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Sonys new flagship XM6 headphones are here — but theres a catch

Mashable - 8 hours 54 min ago

On May 15, Sony released its newest flagship headphones, the noise-cancelling WH-1000XM6 headphones. The new headphones have improved noise cancellation and sound, but there's a catch — they cost $449.99. That's about $50 more than the previous version, and hardly a surprise in the tariff era. Still, that's a big ask for music lovers.

Mashable has been testing the new wireless headphones over the past couple weeks, and you can read our full review of the new cans (spoiler alert: they sound fantastic). But if you're ready to pass go, drop $450, and collect your new headphones, you can already purchase them at Sony, Amazon, Best Buy, and other retailers.

Sony's flagship headphones always rank among the very best noise-cancelling headphones, and the XM6 are no exception. In this post, we'll cover what's new, what's not, and other need-to-know details on the latest Sony noise cancellers.

Opens in a new window Credit: Sony Sony WH-1000XM6 Headphones $449.99 at Amazon
Shop Now Meet the new XM6 headphones: The specs

You can't release a new product in 2025 without adding some type of AI feature, even if you have to use the term AI liberally. However, Sony really did add a faster chip (seven times faster, the company says), the Sony QN3 processor. That chip powers improved noise cancellation, particularly for phone calls. The other improvements definitely fall into the iterative category, with one big exception: these headphones now fold.

Meet the new Sony flagship headphones. Credit: Timothy Beck Werth / Mashable

And here are the specs:

  • Processor: Sony QN3

  • Microphones: 12

  • Connectivity: Bluetooth 5.3 (LDAC support)

  • Battery: 30 hours with ANC (40 hours without)

  • Noise cancellation: Active noise cancellation

  • Spatial audio: Yes

  • Colors: Midnight blue, black, silver

The Sony XM6 Headphones: What's new?

For the new headphones, Sony audio engineers worked with mastering engineers here in the United States to improve the overall audio quality. And when directly comparing them to the XM5 headphones and wireless earbuds, there is a noticeable improvement. (How much better? Read our full XM6 review to find out.)

For call quality, additional microphones and "AI beamforming" provide clearer, more directional sound. For calls, the headphones also feature two additional microphones.

Most importantly, the new headphones are more travel-friendly. The case is slimmer and smaller than the XM5 case. They also trade the terrible, easily broken zipper for a magnetic latch. While the case might not look much smaller, in person, it's significantly more compact. And here's the big news: The headphones now fold up for storage.

The XM6's case is more travel-friendly. Credit: Timothy Beck Werth / Mashable Unlike the previous model, the XM6 headphones fold up for easier storage. Credit: Timothy Beck Werth / Mashable The XM6 Headphones: What's not new?

While Dyson's OnTrac headphones were able to achieve a mighty impressive 55 hours of battery with ANC, the XM6 headphones have exactly the same battery life as the previous model. That's pretty disappointing. (Though, unless you're taking back-to-back 20-hour flights, I'm not sure anyone really needs more than 30 hours of playback at a time.) I would also class the noise cancellation and audio improvements as a matter of degrees, not miles. Considering it's been three years since the previous model, I was hoping for a little more.

Honestly, it's looking like noise-cancelling headphones like this have pretty much plateaued. Just look at the non-existent changes Apple made to the "new" AirPods Max headphones. At least Sony included noticeable audio quality improvements, a new processor, and a big new design change.

Where to buy the Sony XM6 Headphones

If you've been eagerly waiting for Sony's new headphones, you can order them now from Sony and all the usual retailers. The headphones have a $449.99 price tag and come in three colors.

Get the Sony XM6 headphones Sony WH-1000XM6 Headphones (Midnight Blue) $449.99 Shop Now Sony WH-1000XM6 Headphones (Black) $449.99 Shop Now Sony WH-1000XM6 Headphones (Silver) $449.99 Shop Now The previous-gen model Sony WH-1000XM5 Headphones $348 (Save $50) Get Deal

Take $650 off the Samsung Galaxy Book4 Pro business laptop and get set for travel

Mashable - 9 hours 4 min ago

SAVE $650: The 16-inch Samsung Galaxy Book4 Pro business laptop (Intel Core 7 Ultra, 32GB RAM, 1TB SSD) is on sale at Amazon for $1,399.99, down from the standard price of $2,049.99. That's a 32% discount.

Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Samsung Galaxy Book4 Pro (Intel Core 7 Ultra, 32GB RAM, 1TB SSD) $1,399.99 at Amazon
$2,049.99 Save $650.00 Get Deal

Work-worthy laptops come with a specific set of must-haves. You'll need something powerful enough to run a presentation while streaming video and editing charts. But you'll also want something that's travel-friendly, easily going from the office to your house or with you to the conference across the country. Thankfully, there's a model that ticks all those boxes and it's on sale today.

