints and tips to get you over the hurdle.

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

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable What is Connections: Sports Edition?

The NYT's latest daily word game has launched in association with The Athletic, the New York Times property that provides the publication's sports coverage. Connections can be played on both web browsers and mobile devices and require players to group four words that share something in common.

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

Each puzzle features 16 words and each grouping of words is split into four categories. These sets could comprise of anything from book titles, software, country names, etc. Even though multiple words will seem like they fit together, there's only one correct answer.

If a player gets all four words in a set correct, those words are removed from the board. Guess wrong and it counts as a mistake — players get up to four mistakes until the game ends.

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

Players can also rearrange and shuffle the board to make spotting connections easier. Additionally, each group is color-coded with yellow being the easiest, followed by green, blue, and purple. Like Wordle, you can share the results with your friends on social media.

SEE ALSO: Wordle-obsessed? These are the best word games to play IRL. Here's a hint for today's Connections: Sports Edition categories

Want a hint about the categories without being told the categories? Then give these a try:

• Yellow: Hitting meatballs

• Green: HR leaders

• Blue: The minor leagues

• Purple: Spelled like an MLB team

Here are today's Connections: Sports Edition categories

Need a little extra help? Today's connections fall into the following categories:

• Yellow: Slang for Home Run

• Green: MLB Home Run Leaders in 2025

• Blue: Minor League Baseball Leagues

• Purple: Anagrams of MLB Teams

Looking for Wordle today? Here's the answer to today's Wordle.

Ready for the answers? This is your last chance to turn back and solve today's puzzle before we reveal the solutions.

Drumroll, please!

The solution to today's Connections: Sports Edition #549 is...

What is the answer to Connections: Sports Edition today?

• Slang for Home Run - DINGER, HOMER, JACK, ROUND-TRIPPER

• MLB Home Run Leaders in 2025 - JUDGE, OHTANI, RALEIGH, SCHWARBER

• Minor League Baseball Leagues - CAROLINA, INTERNATIONAL, PACIFIC COAST, TEXAS

• Anagrams of MLB Teams - BUCS, PARTIES, SPREAD, STEM

Don't feel down if you didn't manage to guess it this time. There will be new sports Connections for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we'll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints.

Are you also playing NYT Strands? See hints and answers for today's Strands.

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

Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to yesterday's Connections.

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

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

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

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

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

Small drums.

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

BONGO

Hurdle Word 2 hint

A landscaper's tool.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for March 26, 2026 Hurdle Word 2 Answer

MOWER

Hurdle Word 3 hint

A thicket.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for March 26 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for March 26, 2026 Hurdle Word 3 answer

COPSE

Hurdle Word 4 hint

A stringed instrument.

Hurdle Word 4 answer

BANJO

Final Hurdle hint

What old stairs might do.

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

CREAK

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

The Moon is now more than half lit, which means we're in the final phase before its full phase. The Moon will appear more illuminated each night until it is full, meaning there's plenty opportunity for spotting features on the its surface.

What is today’s Moon phase?

As of Thursday, March 26, the Moon phase is Waxing Gibbous. According to NASA's Daily Moon Guide, 56% of the Moon will be lit up tonight.

And there's plenty to see, even without visual aids you can spot the Mares Fecunditatis, Crisum, and Vaporum. With binoculars, you'll also be able to catch a glimpse of the Posidonius Crater, Alps Mountains, and the Appennine Mountains. Also, with a telescope, you'll be able to spot even more, including the Rima Ariadaeus, Descartes Highlands, and the Caucasus Mountains.

When is the next Full Moon?

In North America, the next Full Moon is predicted to take place on April 1.

What are Moon phases?

According to NASA, the Moon completes one orbit around Earth in roughly 29.5 days, cycling through eight distinct phases. While the same side of the Moon always faces us, sunlight illuminates varying portions as it travels, making it appear full, half, or a narrow crescent. These shifting appearances are known as the lunar phases, and there are eight in total:

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

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

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

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

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

Waning Gibbous - The Moon starts losing light on the right side. (Northern Hemisphere)

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

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

If messy drama was something you could sell, OpenAI would have turned a profit already.

That much is clear from the bizarre way the ChatGPT company killed off Sora, its shortform video app — just one of multiple dramas that seem to be playing out in tandem at Sam Altman's company. So much so that you'd be forgiven for wondering whether there is any method to this madness.

