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Have you ever wanted a mobile device designed solely to scan your eyeballs? No, that sounds a little creepy? Well, that's too dang bad, because you're getting it anyway.
Tools for Humanity, a start-up backed by OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, debuted the Orb Mini this week, a smartphone-sized device with two massive eye sensors on it. The hardware is part of the World project and app, a grand plan aimed at creating a global identification system.
This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.The idea is that these sensors, paired with a blockchain registry, could serve as a tool for verifying someone's humanity. And yes, this is because artificial intelligence evangelists envision a world where it's impossible to distinguish between a human being and an AI agent online.
The Orb orbital scanner is reminiscent of the retinal scanners in Minority Report, a dystopian science-fiction movie, which likely isn't the first association that Tools for Humanity wants for its product.
So, how does the optical scanner work?
The components for the Orb, a previous version of the startup's retinal scanner. Credit: Tools for HumanityWorking in tandem with an app, the Orb Mini would scan your iris, which would be associated with a unique ID and stored with blockchain technology. The effort is part of the so-called "World human verification project," according to TechCrunch. Tools for Humanity also has a larger version of the device, simply called The Orb.
Besides proving your humanity, other uses for the technology include verifying your identity on dating apps or being a part of a payment tool. Wired reported World is working with Match to run a pilot program in Japan where Tinder users can use the company's tech to verify their identity. The tech outlet also reported World is working on a Visa-backed debit card and will be launching identification services in six U.S. cities: Atlanta, Austin, Los Angeles, Miami, Nashville, and San Francisco.
This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.Tools for Humanity may also try to incentivize users to scan their eyes with Orb devices with — what else? — cryptocurrency. As The Verge noted, folks who scan their eyes into the system will receive 16 Worldcoin (WLD), a new cryptocurrency tied to the very same World human verification project.
So, if you're eager to scan your retinas into Sam Altman's eyeball machine, now is your time.
SAVE $30: As of May 1, get the MLS Season Pass on Apple TV for $69, down from its normal price of $99, for the rest of the 2025 season. That's a 30% discount. It's just $59 for current Apple TV+ subscribers.
Opens in a new window Credit: Apple MLS Season Pass on Apple TV $69 at Apple TVCan't stand to miss a single Major League Soccer game? Apple has a solution: The subscription-based MLS Season Pass on Apple TV. It offers live coverage of all the normal MLS regular season and playoff matches and more, all up to stream straight from wherever you're watching Apple TV. It's a must-have if you're a soccer fan, but as we feel the squeeze in this economy, services like this on top of paying for streaming platforms can feel like a luxury. Luckily, Apple has a deal that can make getting your soccer on a much cheaper affair for a while.
As of May 1, get the MLS Season Pass for $69, down from its usual price of $99, for the rest of the 2025 season. That's $30 off and a discount of 30%. It's just $59 for current Apple TV+ subscribers. This deal only applies to the seasonal subscription option, and the monthly subscription will still remain the same price if you don't want to pay for the rest of the 2025 season.
SEE ALSO: The best cheap 4K TVs in 2025MLS Season Pass is available straight through the Apple TV app, and you can watch from anywhere. It offers live streaming and on demand options for all the Major League Soccer matches, playoffs, and more, with both English and Spanish options available.
Every Sunday night, MLS Season Pass also offers a featured game of the week under its Sunday Night Soccer promotion. There's also MLS 360 access, which lets you check out highlights and other live commentary from matches. It's an invaluable set of content if you're into the sport, and since you can get it cheaper right now, it's well worth subscribing while there are still games to watch.
AI Mode in Google Search is one step closer to public launch now that the waitlist has been removed for U.S. users.
In an announcement on Thursday, Google shared that all users over 18 years old can now opt in to trying out AI Mode in Labs, the company's testing ground for new AI features. Google calls AI mode a "new Search experiment that uses advanced reasoning, thinking and multimodal capabilities to answer even your toughest questions."
Google also shared that it's introducing "product and place cards" within the responses for up-to-date information, including images, ratings, reviews, store hours, and availability.