As of May 15, the 16-inch Samsung Galaxy Book4 Pro business laptop (Intel Core 7 Ultra, 32GB RAM, 1TB SSD) is on sale at Amazon for $1,399.99, marked down from the usual price of $2,049.99. That saves you (or your employer) $650 thanks to the 32% discount.

The best laptop and tablet deals to shop this week

With a 1TB SSD and a 3K AMOLED touchscreen display, you'll be in great shape for presentations with the Samsung Galaxy Book4 Pro. The 16-inch laptop is also equipped with an Intel Core Ultra 7 processor, but it only weighs 3.44 pounds so you won't feel bogged down when stashing it in your work bag. Plus, you'll get access to two Thunderbolt 4 ports.

If you're already in the Samsung Galaxy family, you'll find seamless connections to your Galaxy smartphone and Galaxy tablet, easily sharing files between the devices. You can also connect your Samsung Tab to operate as a second screen with the Galaxy Book4 Pro.

SEE ALSO: The cheapest gaming laptop we recommend is on sale for a record-low $450

Instead of dishing out over $2,000 on a work laptop, snag the Samsung Galaxy Book4 Pro while it's on sale for $1,399.99. You'll be getting a hefty 32% discount and a laptop with specs that hold up to your busy workload.

Get the best price ever on this Anker charging station and never go looking for an outlet

Mashable - 9 hours 15 min ago

SAVE $36: As of May 15, get the best price ever on the Anker 525 Charging Station. Shop the charging port now for just $29.99 and save $36.

Opens in a new window Credit: Anker Anker 525 Charging Station $29.99 at Amazon
$65.99 Save $36 Get Deal

It's a plight of the modern era, constantly searching for an outlet so you can charge your phone or laptop. Plus, because we have so many devices to charge and only so many outlets, you might be stuck in a constant rotation of plugging and unplugging. Luckily for you, there is a solution and even better, it's on sale.

As of May 15, shop the Anker 525 Charging Station for $29.99. That saves you $36 for 55% off. This is the best price we've ever spotted on this charging station, making it a guaranteed good deal.

This charging station comes with a five foot cable to extend your reach. The charging portal comes with seven different ports including two USB-A, two USB-C, and three AC outlets. It comes with 65W of power to support multiple devices at a time. Plus, with the ports, you don't need to worry about having a charging block. Not to mention the charging station features ActiveShield 2.0, which has real-time temperature control and power management.

Get the Anker 525 Charging Station now for just $29.99 at Amazon and save $36.

Best laptop and tablet deals

Walmart price hikes due to Trumps tariffs could start weeks from now

Mashable - 9 hours 20 min ago

President Donald Trump's sweeping tariffs will soon mean higher prices at Walmart — and that's coming directly from a top executive at the retail giant.

Chief Financial Officer John David Rainey told CNBC in an interview that tariffs were "still too high" and that American customers would shoulder that cost in the coming weeks.

SEE ALSO: Want to avoid tariff price hikes? Shop our giant list of 81 refurbished tech deals.

"We're wired for everyday low prices, but the magnitude of these increases is more than any retailer can absorb," he told CNBC. "It’s more than any supplier can absorb."

Rainey said he was "concerned" that consumers were "going to start seeing higher prices" as a result of the tariffs. Those hikes could come as soon as the end of May, he said, "and then certainly much more in June."

Rainey confirmed to CNBC that a recent deal between the U.S. and China — temporarily dropping tariffs from 145 percent to 30 percent — was not enough of a cut to keep prices flat.

SEE ALSO: Walmart denies tariffs caused reinstatement of 'basket fee'

Walmart recently made headlines when it reinstated a $6.99 "basket fee" for certain grocery orders, which some claimed was due to Trump's tariffs. The company told Mashable, however, that the fee was unrelated to tariffs.

But as Walmart's own CFO confirmed, that doesn't mean tariffs won't cost you at Walmart — and very soon.

The M4 MacBook Air is *still* chilling at its lowest price ever — but for how long?

Mashable - 9 hours 25 min ago

SAVE $150: As of May 15, the 13-inch Apple M4 MacBook Air is still hanging out at $849 at Amazon. That's 15% or $150 off the list price and its lowest price on record. Some color options are already selling out, so act quick.

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple MacBook Air, 13-inch (M4, 16GB RAM, 256GB SSD) $849 at Amazon
$999 Save $150 Get Deal

For a laptop that's only been out two months, a $150 discount is pretty outrageous. Especially when said laptop is a MacBook.

We were pretty dang shocked when Apple's new M4 MacBook Air dropped from $999 to $899, but then it dropped $50 more and our jaws were on the floor. The fact that this deal price is still hanging around over two weeks later is quite the blessing. However, certain color options are now selling out and low stock warnings are starting to pop up. If you want to upgrade your MacBook, we recommend jumping on the deal before it disappears, which could be any day now.