The Sora shuttering could not have burned more bridges with partners and creators if it tried. The rumored face-saving announcement that Sora was being folded into ChatGPT? Didn't happen. OpenAI had just announced new Sora safety standards the day before — so why bother if it's on the outs?

Disney, meanwhile, had not yet finalized its $1 billion, three-year deal with OpenAI over character licensing in Sora. The House of Mouse was so blindsided, according to a Reuters report, that executives had a meeting discussing what Disney could do with the Sora deal yesterday... just 30 minutes before OpenAI announced its death via a post on X.

ChatGPT ads are a bust

There are also unforced errors in OpenAI's ad division, according to a scoop from The Information. It seems an early test of ChatGPT ads (the company's big revenue-hunting pivot from two months ago) burned bridges with the advertisers who participated. Those advertisers bought more than $200,000 of ads apiece, premium table stakes for the industry. But they didn't get the data they need to know if their ads — which played minimally — are paying off.

Ironically, considering how much OpenAI's products promise to automate the world, the ad industry titans said they had to call or email the company to place ads.

And where is OpenAI's CEO in all this? Not tweeting through it; at time of writing, Altman hasn't posted on X since the Sora announcement. Nor is he blogging through it; his last two blog posts were written six months ago, and are both about Sora. "People are generating much more [video] than we expected per user," Altman wrote in his most recent post.

"We are going to have to somehow make money for video generation," the CEO said, noting presciently: "please expect a very high rate of change from us."

No kidding. So where is the money going to come from, if it isn't coming from Disney and it isn't coming from ads? Shuttering Sora won't make up OpenAI's revenue shortfall, estimated at roughly $1 billion a month. Running ChatGPT for 900 million people per week, all but 40 million of whom aren't paying for it, costs a lot!

Nor is the money coming from the Instant Checkout shopping feature OpenAI announced in 2025, which was supposed to attract a million merchants. The company announced Tuesday that Altman is dumping that as well.

OpenAI's race to its IPO

So what is Altman doing, exactly? He told OpenAI staff on Tuesday that he's no longer running the company's safety and security teams, according to a separate Information report. Instead, Altman reportedly told them that he's focused on raising more money and building more data centers.

"Things are moving faster than many of us expected," Altman added, though in which direction they're moving wasn't clear.

Altman, according to the report, is renaming the company's product group "AGI deployment." A ballsy marketing move, given that GPT-5 is nowhere near AGI (Artificial General Intelligence, also known as digital superintelligence) — and OpenAI is still feuding with its partner Microsoft about how we would define such a thing if it did arrive.

That's no mere academic debate, given that Amazon reportedly stands to invest another $50 billion in the company on the condition that it goes public, or AGI is achieved.

In the absence of actual AGI to deploy — and there are no signs that OpenAI's next model, codenamed "Spud," will get there either — there's nothing left for Altman to do but prepare for the IPO. OpenAI and its chief rival Anthropic, which makes Claude, are both supposedly on course for their public offerings this year. As public companies, they'll be able to raise funds more easily.

But what if there's only room for one winner?

Anthropic, while it's still (sort of) battling the Pentagon and coming up with its own creative revenue estimates, is widely seen as the more successful company when it comes to solid, dependable business. Not for them the flashy Disney deals; they're selling targeted AI services to other companies. Right now, the perception among customers is that Claude is for coding and making AI agents, while ChatGPT is more for the masses.

It isn't going to be easy for Altman to turn that perception around. But it'll probably be easier if OpenAI isn't trying to be a media company that sells ads and lets you make cute Disney character shorts. And in that context, Altman's latest moves start to make a lick of sense. Whether he can convince business customers that he's a dependable figure — pay no attention to those burning bridges! — will be another drama altogether.

Disclosure: Ziff Davis, Mashable’s parent company, in April 2025 filed a lawsuit against OpenAI, alleging it infringed Ziff Davis copyrights in training and operating its AI systems.

TL;DR: Sign up for a 7-day free trial of Apple TV+ through Prime Video Channels to watch select F1 races live. Watch the Japanese GP for free with the Prime Video app.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Apple TV Prime Video Channel Watch the Japanese GP for free with a 7-day trial Shop Now

Does anyone really know where we stand with this new season of F1. Some fans and drivers seem to like this new style of racing. Others think it's the end of the sport. Whichever camp you find yourself in, you can't deny that it has been entertaining to watch.