SEE ALSO: Google rolls out Gemini 2.5 Flash preview in the Gemini app. What's new?For the uninitiated, AI Mode is Google's search feature that combines the Gemini chatbot experience with search results. The feature integrates Gemini's reasoning capabilities with Google's traditional search engine algorithm. It processes search queries by breaking down the question, scanning the web, and summarizing its findings. "What we've done is that we've taught the model how to use Google," Robby Stein, Google's VP of product for Google Search, told Mashable in an interview.
Via Giphy Google is going all-in on AI searchThe introduction of AI Mode is just one of the many ways Google is injecting AI features into its search engine.
AI Mode is different from AI Overviews, which provides an AI-generated summary at the top of the search page. Instead, AI Mode looks more like the standalone Gemini app interface where can ask follow-up questions, but with real-time search results in a sidebar.
"People want more control and an ability to say, 'I have a pretty complicated, specific thing in mind... like comparing, four or five different products that don't even exist in any single place,'" said Stein, "and they really want the power of AI to help them with more of their needs."
AI Overviews, which launched almost exactly a year ago, is the most prominent change to the traditional search results format. And its controversies are well documented at this point. There are hallucinations and errors, as well as polarized reactions from users who find the feature annoying, especially since it can't be turned off. Many publishers are also concerned about how it's affecting their traffic. By summarizing the contents of webpages within Google itself, many websites are seeing fewer visitors.
But according to Google's Q1 earnings report, AI Overviews now has 1.5 billion monthly users. We asked Stein if that's because users are served AI Overviews by default, and Stein clarified that Google doesn't measure use by whether AI Overviews simply appear on the page. "It's based on our view that the user, read it, interacted with it, engaged with it, in some way."
When the conversation turned to Google's responsibility to publishers, Stein said "having a thriving web is in everyone's best interest, it's important to Google, it's important to our users, important to publishers."
He also shared thoughts on how the new AI Mode can lead to user experiences that never would have involved publishers in the first place. "I also think that this is an expansionary moment where what we're seeing is that these are kinds of questions that the people were not commonly asking of Google, because now you can ask really anything." Stein gave the example of uploading a picture of something wrong with his bathroom tile to AI Mode, which "diagnosed" the issue and shared links to local businesses.
When asked whether Google has seen a decrease in visits to publishers, as some surveys and individual publishers have noticed, Stein said they haven't seen a change in clicks out to the wider web. "For any individual publisher, there's lots of reasons why something could fluctuate," he said. "We don't really look at specific publishers in that way. We think about it really in the aggregate."
How to try AI Mode in Google SearchAs of May 1, interested users in the U.S. can start searching with AI Mode. To use the experimental tool, you will need to turn on your web search history in your Google account.
To get started, head to Google Labs to sign up.
Amazon is kicking off the month of May with some pretty impressive deals on top brands like Garmin, Echo, and Bowflex. No, there's no big shopping event going on. These are just deals for the sake of deals — and those are our favorite kind. In a time when everything is getting more expensive, it's a thrill to see brands actually lowering prices. We've rounded up some discounts we think are worth grabbing.
Here are our top picks for the best Amazon deals of the day on May 1. If none of these are your cup of tea, be sure to check out our picks from April 29 and April 30. Many of those deals are still live, including the lowest price ever on our favorite Bluetooth speaker for bass lovers and a 34% discount on our top budget earbuds.
Our top pick: DoorDash $50 gift card Opens in a new window Credit: DoorDash $50 DoorDash gift card $42.50 at AmazonWhether you're looking for a gift for someone in your life or you've just got food on the mind, you can score a $50 DoorDash gift card for only $42.50 as of May 1. That's 15% cheaper than usual. Be sure to select the $50 gift amount to secure the discount and enter the email address of the person you want to receive the gift (it's ok if it's you). The electronic gift card will then be emailed to the recipient immediately after purchase with details on redemption. Beyond just food delivery from local restaurants, you'll be giving the gift of extra time.
Garmin Venu 3S Opens in a new window Credit: Garmin Garmin Venu 3S $349.99 at AmazonThe Venu 3S is the smaller version of the Garmin Venu 3, featuring a 41mm case instead of 45mm. It also has a slightly shorter battery life, but otherwise it's basically the same watch that ticks all the right boxes — smart features, health features, fitness features, and more. It offers in-depth recovery advice, detailed sleep data, a speaker and microphone for hands-free calling, virtual assistant access, and truly impressive health and fitness tools. It's regularly $449.99, but you can save 22% as of May 1 and grab it for only $349.99. That matches its best price ever.