As of May 15, the 13-inch M4 MacBook Air base model, which packs 16GB of RAM and 256GB of storage, is still chilling at $849 at Amazon. That's 15% off asking price and its lowest price on record.

Called the "best-buy Apple laptop, period," by Mashable's reviewer Stan Schroeder, the M4 MacBook Air is so powerful it's almost overkill. It's 24 percent faster than the already fast M3 Air and in the top five speediest laptops we've tested at Mashable. It's not only our top pick for a MacBook, but one of our top picks for a laptop in general in 2025.

The M4 Air operates near silently, packs an improved 12MP Center Stage FaceTime camera, features open-lid support for two external displays, and lasts for up to 18 hours on a full charge. It's no surprise it earned a Mashable Choice Award and a glowing 4.5 out of 5 stars.

If you're sporting an older MacBook, upgrading for only $849 is practically a no-brainer. But you might want to act fast, as this deal may or may not disappear tomorrow.

The best laptop and tablet deals to shop this week

Save over $150 on this Roku Smart TV and start streaming in 4K

Mashable - 9 hours 53 min ago

SAVE $151.99: Shop the Roku 55-inch 4K QLED Smart TV for just $348 at Amazon. That saves you $151.99 for 30% off.

Opens in a new window Credit: Roku Roku 55-inch 4K QLED Smart TV $348 at Amazon
$499.99 Save $151.99 Get Deal

What are looking forward to streaming this week? Watching along to Eurovision or getting ready for another episode of The Last of Us? We can tell you where to watch all the latest hits, and now we even have a suggestion on how to watch. If you're looking for a new TV, may we suggest this Roku Smart TV with 4K resolution?

As of May 15, shop the Roku 55-inch 4K QLED Smart TV for just $348. That's $151.99 off its list price of $499.99. That's a plentiful 30% off for 4K QLED streaming. While this isn't the lowest price ever on this Roku Smart TV, it is the best deal we've spotted since early this year.

The Roku Smart TV provides 55 inches of screen for all your viewing needs. It has a 4K QLED picture with Dolby Vision to experience all your shows in their truest, most vivid color. Plus with auto-brightness, you don't need to constantly adjust your settings. It comes with built-in Roku streaming, which is our favorite streamer, for quick, clear processing.

Get the Roku 55-inch 4K QLED Smart TV for $348 at Amazon and save $151.99 now.

The 75-inch Hisense U8N TV just dipped to a new record-low price at Amazon

Mashable - 9 hours 57 min ago

SAVE $659.07: The Hisense U8N QLED TV (75 inch) is on sale at Amazon for just $939.93, down from the normal price of $1,599. That's a 41% discount and the lowest price we've ever seen on this model at Amazon.

Opens in a new window Credit: Hisense Hisense U8N QLED 4K TV (75 inch) $939.93 at Amazon
$1,599 Save $659.07 Get Deal

Buying a new TV can feel like serious investigative work. First, you need to decode the acronyms. Then you need to locate the measuring tape and measure the desired TV location's space. Many people also choose to head out into the field (a store like Best Buy) to get an up-close-and-personal view of these TVs. And then there's the price comparison which might require making a spreadsheet. All that's to say — buying a new TV can be tough. But we're all in luck today because Amazon has made that decision for us by offering us a deal that's too good to pass up.

As of May 15, the 75-inch Hisense U8N QLED TV is on sale for $939.93, marked down from the standard price of $1,599. That's a massive 41% discount that takes $659.07 off the price tag. By a long shot, this is the lowest price we've ever seen at Amazon.

SEE ALSO: What's the best time of year to buy a TV? Yes, there's an answer.

What's even more impressive about today's deal is the 65-inch Hisense U8N QLED TV is also on sale, but it's priced at $947.99. That means you're actually saving money ($8.06 to be exact) by upgrading to the 75-inch version.

For starters, the 75-inch size of this Hisense U8N deal is pretty great for most living rooms. You'll be in great shape for streaming the latest HBO Max show or catching this season's baseball games. But the Hisense U8N is really noteworthy in its display, which is even more impressed given the affordable price.

Mashable's sister site PCMag (also owned by publisher Ziff Davis) meticulously tested the Hisense U8N and gave it an "outstanding" rating. "The Hisense U8N offers a robust set of features and the brightest picture we've seen for a lower price than many competing TVs," wrote Will Greenwald in his review. And that checks out because Hisense is consistently one of the best TV brands that focuses on offering great bang for your buck.

The best TV deals to shop this week

The Hisesne U8N also shines when it comes to gaming. The 144hz refresh rate is something most budget-friendly TVs can't claim, topping out at 120Hz on many models. It earns a top spot on Mashable's list of the best budget TVs for gaming.