What has become clear after the first two races in Australia and China is that Mercedes is fast. After the opening race weekend, some people were already crowning George Russell as champion. Kimi Antonelli's stunning performance in China has made those early predictions look a little foolish. It's looking like we're going to get a real battle between the Mercedes teammates this season. Can anyone else compete? At this stage, it looks unlikely.

If you want to watch F1 2026 for free from anywhere in the world, we've got all the information you need.

When is the Japanese GP?

The Japanese GP is the third race of the 2026 F1 season. Here's the full schedule from the Suzuka Circuit:

• Practice 1 — 10:30-11:30 p.m. ET on March 26

• Practice 2 — 2-3 a.m. ET on March 27

• Practice 3 — 10:30-11:30 p.m. ET on March 27

• Qualifying — 2-3 a.m. ET on March 28

• Race — 1 a.m. ET on March 29

It's possible for fans to follow all the action from this race weekend without spending anything.

How to watch the Japanese GP for free

I'm a paid-up member of Amazon Prime. I subscribe for the fast shipping, exclusive Prime Day deals, and access to Prime Video. That Prime Video access is not something I usually care about greatly, but it's absolutely crucial for this season of F1.

It's now possible to sign up for a 7-day free trial of Apple TV+ through Prime Video Channels. F1 is now exclusive to Apple TV in the U.S., so by accessing this free trial, you can watch select races for free this season. The subscription usually costs £9.99 per month after the trial ends, but you can cancel at any time. That means you can watch the Japanese GP for free this weekend and then back out before needing to pay anything.

I already pay for Amazon Prime, so you could argue that I'm not really watching for free. I get that, but Amazon Prime does offer a 30-day free trial period if you're new to the service. By signing up for this free trial and then gaining access to Apple TV through Prime Video Channels, you can truly watch select races without spending anything.

If you've already used this method to watch the Australian GP or Chinese GP, I suggest you go direct to Apple TV. This popular steaming service comes with a 7-day free trial for new subscribers. Alternatively, Apple One bundles Apple TV with Apple Music, Apple Arcade, Apple Fitness Plus, Apple News Plus, and 50GB of iCloud Storage for $19.95 per month after a one-month free trial.

It's also worth noting that the best Apple TV free-trial offer comes with purchases of new Apple devices. New subscribers can get three months of Apple TV for free after purchasing any eligible Apple product. There are loads of live Apple deals in the Amazon Big Spring Sale, so this could be the best moment to upgrade.

How to live stream 2026 F1 for free in 2026 Best Apple TV Deal Apple TV 7-day free trial Shop Now Best Prime Video Deal Apple TV Prime Video Channel 7-day free trial Shop Now Best Apple One Deal Apple One 30-day free trial Shop Now

The NYT Connections puzzle today is not too difficult if you're a registered voter.

Connections is the one of the most popular New York Times word games that's captured the public's attention. The game is all about finding the "common threads between words." And just like Wordle, Connections resets after midnight and each new set of words gets trickier and trickier—so we've served up some hints and tips to get you over the hurdle.

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

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable What is Connections?

The NYT's latest daily word game has become a social media hit. The Times credits associate puzzle editor Wyna Liu with helping to create the new word game and bringing it to the publications' Games section. Connections can be played on both web browsers and mobile devices and require players to group four words that share something in common.

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

Each puzzle features 16 words and each grouping of words is split into four categories. These sets could comprise of anything from book titles, software, country names, etc. Even though multiple words will seem like they fit together, there's only one correct answer.

If a player gets all four words in a set correct, those words are removed from the board. Guess wrong and it counts as a mistake—players get up to four mistakes until the game ends.

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

Players can also rearrange and shuffle the board to make spotting connections easier. Additionally, each group is color-coded with yellow being the easiest, followed by green, blue, and purple. Like Wordle, you can share the results with your friends on social media.

SEE ALSO: NYT Pips hints, answers for March 26, 2026 Here's a hint for today's Connections categories

Want a hint about the categories without being told the categories? Then give these a try:

• Yellow: Farming

• Green: Motor City players

• Blue: Used on Election Day

• Purple: Nuts and ___

Here are today's Connections categories

Need a little extra help? Today's connections fall into the following categories:

• Yellow: Food procurement methods

• Green: Member of a Detroit sports team

• Blue: Features of a classic voting booth

• Purple: They have bolts

Looking for Wordle today? Here's the answer to today's Wordle.