Fire TV Stick 4K + Luna Controller Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K + Luna controller $74.98 at AmazonWith Xbox prices rising, it's pretty convenient that Amazon's gaming bundle allows you to enjoy a high-end gaming experience without the need for a console. You can get started with Amazon's game streaming service, Luna, for only $74.98 — that's 38% off its usual price. The bundle includes the Fire TV Stick 4K and a Luna controller, which our friends at PCMag (also owned by Ziff Davis) called "an excellent gamepad that provides the optimal Luna game-streaming experience." The controller features its own separate WiFi connection, which helps to reduce input lag as you play. The Fire TV Stick 4K allows you to access popular games — all you'll need is the Luna app and a Prime or Luna subscription and you're off to the races.
BowFlex SelectTech 840 Adjustable Kettlebell Opens in a new window Credit: Bowflex BowFlex SelectTech 840 adjustable kettlebell $129.98 at AmazonAn adjustable weight is a major hack for saving space in your home while still allowing you to diversify your workouts. And as of May 1, the BowFlex SelectTech 840 adjustable kettlebell is 35% off, dropping its $199 price tag down to only $129.98. With the turn of a dial, you can adjust the weight from eight to 40 pounds, effectively replacing up to six kettlebell weights. The weight also includes a two-month free trial of JRNY all-access membership.
Echo Pop Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Echo Pop $27.99 at AmazonIf you've been wanting to add Alexa to your home, the Echo Pop is the least expensive way to do so — especially when it's on sale. Usually $40, you can snag one for just $27.99 as of May 1 and get a free WiZ smart bulb with your purchase. The Pop is basically an Echo Dot lite, made for people "who like to keep music playing, and who also use Alexa as a home assistant." It's not particularly groundbreaking for the Echo lineup, but it's budget-friendly and sound great in any room.
Check out our full review of the Echo Pop.
None of these deals catching your eye? Check out Amazon's daily deals for even more savings.
SAVE $300: As of May 1, get the Dell Inspiron 16 Plus (Intel Core Ultra 9 185H, Intel Arc, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) for $799.99, down from its usual price of $1,099.99 at Dell. That's a discount of 31%.
Opens in a new window Credit: Dell Dell Inspiron 16 Plus (Intel Core Ultra 9 185H, Intel Arc, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) $799.99 at DellStill chugging along with an old laptop? Don't sit and get frustrated with slow loading times, sticky keys, and a muddy screen. Move on with a new model and get more done — and you can gift yourself with an affordable laptop under $800 today.
As of May 1, get the Dell Inspiron 16 Plus (Intel Core Ultra 9 185H, Intel Arc, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) for $799.99, down from its usual price of $1,099.99, at Dell. That's $300 off and a discount of 31%.
SEE ALSO: As tariffs come for tech, these are the best cheap laptops under $1,000This portable, lightweight laptop boasts an Intel Core Ultra 9 185H processor with Intel Arc graphics, 16GB RAM, and a 512GB SSD so you can store whatever you need to without having to rely on an external hard drive.
This laptop has integrated AI so you can have your laptop help you with writing or creative tasks, or even texting and calling with your laptop like a MacBook with Intel Unison.
There's a lot to love about this configuration, especially under $1,000. While this base model won't be a great pick if you're a hardcore gamer, it can handle just about anything else, whether that's streaming your favorite shows or creating a presentation. It's on clearance, though, so make sure you get yours before these models sell out.
SAVE $65.18: As of May 1, get the Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite for $199.99 at Amazon, down from its usual price of $265.17. That's a discount of 25%.
Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite $199.99 at AmazonSometimes, your phone's screen just isn't big enough for what you want to do with it. Maybe you got a folding device to avoid that problem. Or maybe you just switch to your laptop or desktop for those tasks. A tablet can solve those problems easily. Maybe you need a new tablet for the kids or the family, one that's reasonably priced. If you're on the lookout for a new one, you can't lose with this deal from Amazon.
As of May 1, get the Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite for $199.99 at Amazon, down from its usual price of $265.17. That's $65.18 off and a discount of 25%. This price applies to all three colorways: Chiffon Pink, Mint, and Oxford Gray.