Since the 75-inch Hisense U8N is at its lowest price ever and cheaper than the 65-inch model, now's a great time to upgrade your home entertainment set-up. While the 75-inch Hisesne U8N usually sets you back $1,599, it's on sale today for just $939.93. Saving over $650 on a high-end TV feels great, especially in this economy.

Bring Her Back trailer: Talk to Me directors next film is here to terrify you

Mashable - 10 hours 17 min ago

In 2023, directors Danny and Michael Phillipou conjured up one of the year's best horror films with their debut Talk to Me. Now, they're back to terrify us all over again with their second film, Bring Her Back.

SEE ALSO: Summer Movie Preview: What's coming to theaters and streaming?

Bring Her Back stars Sally Hawkins as Laura, a new foster mom to siblings Andy (Billy Barratt) and Piper (Sora Wong). The pair hope to find stability and a happy home with Laura, but instead, they find something more sinister.

As the trailer above reveals, Laura lost her young daughter Cathy (Mischa Heywood). Still reeling from grief, she claims that she never truly found a way to cope with Cathy being gone. Instead, she watches home videos of Cathy and seems to believe that there's a way to "bring her back."

What exactly that process is remains to be seen, but we're guessing it has something to do with Oliver (Jonah Wren Phillips), another orphan under Laura's care. The trailer shows him convulsing, bloody, on the ground, with some unknown force crawling under his skin. Whatever's happening to him and Laura, it's bad news.

While the trailer of Bring Her Back cooks up scares galore, it also highlights the role grief will play in the film, similarly to Mia's (Sophie Wilde) attempts to reconnect with her mother in Talk to Me. Expect to be frightened, yes, but likely devastated as well.

Bring Her Back hits theaters May 30.

Amazon has the Samsung Galaxy Tab A9+ on sale for just under $200

Mashable - 10 hours 22 min ago

SAVE $70: As of May 15, the Samsung Galaxy Tab A9+ with 128GB of storage and WiFi only is on sale for $199.99. That's 26% off its full cost of $269.99.

Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Samsung Galaxy Tab A9+ (128GB, WiFi) $199.99 at Amazon
$269.99 Save $70 Get Deal

If you want a tablet that simply serves as a tablet, you don't need to spend a fortune. The reliable and capable Samsung Galaxy Tab A9+ checks all the boxes a low-cost tablet should — and it's on sale for just under $200.

As of May 15, you can grab the Galaxy Tab A9+ with 128GB of storage and WiFi connectivity for $199.99 instead of $269.99. That's a savings of 26% and just $20 shy of its best price on record.

While it's not as fancy as the Galaxy S9 lineup, the A9+ can still handle your everyday tasks proficiently. The A9+ is the latest model in the A series, which is essentially a budget-friendly version of Samsung's flagship S series. It features an 11-inch display with slim bezels to make for an immersive viewing experience, plus an ultrathin build overall (just 6.9mm thick) ensuring seamless portability. The A9+ also packs quad speakers powered by Dolby Atmos, a Qualcomm Snapdragon 695 processor, expandable storage up to 1TB, and OK battery life (it's fine, but nothing to write home about).

Our friends at PCMag (which is owned by Mashable's publisher, Ziff Davis) dubbed it the "best low-cost Android tablet you can buy" last year. They even gave it the coveted Editors' Choice award for affordable Android tablets. It's not perfect or crazy powerful, but it handles everyday tasks — like streaming TV, answering emails, browsing the web, or even running moderately intensive games — like a dream. The subpar battery life can certainly be overlooked for less than $200.

Stay prepared with this portable power bank at its lowest price yet

Mashable - 10 hours 40 min ago

SAVE $205: As of May 15, get the Moihosso Portable Power Bank for $34.99, down from its usual price of $239.99. That's an 85% discount and the lowest price we've seen.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Moihosso Portable Power Bank $34.99 at Amazon
$239.99 Save $205 Get Deal

Having a dead phone or other drained electronics when you're out and about isn't fun. You might need to make a call for an emergency situation or maybe your kids' iPad has drained after a long car ride, and there's no outlet or solution for miles. No one wants to have to deal with that. Luckily, a portable power bank means never having to succumb to a 0% battery again, and you can get one for an excellent price right now at Amazon.

As of May 15, get the Moihosso Portable Power Bank for $34.99, down from its usual price of $239.99. That's $205 off and an 85% discount. It's also the lowest price we've seen.

This power bank packs a whopping 56,800mAh of battery so you can get back up to speed fast. It can power your phone, tablet, or whatever electronic device you need to use up in a flash thanks to its 22.5W fast charging tech. It can do so up to 11 tmes, in fact, so you can top up over and over again.