Ready for the answers? This is your last chance to turn back and solve today's puzzle before we reveal the solutions.

Drumroll, please!

The solution to today's Connections #1019 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• Food procurement methods: AGRICULTURE, FISHING, GATHERING, HUNTING

• Member of a Detroit sports team: LION, PISTON, RED WING, TIGER

• Features of a classic voting booth: BALLOT, BOOTH, CURTAIN, LEVER

• They have bolts: FRANKENSTEIN'S MONSTER, HARDWARE STORE, LIGHTNING, LOCK

Don't feel down if you didn't manage to guess it this time. There will be new Connections for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we'll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for March 26, 2026

Are you also playing NYT Strands? Get all the Strands hints you need for today's puzzle.

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

Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to yesterday's Connections.

Today's NYT Strands hints are easy if you're a musician.

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

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

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

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

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for March 26, 2026 NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: I blew it!

The words are related to music.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

These words describe things you blow into.

NYT Strands spangram hint: Is it vertical or horizontal?

Today's NYT Strands spangram is vertical.

NYT Strands spangram answer today

Today's spangram is Wind Instrument.

NYT Strands word list for March 26

• Recorder

• Flute

• Harmonica

• Wind Instrument

• Oboe

• Clarinet

Looking for other daily online games? Mashable's Games page has more hints, and if you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now!

Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to yesterday's Strands.

Today's Wordle answer should be easy to solve if you love a good fit.

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

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for March 26, 2026 Where did Wordle come from?

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

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

What's the best Wordle starting word?

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

What happened to the Wordle archive?

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

Is Wordle getting harder?

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

SEE ALSO: NYT Pips hints, answers for March 26, 2026 Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

Suitable.

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

There are no recurring letters.

Today's Wordle is a 5-letter word that starts with...

Today's Wordle starts with the letter B.

SEE ALSO: Wordle-obsessed? These are the best word games to play IRL. The Wordle answer today is...

Get your last guesses in now, because it's your final chance to solve today's Wordle before we reveal the solution.

Drumroll please!

The solution to today's Wordle is...

BEFIT

Don't feel down if you didn't manage to guess it this time. There will be a new Wordle for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we'll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints. Are you also playing NYT Strands? See hints and answers for today's Strands.

Reporting by Chance Townsend, Caitlin Welsh, Sam Haysom, Amanda Yeo, Shannon Connellan, Cecily Mauran, Mike Pearl, and Adam Rosenberg contributed to this article.

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

Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to yesterday's Wordle.

SAVE $250: As of March 25, the brand new Shark PowerDetect UV Reveal 2-in-1 robot vacuum is on sale for the first time ever during Amazon's Big Spring Sale. The $949.99 sale price is 27% off its usual $1,299.99.

Shark PowerDetect UV Reveal 2-in-1 robot vacuum $949.99 at Amazon
$1,299.99 Save $350   Get Deal at Amazon Get Deal at Shark

The new Dyson robot vacuum with a laser would have been much more exciting if the robot vacuum itself were more reliable — or if Shark hadn't released a better robot vacuum with a UV light a few weeks before. Plus, the Shark PowerDetect UV Reveal 2-in-1 is on sale for the first time: Grab it for $949.99 during Amazon's Big Spring Sale.

That's an impressive $350 drop from its $1,299.99 MSRP (and a $250 difference from the Dyson Spot+Scrub Ai). This is just one of several Amazon spring sale vacuum deals on elite 2026 robot vacuums that are hot off the press. But having just come out on March 3, I definitely wasn't expecting a Shark UV Reveal discount this early.

SEE ALSO: Shark's new scrubbing-centric robot vacuum finds stains with a UV light. I tested it against other top robot mops.

But since everyone is stocking up on their favorite disinfectant sprays for spring cleaning, it feels very correct for a robot vacuum with this level of sanitation to be in the mix. I've personally witnessed the UV light find two separate dried cat hairball splatters that the AI stain detection cameras of premium Dreame and Roborock robot vacuums missed that week.