This 10.4-inch tablet is a lightweight gadget that has a crisp, clear display with a resolution of 2000 x 1200 pixels. Its processor can handle just about anything you need as well, so you can stream your favorite TV shows and movies, play a swath of different games, and much more, all from your hands.
This tablet also comes with an S Pen stylus, so you can use it to navigate through menus, write down notes or make doodles and art — whatever your heart desires. It's a lot like many of its expensive alternatives, but much cheaper with some of the very same features.
If you need a reliable tablet that you or the family can use, this is a fantastic option that's less than $200. Be sure and grab yours before the price goes back up, as this is a versatile buy. And if you need a gift for a tech-savvy giftee, it's a perfect pick for that too.
SAVE $232: The Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra (256GB) is on sale at Amazon for $1,067.99, down from the normal price of $1,299.99. That's an 18% discount and the lowest we've seen at Amazon.
Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra (256GB) $1,067.99 at AmazonIf you're in the market for a top-tier phone, you've probably budgeted for well over $1,000, and with tariff news changing every day, that might go higher. But if you're quick, you can score a premium model at a steep discount today.
As of May 1, the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra (256GB) is on sale for $1,067.99 at Amazon, marked down from the standard list price of $1,299.99. That shaves $232 off the price thanks to the 18% discount. This sale also happens to be the lowest price we've seen at Amazon.
The Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra is one of the most powerful smartphones on the market. Samsung used its most powerful battery ever in the S25 Ultra. In Mashable's review, writer Alex Perry noted the Samsung S25 Ultra got almost 27 hours of battery life when looping a 1080p video on the display. That means you can likely get over a day's worth of battery life out of each charge.
SEE ALSO: Score the 32-inch Samsung M8 Smart Monitor for $300 off and give your office a big upgradeThis model also comes with 256GB for storing all your dog photos and downloaded movies. That'll come in handy during summer vacation, since you'll need plenty of entertainment downloaded for the flight.
The Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra also comes with S Pen, which is great for jotting down notes or using Samsung's Circle to Search function. Plus, the Snapdragon 8 Elite chip is the newest processor.
If your smartphone has been lagging or no longer holds a charge for all-day use, today is a great day to upgrade while the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra is hanging out at $1,067.99 — the lowest price Amazon has ever offered.
Starting today, Microsoft will be raising the recommended retail prices of its Xbox consoles and controllers, and video games are next. Microsoft says some new first-party games will see a holiday season price increase to $79.99.
The news was announced on a May 1 blog post on the Xbox support blog.
The blog post reads, “We understand that these changes are challenging, and they were made with careful consideration given market conditions and the rising cost of development. Looking ahead, we continue to focus on offering more ways to play more games across any screen and ensuring value for Xbox players.”
While Microsoft cites “market conditions” and the “rising cost” of development, the company didn’t mention tariffs specifically. However, we’ve already seen a wave of tariff-related price increases, with more likely to come in the near future.
And Xbox isn’t the only platform potentially raising prices. Nintendo alarmed some Switch gamers when it announced that the Switch 2 launch title Mario Kart World would be priced at $80. Video game prices have stayed relatively flat for decades, and as we noted at the time, the Mario Kart World price could be a harbinger of more price increases to come. In fact, a price adjustment may be overdue.
However, the Microsoft announcement did leave the company some wiggle room. The company said they "expect to adjust the pricing of some of our new, first-party games starting this holiday season to $79.99." (Emphasis added.)
Mashable reached out to Microsoft for comment on the Xbox price changes, and we'll update this article if we receive more information.
SAVE $91.50: As of May 1, get the limited edition Shark FlexStyle in Blossom Bliss for $238.49. Use code SPECIAL10 at checkout to save $91.50 for 27% off.
Opens in a new window Credit: Shark Shark FlexStyle Air Styling & Drying System in Blossom Bliss $238.49 at SharkAnother day, another great Shark deal. Earlier this week, we spotted the Shark FlexStyle back down to $239.99, saving 20% off. This air styling and hair drying system is our favorite Dyson Airwrap dupe, making at-home blowouts an easy reality. But ahead of Mother's Day, which is May 11 if you needed a reminder, Shark just dropped an even better deal on the FlexStyle.