Not only can you get your phone back up to speed, but thanks to its two USB-A and one USB-C port, you can charge up to three devices at once to get back up to speed quickly. You can even use them all while they're charging. And to help you make sure you know when the charger itself needs to be plugged in, there's an LED display to show you where it stands.

Whether you need something to keep you juiced up in an emergency or the thought of being without a phone gives you anxiety, you can't go wrong with a power bank, especially at this sizable discount.

Americana trailer: Sydney Sweeney and Halsey get in gunfights in this neo-Western

Mashable - 10 hours 57 min ago

Sydney Sweeney and Halsey jump into the Western genre in the upcoming film Americana.

Written and directed by Tony Tost, currently crushing it as the showrunner for Poker Face Season 2, the film had its premiere at 2023's SXSW Festival before being acquired by Lionsgate in 2024.

SEE ALSO: Summer Movie Preview: What's coming to theaters and streaming?

Americana transports viewers to a small South Dakota town, where the lives of several disparate characters clash when a highly valuable Lakota Ghost Shirt winds up on the black market.

The film boasts an impressive cast, including Sydney Sweeney as Penny Jo, a waitress and aspiring singer. She teams up with restaurant customer Lefty Ledbetter (Paul Walter Hauser) to steal the shirt and sell it, hoping the funds will be enough to jumpstart a glamorous career.

But other town citizens are on the hunt for the artifact as well. Mandy Starr (Halsey) wants to use the shirt as a means to escape from her abusive boyfriend Dillon (Eric Dane), while antiquities dealer Roy Lee Dean (Simon Rex) wants the shirt for himself. Meanwhile, Native Americans Ghost Eye (Zahn McClarnon) and Hank Spears (Derek Hinkey) just want to reclaim the stolen artifact. Also in the mix is Mandy's strange son Calvin (Gavin Maddox Bergman), who believes he's the reincarnation of Sitting Bull.

Watch all these characters collide in the trailer above — sometimes literally, like when Halsey brains Dane with a hammer.

Americana hits theaters Aug. 22.

HBO Max is brutally roasting itself on X

Mashable - 11 hours 20 min ago

HBO's decision to change the name of its streamer from HBO Max to Max, and then back to Max again two years later, has been an almost comically ridiculous journey — but at least the company's got a sense of humour about it.

After HBO parent company Warner Bros. Discovery announced the name change on Wednesday, the social media manager running the official @StreamOnMax account proceeded to have a lot of fun with the old new name.

SEE ALSO: Thank goodness: Max is changing its name back to HBO Max

Here are just some of the ways HBO Max has been roasting itself online:

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Look, they even got The Pitt star Noah Wyle involved.

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It's time to give that social media manager a well deserved raise, HBO.

Why are we obsessed with body counts again?

Mashable - 11 hours 32 min ago

Picture this: it’s a busy Tuesday and you’re running into town to run errands on your lunch break. You’re balancing about six items in your arms and already having a stressful day when you’re approached by a man-child with his phone in your face and a tiny microphone in his hand. That’s when he asks you, “What’s your body count?”

He awaits your answer impatiently and you’re confused, frustrated, and not sure why the question is so important. Yet there’s still an immense pressure to answer it. 

This situation, as much as it sounds like a nightmare, is a reality. In fact, it’s a TikTok trend that's amassed an eye-watering 917 million views and counting. Whether it’s viral street interviews, skits, or podcast debates, judging women based on their body counts, or how many people they've had sex with, is algorithmic gold dust for content creators. 

For something so personal, so irrelevant to anyone else’s life, it’s staggering how much weight society still gives to this arbitrary number. And it's not just about curiosity. This number has somehow become a measure of a person’s worth, particularly for women. And they’re being shamed for views and exploited for the revenue that comes with them.

SEE ALSO: How the internet became a breeding ground for slutshaming



So, why does body count matter so much? Why are we still having these conversations in 2025? And more importantly, why does it always seem to matter more for women than it does for men?

The sexual double standard of body counts

When was the last time a man’s sexual history was used to discredit his character, imply he was ‘used up’, or suggest he was unworthy of love?

Body count judgement is nothing more than good old-fashioned slutshaming, the belittling of women and marginalised genders that keeps purity culture in check. Gigi Engle, clinical sexologist, sex educator, and author of All the F*cking Mistakes: A Guide to Sex, Love, and Life explains that purity culture derives from Christianity and was a movement, gaining mainstream recognition in the 1990s, to emphasise the importance of abstaining from sex before marriage in order to please God. However, purity culture has leaked out of religion and the 1990s and permeated every crevice of modern culture.