The UV Reveal mopped my hardwood floors extremely thoroughly. Look at that shine. Credit: Leah Stodart / Mashable

When the UV light lights up a stain, the vacuum's glow turns turquoise. The Shark then drives back and forth over the stain from multiple angles while its vibrating mopping pad scrubs. The whole process is quite thorough — we're talking up to 30 seconds spent from each direction.

During a more casual vacuuming and mopping session, the Shark UV Reveal is still very detail-oriented. Its mopping pad can extend out past the vacuum's circular body, allowing much closer edge mopping than previous mopping Shark vacuums I've tested. Its small obstacle avoidance technology has also improved majorly.

I'll note that the Shark UV Reveal 2-in-1 isn't the best choice for keeping up with pet hair on carpet. But for pet hair on hardwood floors or tile floors, it's stellar.

If you're signing up for Tinder in the UK, you'll now need to undergo a facial scan.

Today, Tinder announces that it's launching the facial verification feature, Face Check, in the country. This follows Tinder requiring all new U.S. users to do the same as of Oct. 2025, following a test in California.

New Tinder users must now complete a facial scan in the U.S., Canada, Australia, India, and countries in Southeast Asia, Latin America, and the Middle East, according to Tinder.

SEE ALSO: Tinder drops a slew of updates, including an AI way to 'cut through dating fatigue'

Users start by taking a video selfie on the app, and Tinder scans it to check if it matches their profile photos. If it's a match, users receive a Photo Verified badge. The feature can also apparently detect if a user has multiple accounts.

Tinder first launched photo verification in 2021 and video verification in 2023. Then, in 2024, Tinder began requiring ID checks if users wanted a verification checkmark.

Face Check comes at a time when identity verification is increasing in various spaces online, especially in the UK, given the Online Safety Act. The law requires age verification if a site or app hosts content that might be "restricted to adults." Days before the Online Safety Act went into effect in July 2025, major dating apps, including Tinder, announced that they'd install age checks.

Recently, dating apps have also been under increased scrutiny for multiple reasons, including the presence of scammers, which Face Check seeks to reduce. Sixty-three percent of 18-24-year-olds say scams are harder to spot than ever, according to an Aug. 2025 survey of 2,000 singles in the UK.

Internal Tinder data shows an over 60 percent decrease in exposure to "potential bad actors," including spam, scam, or fake profiles, and over 40 percent decrease in bad actor reports.

Dating apps have also been criticized for other safety reasons lately. In Dec. 2025, several women filed a lawsuit claiming that Match Group (which owns Tinder, Hinge, and other dating apps) allowed a serial rapist on its platforms.

In Feb., Mashable reported that Match Group's other offering, Hinge, is also planning to start testing compulsory facial scans.

SAVE $25: As of March 25, the Fire Stick 4K Select is on sale for $14.99 with the code FTVSELECT. That's a 55% discount on the list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Fire Stick 4K Select $14.99 at Amazon
$39.99 Save $25 Use code FTVSELECT at the checkout Get Deal

Amazon's Big Spring Sale is here and it's dropping prices across hundreds of products. And if you've been looking for a new streaming device, there are plenty of deals to be found across Amazon's range of Fire TV Sticks, like this latest deal on the Fire Stick 4K Select.

As part of the sale, the 4K Select is reduced to $17.99, which is already a record low for this model. However, if you add the code FTVSELECT at the checkout, this will bring the price down further to $14.99. This gives you a total saving of $25 on list price.

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

The 4K Select is the newest Fire TV Stick in Amazon's range, offering 4K streaming with the key features you need, at a lower price. The setup is the same as other Fire Sticks, you simply plug it into an outlet and your TV's HDMI port, and that's all you need to do. When you turn on your TV you'll find you have access to Fire TV OS, with streaming services like Netflix and Prime Video at your fingertips.

It also has Alexa built-in, so you can use your voice to search and launch shows, manage smart home devices, and even ask it to check the weather.

You can find this great streaming deal in Amazon's Big Spring Sale right now.

TL;DR: Live stream Croatia vs. Colombia in a 2026 International Friendly for free on Caracol TV. Access this free streaming site from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The 2026 World Cup is fast approaching, so leading international sides are busy preparing with a string of high-profile friendly fixtures this week. There are a number of interesting matchups on the schedule, including Croatia vs. Colombia. Both of these sides will be looking to perform strongly in this summer's tournament, so building some momentum here would be a good start.

If you want to watch Croatia vs. Colombia in a 2026 International Friendly for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Croatia vs. Colombia?