As of May 1, Shark has dropped its price on its limited edition Blossom Bliss FlexStyle. Normally $329.99, it was marked down to $264.99, but with code SPECIAL10, you get an extra 10% off. That brings it down to $238.49, 50 cents cheaper than Amazon's FlexStyle listing. That provides $91.50 off for 27% in savings.
The Blossom Bliss FlexStyle comes in a metallic pink finish with decorative cherry blossoms printed on the side — a more festive upgrade from the FlexStyle's usual shade of metallic beige. It comes with five attachments: a styling concentrator, two auto-wrap curlers, an oval brush, and a paddle brush.
Use code SPECIAL10 to get the Blossom Bliss FlexStyle for $238.49 at Shark.
TL;DR: Live stream Athletic Club vs. Manchester United for free on RTBF Auvio. The best service for live streaming sport is ExpressVPN.
The Europa League semi finals are here, with all eyes on Athletic Club vs. Manchester United. This absolutely huge matchup is all that matters to Manchester United at this stage of the season. It has been a season to forget, but they could end things on a much more positive note by winning this competition and securing qualification for next year's Champions League.
If you want to watch Athletic Club vs. Manchester United for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.
When is Athletic Club vs. Manchester United?Athletic Club vs. Manchester United kicks off at 8 p.m. BST on May 1. This fixture takes place at the San Mamés Stadium.
How to watch Athletic Club vs. Manchester United for freeAthletic Club vs. Manchester United is available to live stream for free on RTBF Auvio in Belgium.
RTBF Auvio is geo-restricted to Belgium, so if you're away from Belgium for this fixture, you'll have to use a VPN to get access to your usual coverage. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in Belgium, meaning you can bypass geo-restrictions to access RTBF Auvio from anywhere in the world.
Unblock RTBF Auvio by following these simple steps:
Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)
Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)
Open up the app and connect to a server in Belgium
Visit RTBF Auvio
Stream Athletic Club vs. Manchester United in the Europa League for free
The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but they do tend to provide free-trial periods or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can gain access to RTBF Auvio without committing with your cash. This is not a long-term solution, but it gives you plenty of time to stream Athletic Club vs. Manchester United before recovering your investment.
What is the best VPN for ServusTV?ExpressVPN is the best choice for streaming live sport on ServusTV, for a number of reasons:
Servers in 105 countries including Austria
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 $139 and includes an extra four months for free — 61% off for a limited time. This plan also includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee.
Stream Athletic Club vs. Manchester United for free with ExpressVPN.
Living together in a gigantic six-bed, five-bath property in Miami, eight conventionally attractive women sunbathe in bikinis, twerk in matching jammies, and dance by the pool in almost-sheer bodycon dresses. This is not a new-age iteration of the Playboy Mansion; there are no silk robe-clad men in sight, and in fact, no men at all. This is the Bop House, a content creator mansion founded by 20-year-old Sophie Rain and 22-year-old Aishah Sofey at the tail end of 2024.
While you may be well-versed with Hype House, Sway House, and the many dupe content mansions that have sprung up since the pandemic, Bop — or "baddie on point" — is part of a growing niche of homes like the Creator House and Rebel House that exclusively host OnlyFans creators. In the four months since Bop's inception, Rain and Sofey have recruited Alina Rose, Camilla Araujo, Julia Filippo, Summer Iris, Ava Reyes, and Joy Mei to their mansion. (Mei has since left, according to Bop House's Instagram bio.)
SEE ALSO: Trump divides the porn industry. He also might ban it.The uber-successful creators have over 40 million social media followers between them, while Bop House has over four million combined followers on TikTok and Instagram. That's not all. Rain claimed that the content house earned over $10 million in December alone, and its prosperity has already inspired a rival OnlyFans-only mansion called the Asian House.
In case you're curious about the kind of videos that Bop posts to garner clout at breakneck speed, the ordinary, everydayness of their content may surprise you, at least at first glance. Just like countless other lifestyle creators, the Bop House women make dance videos, play pranks on each other, and wear colour-coordinated outfits. It's a seemingly never-ending slumber party, but the online reaction signals the longstanding and seemingly ever-growing stigma against sex work, even when made on women's own terms.