“One of purity culture’s biggest myths is the idea that every time a woman has sex, she attaches herself to that person and a part of her has been damaged or taken away." - Gigi Engle, sexologist

Engle tells Mashable that purity culture is built on misinformation about female sexuality, rarely demonising men for the same acts, and is passed off as fact. “One of purity culture’s biggest myths is the idea that every time a woman has sex, she attaches herself to that person and a part of her has been damaged or taken away,” she explains. This belief is rooted in Christian purity culture, dating back to medieval times, and is often referred to as ‘soul ties’, a method of shaming women into keeping their body count low.

Engle adds that soul ties were designed to make women feel guilty for having more than one sexual partner. “Purity culture scares us into believing we’ll lose any chance of finding a partner by sleeping around.” 

The real-world effects of body count discourse

It should go without saying, but none of these puritanical ideas are true. Studies consistently show that a person’s sexual history has no bearing on their ability to maintain a healthy, fulfilling relationship. That being said, marriages can be impacted by partners’ amount of previous partners because of cultural issues, including the false narrative that a person’s worth can be determined by how many people they’ve slept with. Ironically, and sadly, the only danger having a high body count poses on being a good partner is being so judged by your partner that it affects the whole relationship. 

Even though we know these ideas aren’t true, the myth of purity has bled into mainstream dating culture, even for those who don’t believe in religion. It manifests in the anxiety many people feel about body count discussions. At the time of writing, TikTok videos under the ‘soul ties’ hashtag have been viewed over 437 million times, many of them spreading misinformation about what happens to our bodies and psyches after sex.

This pressure to conform to outdated sexual expectations has very real consequences. Even in modern dating culture, the expectation that women should suppress their sexuality remains deeply ingrained. Research shows that a significant amount of people openly admit they find a woman less attractive if she has had multiple sexual partners. And that’s just the ones willing to say it out loud.

SEE ALSO: The best dating apps and sites in May 2025

According to a sexual secrets survey of 1,500 British people by sex toy shop Lovehoney, 22 percent of people have lied to a partner about how many people they’ve had sex with. A third of Brits admit to keeping sexual secrets out of fear of judgement, and 30 percent say they’ve kept their number a secret out of embarrassment. 

Even on Pure, a dating app that actively promotes sex positivity, body counts are still a point of tension. In a survey of 3,000 people, just 16 percent of women said they feel comfortable openly sharing past sexual experiences with a date, and 17 percent of men stated they find it unattractive when women have had many sexual partners or kinky experiences.

So, it’s no wonder women feel compelled to downplay their history. The silver lining: for everyone who finds it a turn-off, there are thankfully 83 percent who aren’t put off by certain body counts or wild stories.

Still, this leaves women feeling disillusioned with dating, afraid to disclose their true sexual history in case of judgement or personal attack, and ultimately leads to shame they don’t deserve to carry. 

Slutshaming and sex work stigma

Nowhere is body count judgement and slutshaming more evident than in the way sex workers are treated online. It’s hard to scroll through TikTok for long without seeing a sex worker being interrogated by podcasters who seem less interested in genuine discussion and more intent on condemnation.

Take Rebecca Goodwin, an OnlyFans performer who made headlines after walking out of a podcast recording earlier this year. She later revealed she had been repeatedly berated about her career, with the hosts attempting to frame her work as morally bankrupt. Despite asking for the episode to be scrapped, clips of her trying to defend her choices flooded Instagram and TikTok, spliced with disapproving commentary. Similarly, musician Kate Nash — who joined OnlyFans to fund her next tour — was forced to justify her decision in national news segments.

This trend of scrutinising and shaming sex workers spills over into body count discourse, where women who have multiple partners are treated as if they are somehow tainted. Society continues to associate female sexual freedom with degradation, while simultaneously holding men to a completely different standard.

The backlash against sex workers is particularly apparent in the recent moral panic surrounding porn performers Lily Phillips and Bonnie Blue. Phillips set out to sleep with 100 people in a day, while Blue attempted 1,000, reigniting a debate about ‘body counts’ that quickly spiralled into outright misogyny. While some critics voiced concern over the ethics of such stunts, much of the outrage stemmed from the sheer audacity of women publicly embracing their sexuality. The reaction split into two camps: one expressing concern over the men involved and another fixating on the idea that women having too much sex is inherently wrong.

This kind of reaction, unfortunately, isn’t surprising. Slutshaming is often about power and control, according to Erica Smith, founder of the Purity Culture Dropout Program, which helps people unlearn internalised shame. She tells Mashable, “Often a person will slutshame someone because they think that person needs to be put in their place.” 

The deep-rooted stigma surrounding sex work has long been used to punish women for any sexual behaviour that isn’t seen as perfectly pure. If a woman’s number is ‘too high’, she is treated as though she has crossed some invisible threshold into territory reserved for sex workers, who are already relentlessly judged and vilified.