Croatia vs. Colombia kicks off at 7:30 p.m. ET on March 26. This fixture takes place at the Citrus Bowl.

How to watch Croatia vs. Colombia for free

Croatia vs. Colombia is available to live stream for free on Caracol TV.

Caracol TV is geo-restricted to Colombia, but anyone can access this free streaming service with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in Colombia, meaning you can access free live streams on Caracol TV from anywhere in the world.

Lve stream Croatia vs. Colombia for free by following these simple steps:

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

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

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

4. Visit Caracol TV

5. Stream Croatia vs. Colombia for free from anywhere in the world

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

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but most do offer free-trials or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can watch Croatia vs. Colombia without actually spending anything. This clearly isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to stream select games before recovering your investment.

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

What is the best VPN for Caracol TV?

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

• Servers in 105 countries including Colombia

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

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

• Fast connection speeds free from throttling

• Up to eight simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A two-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $68.40 and includes an extra four months for free — 81% off for a limited time. This plan includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.99 (with money-back guarantee).

Live stream Croatia vs. Colombia for free with ExpressVPN.

SAVE $80: As of March 25, the DJI Mic 2 is down to $189 in the Amazon Spring Sale. That's $80 off the list price of $269.

Opens in a new window Credit: DJI DJI Mic 2 $189 at Amazon
$269 Save $80   Get Deal

If you’re a content creator or media professional, there are all kinds of helpful devices available — the problem, as always with tech, is that the best stuff isn’t exactly cheap. That’s why we love a sale event like the Amazon Big Spring Sale, because it’s a chase to snap up devices that are usually that little bit too expensive. One device that’s caught our eye — and is sure to catch sound, too — is the DJI Mic 2.

The DJI Mic 2 is currently priced at $189, an overall saving of $80. That’s 30% off the list price of $269. 

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This DJI Mic 2 bundle includes a set of two high-quality microphones that come with a receiver and charging case. These are perfect for vloggers or anyone who records audio as part of their day job, whether you need to record minutes of a meeting, livestream, or shoot professional video. 

It has intelligent noise cancellation — that means it will dampen out external noise like wind — with 14 hours of audio storage and up to 18 hours of battery with the charging case. And with a range of 820 feet, you’ll have space to move around.

If this deal on the DJI Mic 2 sounds good, just wait until you hear the audio.

SAVE $170: As of March 25, the DJI Mini 3 drone is down to its lowest-ever price of $379 at Amazon. That's $170 off the list price of $549.

Opens in a new window Credit: DJI DJI Mini 3 Drone $379 at Amazon
$549 Save $170   Get Deal

The Amazon Big Spring Sale certainly isn’t short of drone deals, but we’ve landed on the DJI Mini 3 as one of the best options. An intermediate drone equipped with a 4K HDR camera, it flies the line between casual fun and professional photography. It will suit almost all drone enthusiasts — especially those looking for a bargain.

The DJI Mini 3 is currently marked down to $379, which is a saving of $170 from the usual list price of $549. According to camelcamelcamel, that's a record-low price.

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One of the great things about the DJI Mini 3 is the sheer number of shooting options, including vertical video, 4x digital zoom, and one-tap QuickShot modes. 

That’s all bolstered by wind resistance, a 10km transmission range, and an extended battery life of up to 51 minutes. As with other advanced drones, you can rely on the fact that it has an automatic Return to Home function — there’s zero danger of this clever little flyer ever getting away from you. You also get auto-landing and an FPV view via the hand controller — not to mention all the features and extra control via the DJI Fly app.

Don't miss your chance to fly with a record-low deal on the DJI Mini 3.

TL;DR: Get the Youbooks AI non-fiction book generator lifetime subscription for $41.65 (reg. $359) with code MARCH15 and turn ideas into structured drafts faster.

Opens in a new window Credit: Youbooks Youbooks AI Non-Fiction Book Generator: Lifetime Subscription $41.65
$359 Save $317.35   Get Deal

Writing a non-fiction book is a great idea — right up until you roll up your sleeves and realize you actually have to write it. Youbooks AI is designed to speed up that process, helping turn ideas into structured drafts, and a lifetime subscription is currently on sale for $41.65 (reg. $359) with code MARCH15.