Inside the Bop HouseDespite the staid nature of their TikTok and Instagram content, most Bop House videos stack millions of views because of the subliminal suggestiveness and seduction. The creators don't just dance to any tunes, but specifically those that encourage jumping and jiggling. On a day out, you'll see them at a PG-13 trampoline park in tank tops and bum shorts, as the camera pans on their butts and boobs. Even if the content appears to be all fun and games, in reality, each post is meticulously planned with the Bop House women hard at work. After all, just like other OnlyFans creators, their income depends on their social media.
The OnlyFans platform is notoriously bereft of a search function and a discovery space like Explore or FYP. The only way for a creator to get new subscribers is by promoting their work on other forms of media like X, Reddit, Telegram, TikTok, and Instagram. That's why UK-based OnlyFans creator Lauren Roland thinks the Bop House is a genius idea.
"I spend 90 percent of my day marketing my content online. But there's only so many times I can post photos of myself dressed like a French maid or a nurse before it becomes repetitive," the 51-year-old shares. "Having creators to collaborate with helps your creativity and reach because you're targeting wider audiences."
Creating content amid censorshipAccording to an OnlyFans spokesperson, as of April 2025, the platform has over four million registered creators. While it has always been difficult to stand out amidst the crowd, the ongoing censorship of sex workers by big tech is only stigmatising the industry further, making it nearly impossible for creators to exist on mainstream platforms. The current stigmatisation of online sex work can be traced back to the 2018 U.S. bills FOSTA-SESTA (Fighting Online Sex Trafficking Act and Stop Enabling Sex Trafficking Act).
When Donald Trump signed the controversial bills in his first term with the intent to curb human trafficking, the law made online publishers responsible for any trafficking incidents that take place on their platforms. In an effort to safeguard their own interests, the platforms then began policing content excessively. Human moderators — or worse, automated systems — were trained to aggressively weed out any nudity or reference to sex. These mentions are then flagged as potentially soliciting, and associated accounts are eventually reported or suspended. Sex educators, workers, and creators became collateral damage amidst this censorship, as the process leaves plenty of room for error.
Last year, Roland lost 125,000 followers on TikTok when the app suspended her account out of the blue. Her Instagram is shadowbanned, meaning it does not appear in the search function, on Explore pages, or under recommended accounts.
"It's hard for a machine to determine what is or isn't safe for work, it's super dehumanising and demonstrates the ways that people in the erotic sphere are blocked from accessing legitimate infrastructure," says Megan Wallace, the creator behind sex and desire zine PULP and the editorial director at GayTimes.
For years, heaps of sex workers, educators, and LGBTQIA+ users have protested Meta's arbitrary (shadow)bans of their personal and professional accounts despite complying with their no-nudity and no-solicitation rules.
That also explains why Bop House content is carefully indicative, with absolutely no mention of OnlyFans. The link in their Instagram bio takes users to an official website where you can further tap into the individual creators' OnlyFans accounts — two whole clicks away from Meta.
The timing is painfully ironic: 2025 is also the year that Anora, a film about a sex worker, swept up six awards at the Oscars. In reality, the sex worker community is being pushed underground. Instead of regulating and protecting sex workers, the current law erases them from social media, enforcing the idea that they aren't valid members of society, worthy of community, connection, or any visibility.
The timing is painfully ironic: 2025 is also the year that 'Anora,' a film about a sex worker, swept up six awards at the Oscars. In reality, the sex worker community is being pushed underground.In an attempt to circumvent censorship yet continue to draw in eyes, OnlyFans creators are forced to develop their own niche online. For example, Astrid Wett is known for being a boxer, Bonnie Locket uses her love of supercars to lure fans, while London-based Venus Energy is making more lifestyle-first videos. "I recently started a TikTok series of me struggling to open jars, it's a humorous way for men to offer help that is still above board," Energy explains.
Similarly, the women of Bop House are distinguishing themselves from other creators through community and by exclusively creating group content.
But this has elicited uproar and moral panic of its own. The Bop creators are between 19 and 24 years of age, and naysayers on the internet claim they're too young for sex work. Not only does this narrative strip the creators of any agency, but it also fuels the belief that sex work is inherently bad and must be banned.