Of course, the idea that women's value disintegrates with each person they sleep with completely disregards consent, sexual agency, and the fact that women don’t exist purely to be chosen by men. What’s even more insidious is how this rhetoric is framed as ‘helpful advice’ rather than what it actually is: old-fashioned misogyny, dressed up in modern aesthetics. 

Slutshaming is also about deflection. “They may not be happy with their own sex lives, and it’s hard for them to see someone enjoying themselves freely,” Smith says. Instead of embracing sex positivity, some people choose to dismiss, belittle, and even actively suppress it.

At the heart of the body count debate is a fundamental misunderstanding of human sexuality. The idea that a single number can define someone’s character, their capacity for love, or their ability to commit is not just ridiculous; it’s dangerous.

Sexuality isn’t a fixed formula. Some people have had many partners, others have had very few, and neither experience is inherently better or worse. Studies consistently show that a person’s sexual history has no bearing on their ability to maintain a healthy, fulfilling relationship. So instead of 'what's your body count', the real question should be: why are we still measuring a person’s worth this way?

Sluts: The Truth About Sex Shame & What We Can Do To Fight It by Beth Ashley (£9.99, Penguin Random House) is out now and is available from Amazon and all good bookshops. 

Terrorists Continue to Pay for Check Marks on X, Report Says

NYT Technology - 12 hours 54 min ago
Elon Musk’s social media company has continued to accept payments for subscriptions from entities barred from doing business in the U.S., a nonprofit found.

Save $700 on the EcoFlow Delta 2 Max portable power station at Amazon

Mashable - 13 hours 36 min ago

SAVE $700: As of May 15, the EcoFlow Delta 2 Max portable power station is on sale for $999 at Amazon. That's 41% off its list price of $1,699.

Opens in a new window Credit: EF ECOFLOW EF EcoFlow Delta 2 Max $999 at Amazon
$1,699 Save $700 Get Deal

Warmer weather is here and if camping is on your travel to-do list this summer, a portable power station is worth having around. As of may 15, you can save big on a few different models at various retailers. Amazon has quite a few on sale right now, including a great discount on the EcoFlow Delta 2 Max portable power station.

The EcoFlow Delta 2 Max has received a 41% discount at Amazon that's dropped its price from $1,699 to $999. Keep in mind that this marked as a limited-time deal. So if it's caught your eye, you'll want to act fast to pick it up at this price.

SEE ALSO: Jackery's monster power station is over $500 off right now

This power station comes packed with 15 outlets to keep a variety of items charged, including six AC outlets, two USB-C 100W, two USB-A 18W, two USB-A 12W, two DC5521 output ports, and one car outlet port. It also offers solar charging, which is especially convenient if you're taking it on an outdoor adventure this year.

This limited-time deal may not last for long. Don't miss out on 41% off the EcoFlow Delta 2 Max at Amazon.

This isn't the only portable power station deal that's crossed our radar recently. At the moment you can also save on the Jackery Explorer 2000 v2 and Explorer 100 Plus Mini Power Station bundle and the Jackery Solar Generator Explorer 500 at Amazon.

The best deals this week, hand-picked by Mashable's team of experts

YouTube will show ads at peak points of videos

Mashable - 14 hours 25 min ago

YouTube will now show ads at the "peak" moment of videos, in a move right out of cliffhanger TV territory.

Announced Wednesday during the company's Upfront presentation, Peak Points is a new feature that uses Google's Gemini AI to identify "the most meaningful, or 'peak,' moments" to drop ads into YouTube videos.

SEE ALSO: YouTube is testing AI Overviews in search results

The idea behind the feature is YouTube connecting brands with the spot in videos "where audiences are the most engaged" and in doing so, allow creators to make more money from ads. These will likely be the most emotional, dramatic, and interesting parts of videos, identified by Gemini by crunching user viewing data. Hilariously, YouTube's blog post uses the example of a marriage proposal video, highlighting a "targeted moment" right before a suggested ad window. Can't wait for an ad right after that teary "yes."

It's not a surprising move, by any means, considering YouTube's dominance in the streaming market and its reliance on advertising as company and creator revenue. The platform has consistently bested industry leaders like Netflix, Hulu, or Disney+ as the top-watched streaming service on TVs globally. YouTube also takes the crown for livestreaming, with YouTube Live dominating competitors TikTok and Twitch.

And where there's audience, there's marketing.

The Jackery Solar Generator Explorer 500 is marked down by over $300 right now at Amazon

Mashable - 14 hours 35 min ago

SAVE $330: As of May 15, the Jackery Solar Generator Explorer 500 is on sale for $469 at Amazon. That's 41% off its list price of $799.

Opens in a new window Credit: Jackery Jackery Solar Generator Explorer 500 $469 at Amazon
$799 Save $330 Get Deal

If you're planning some camping trips or outdoor excursions this summer, a portable power station can be a helpful investment. And with so many discounts available at the moment, there's no better time to buy one.