On paper, writing non-fiction sounds manageable. You already have the knowledge, the research, or at least a rough idea of what you want to say. But once you actually start, organizing everything into something coherent — and finishing it — is where things tend to stall. That’s where Youbooks comes in. It’s an AI-powered platform built to help turn loose ideas into more structured, long-form drafts you can actually work with.

Think of it as a writing assistant that doesn’t tap out halfway through. Youbooks pulls from multiple AI models — ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, and Llama — to produce more nuanced content rather than relying on a single tool. It’s not doing the thinking for you, but it can help you get from scattered notes to something that looks like a real draft.

Where Youbooks can be useful:

• Built-in research support: Pulls in up-to-date information as you write

• Custom tone and style: Helps keep your voice consistent across sections

• Source integration: Upload your own notes, transcripts, or materials

• Long-form capability: Generate drafts up to 200,000 words

• Commercial rights: Keep full ownership of what you create

It’s designed to be relatively simple to use. Provide a topic, set your preferred tone and structure, and the platform generates a draft you can refine. You can export your work in formats like DOCX, EPUB, or Markdown, depending on how you plan to use it.

With the Fan Plan, you get 200,000 monthly credits (roughly one credit per word), along with storage for style samples and source documents. Future updates are included, too.

Get lifetime access to Youbooks AI for $41.65 (reg. $359) with code MARCH15.

Want to see more deals? Visit the shop and use code MARCH15 to save an extra 15% sitewide through March 29. Exclusions apply.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

TL;DR: Drime Secure Cloud Storage offers 2TB of encrypted storage with collaboration tools for $112.49 (reg. $299) using code CLOUD through April 12 at 11:59 p.m. PT.

Opens in a new window Credit: Drime Drime Secure Cloud Storage: Lifetime Subscription $112.50
$299 Save $186.50   Get Deal

If you’re still switching between cloud storage apps, file-sharing tools, and separate platforms just to collaborate on projects, it can slow everything down.

Drime Secure Cloud Storage brings these tools together in one place, combining secure storage with built-in collaboration features. For a limited time, a lifetime subscription is available for $112.49 (reg. $299) with code CLOUD through April 12 at 11:59 p.m. PT.

Store, share, and collaborate in one spot

Drime comes loaded with 2TB of storage and handles large file uploads without the usual workarounds. Everything syncs across devices automatically, so your work is always up to date and accessible wherever you are.

Projects live in dedicated collaborative workspaces, files can be shared via password-protected links, and access is controlled through customizable permissions. Built-in editing for documents and media means reviewing, commenting, and making changes all happen in one place.

Security is a core focus with Drime. The encrypted Vault uses 256-bit AES and SSL/TLS encryption, with files encrypted locally so they remain inaccessible to anyone but you.

Hosted in Europe and fully GDPR compliant, Drime is a strong fit for anyone who wants real transparency and control over where their data lives.

More than just storage

Drim goes well beyond basic file storage. E-signature collection, 90-day version history, and smooth large-video streaming are all part of the package. Timestamped comments and advanced sharing options keep feedback loops tight and collaboration organized. The setup can make sense for freelancers, teams, or anyone managing multiple projects who wants to keep everything in one place.

If you’re looking for a more private, all-in-one cloud storage solution, you can get Drime Secure Cloud Storage for $112.49 (reg. $299) with code CLOUD through April 12 at 11:59 p.m. PT.

Want to see more deals? Visit the shop and use code MARCH15 to save an extra 15% sitewide through March 29. Exclusions apply.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

By leveraging social media and the influencer economy, he turned his website into a byword for online pornography in the 21st century.

Brace yourselves fellow Dungeons and Dragons nerds, because Dropout is coming for the jugular with the next season of Dimension 20. Coming hot on the heels of Gladlands, the next adventure will reunite Game Master Brennan Lee Mulligan with intrepid heroes Emily Axford, Ally Beardsley, Brian Murphy, Zac Oyama, Siobhan Thompson, and Lou Wilson for some role-playing in the realm of Vampire: The Masquerade.

According to the press release from Dropout, the new season, titled City Council of Darkness, will focus on "a brood of flamboyant goth vampires exiled from their ancient castle and forced to assimilate into a painfully wholesome small town, where they unexpectedly find themselves running the local government. Between zoning disputes, bloodthirsty urges, and mandatory bake sales, it’s undead chaos in the quaintest hellscape imaginable."

SEE ALSO: The 'Dimension 20' cast chooses their ultimate Intrepid Heroes squad

Cheers to the intrepid heroes, who will fill the abyss left by the end of What We Do in the Shadows and the gap before the next season of Interview with the Vampire (aka The Vampire Lestat) with weird, wild bloodsucker fun. This trailer gives a taste of the directions the cast will take their vampires in, with inspirations including superhero movies, Vampire in Brooklyn, Lost Boys, and nunsploitation. ("Whimples on, titties out!")

Welcome to Purpee.

Dimension 20: City Council of Darkness will premiere April 8 on Dropout, with new episodes weekly.

The first teaser for Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, the first season of HBO's Harry Potter series, feels like it was brewed up in a potions lab to induce maximum nostalgia.

SEE ALSO: 7 magic school series to buy young readers that aren't 'Harry Potter'

Look, here's Harry Potter (Dominic McLaughlin) living in the cupboard under the stairs! Here he is meeting Hermione (Arabella Stanton) and Ron (Alastair Stout) on the Hogwarts Express! Here he is unwrapping the Nimbus 2000! All it's missing is "Hedwig's Theme."

I won't lie that my inner child jumped at reentering the storied halls of Hogwarts. But quickly, it became overcome with the frustration that this series exists in the first place. Not only are there more fantasy stories itching to be adapted to the small screen, but Harry Potter's legacy remains tied to its creator's transphobia.

Author J.K. Rowling, who serves as an executive producer on the series, has routinely made harmful, discriminatory comments towards the trans community, with recent behavior including praising the UK's Girlguiding ban of trans girls and attacking Glamour UK for praising trans women in their 2025 Women of the Year issue. In 2025, she also launched the J.K. Rowling Women's Fund, which is devoted to "women's sex-based rights," or further transphobic rhetoric. Rowling is funding this herself with the considerable money she's earned in large part from her Harry Potter empire, which will only continue to grow with the HBO series.

Rowling's discriminatory turn is in stark opposition to Harry Potter's message of inclusion and celebrating differences, and she's only doubled down further in the face of criticism, including some from longtime fans of the franchise. That ugliness hangs like a stain over the teaser for Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, and as much as I'd like to get excited over visiting Hogwarts again, I simply can't.

Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone premieres this Christmas on HBO and HBO Max.

Reddit CEO Steve Huffman caused a stir when he told a tech show that the platform was considering some form of ID verification to combat bots. Now Huffman has officially addressed the issues in a message to Reddit users posted right on the platform itself.

Huffman says Reddit isn't looking to identify its anonymity-loving user base. The company just wants to make sure its users are human.

"Reddit works because it’s human – and we want to keep it that way," a Reddit spokesperson told Mashable in a statement, just as Huffman wrote in another post last year.

Huffman's latest post is summarized in its title, "Humans welcome (bots must wear name tags)." Going forward, the CEO wrote, "good bots" on Reddit will now be labeled as "Apps."

Automation is allowed in certain use cases on the platform, Huffman noted. But bot accounts must not impersonate a human being. Developers will be able to officially register their automated accounts with Reddit; details on how to do so will be shared soon. 

What about ID verification? According to Huffman, Reddit will approach this as "human verification." The platform is not looking to identify specific individuals, just confirm that they are an actual person and not a bot.

There will not be any sitewide verification process for Reddit, in other words. Human verification will be performed on a case-by-case basis, if an account is using automation or engaging in other suspicious bot-like activity. Reddit will use a third-party service for human verification.

"If we suspect a user is running an automation, they’ll encounter a verification prompt," a Reddit spokesperson told Mashable. "This will affect a small number of users. Any verification service we use will not have access to your Reddit activity and username, and we will not have access to your real-world identity."

The company says it has successfully been able to detect and remove bots for more than 20 years — and believes these new moves will provide better visibility and transparency to its user base.

As for AI on the platform — including AI slop — Reddit is taking a wait-and-see approach. "For better or worse, using AI to write is part of how people will communicate in the future (albeit annoying), so our current focus is to ensure there is a real, live human behind the accounts you’re seeing," Huffman wrote.

Subreddit communities will able to make their own rules regarding AI, however — and users can always downvote AI content on the platform.

But Huffman isn't closing the door on a sitewide approach to AI in the future. "Things are changing quickly, and we’ll adapt as best we can," he wrote.