One of our favorite deals at the moment is over at Amazon, where you can score 41% off the Jackery Solar Generator Explorer 500. This discount has dropped the price of the Jackery Solar Generator Explorer 500 from $799 to $469, allowing you to save $330. It's currently listed as a limited-time deal, so it may not stay at this price for long. Act fast to pick it up at this discounted price.

SEE ALSO: The EcoFlow Delta 2 portable power station is back down to its lowest price ever

With its compact size and carrying handle, the Jackery Solar Generator Explorer 500 is a breeze to pack up and take on your outdoor adventures. It features one AC outlet (110V 500W 1000W Peak), three USB-A ports, two DC ports, and one car port. And with the SolarSaga 100W Solar Panel, you can keep it charged up for your journeys with the help of the sun.

Don't miss out on this limited-time deal on the Jackery Solar Generator Explorer 500 at Amazon.

Looking for more portable power station deals? The hefty Jackery Explorer 1000 v2 power station is also discounted right now at Amazon, as is the Jackery Explorer 2000 v2 and Explorer 100 Plus Mini Power Station bundle.

The best deals this week, hand-picked by Mashable's team of experts

Trump to Tim Cook: I dont want you building iPhones in India

Mashable - 14 hours 38 min ago

Apple is building most of its devices in China. The company has been doing so for decades due to cheaper labor costs, supply chain infrastructure, and manufacturing expertise that's unmatched in any other country in the world. When the Trump administration recently imposed massive tariffs on China, Apple's reaction was to shift some of the production to India — a process that was already underway when the tariffs happened.

But Donald Trump is having none of that. Speaking to the media on Thursday, the U.S. president expressed his dissatisfaction with Apple's decision to move iPhone production to India.

"I had a little problem with Tim Cook yesterday. I said to him, 'You're my friend, I've treated you very good. You’re coming here with $500 billion, but now I hear you’re building all over India. I don’t want you building in India,'" Trump said.

SEE ALSO: Apple might increase iPhone prices this fall

Read it in Trump's voice for added effect: "I said to Tim, I said, 'Tim look, we've treated you really good, we put up with all the plants that you built in China for years, now you got build us. We’re not interested in you building in India, India can take care of themselves (...) we want you to build here,'" Trump said.

With an offer like that, how can Cook refuse? Well, he'll probably have to, given that it's impractical, extremely expensive, and currently near-impossible to build the iPhone in the U.S. at the volumes that Apple requires.

Trump did say that Apple will be upping its production in the U.S., but offered no details.

Apple has previously said it would invest $500 billion in the U.S. over the next four years, which includes a new factory in Houston, Texas, where it will manufacture servers.

Salma Hayek and Jimmy Fallon interacting with large bugs is kind of fun

Mashable - 14 hours 47 min ago

Watching celebrities interact with insects always has the potential to be kind of fun, and kind of fun is exactly what The Tonight Show video above is.

In the clip Salma Hayek joins Jimmy Fallon and science podcast Ologies host Alie Ward to look at some interesting bugs, from glow-in-the-dark emperor scorpions to a cat-eye mantis that Hayek is impressively comfortable hosting on her head.

Avoid this one if you're squeamish.

Save over $50 on a 12-month subscription to Peacock with this handy coupon code

Mashable - 14 hours 57 min ago

BEST STREAMING DEAL: Until May 30, get a 12-month subscription to Peacock for $24.99 with the coupon code SPRINGSAVINGS. That's 69% off the normal annual price of $79.99.

Opens in a new window Credit: Peacock Peacock (12-Month Subscription) $24.99 at Peacock
$79.99 Save $55 Get Deal

The streaming scene is being dominated by price hikes and password sharing crackdowns, leaving users frustrated. That's why we jump on any sort of streaming deal. And in this case, we're talking about a significant saving on a top service.

Through May 30, get a 12-month subscription to Peacock for $24.99 with the coupon code SPRINGSAVINGS. That's 69% off the normal annual price of $79.99, or a saving of over $50 per year.

SEE ALSO: What's new to streaming this week? (May 16, 2025)

This special offer excludes current paying subscribers. After the promotional period comes to an end, you will be charged $79.99 (or the then-current retail price) until you cancel. There's no pressure to pay full price though, because you can cancel anytime.

Peacock is the exclusive home of Universal Pictures (and Focus Features) films like Wicked, Conclave, and Nosferatu. Subscribers also get access to NBC shows like The Office, New Girl, and Yellowstone, plus reality TV favorites like Poker Face and Mrs. Davis. It's a comprehensive service that could be all yours for about $2 per month. That's a small price to pay for all that content.

Save over $50 on Peacock with the coupon code SPRINGSAVINGS.

The best deals this week, hand-picked by Mashable's team of experts

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