"Years ago, with Emma Watson and more recently with Millie Bobby Brown, we have seen barely-legal celebrities be overly sexualised against their will," shares Dr. Carolina Are, innovation fellow at Northumbria University's Centre for Digital Citizens, platform governance researcher, and content creator. Back in 2014, Watson delivered a speech about the lack of gender equality in films and revealed that the press sexualised her when she was only 14 years old.
In the decade since, nonconsensual objectification has gained the backing of technology like pornographic deepfakes (AI-generated videos) of Brown and other young celebrities that are easily available on the internet.
"Even musicians have written songs objectifying young girls; so it's incredibly revealing that these adult women who are consensually creating sexual content are somehow a problem for people," Are adds.
Mounting misconceptions about sex workThis angst towards Bop House magnified in February when 17-year-old content creator Piper Rockelle posted videos with the housemates. The internet was up in arms about an underage creator allegedly joining OnlyFans, but this never happened. Rockelle visited the creators at Rain's private residence (not Bop House) and filmed mainstream TikTok trends. (Teenagers and parents who worked with Rockelle accused her mother, Tiffany Smith, of harassment and abuse in a 2022 lawsuit. Smith denied the allegations, and a settlement was reached.)
But the furore led to Bop House being labelled "the most disgusting content house" on a YouTube video with over a million views, while they continue to field daily hate on X and TikTok. The consistent fear-mongering spreads the belief that Bop House's viral presence online could lure in minors with PG-13 content, eventually funneling them onto OnlyFans before they are legally allowed.
When Mashable reached out to OnlyFans for comments, a spokesperson said, "OnlyFans is not affiliated with the Bop House and does not endorse any third party or agency." They also linked us to the platform's child-safety policies.
In accordance with the UK's Online Safety Act and U.S. 2257 Record-Keeping Regulations, creators have to provide over nine proofs of identity before they can be registered on OnlyFans. This includes their name, email, postal address, date of birth, valid government photo ID, selfie with and without said ID, W-9, and social security number. Depending on the country, subscribers must also provide a range of personal IDs, payment details, and go through age verification checks before viewing media on OnlyFans.
In the U.S., for instance, fans must share valid over-18 bank details and a passport or driver's license in order to be cleared. To ensure minors aren't accessing OnlyFans through an adult's account, the platform also hosts secondary selfie checks every 30 days.
Although OnlyFans has roadblocks in place to prevent minors from accessing adult content, the internet at large unfairly places this responsibility on creators.
SEE ALSO: What the Supreme Court hearing about age verification could mean for you"Parents and schools should educate children because right now, sex work and any related content is so heavily censored that it restricts access to important conversations about sexual health, wellbeing and consent while proliferating misogynistic content and stigmatising sex," Are says.
At a time when one in five UK men aged 16 to 29 look at Andrew Tate favourably and believe feminism did more harm than good, safe conversations around sex are essential. Similarly, the recently released Netflix thriller Adolescence —which explores the rise of the toxic manosphere and its impact on young boys — is resonating with audiences globally and making a case for the need for healthy conversation around sex and gender.
On the other hand, big tech sees a complete elimination of sex workers as the easy fix to trafficking and safety. Roland explains why this only makes matters worse: "Right now OnlyFans creators are making content from the safety of their homes and on their own terms — the Bop House women have solidarity in their togetherness. But if you censor us on social media, we may be forced to [post videos] on platforms like Pornhub." The creator adds that with the latter, sex workers have less control over how much they are paid and how the content is promoted, taking away their agency.
"Pornhub has collaborated closely with the model community to create a payment structure that fairly compensates them for their work. You can learn more about our tier system here, including how we have regularly implemented model feedback into the system as it evolves," Pornhub's VP of brand and community, Alexzandra Kekesi, said in an emailed statement to Mashable. "Pornhub is deeply invested in the success of the creators that are a part of our community."
Yet even from the perspective of child safety, some creators prefer a platform like OnlyFans — where viewers must jump through several hoops before seeing adult content — over easily accessible porn websites where age verification and consent is a simple, faith-based "yes or no" answer. (In the U.S., age-verification laws are in effect in several states, requiring ID or facial recognition to access explicit sites. While they outwardly want to curb minors from seeing porn, an early study shows that they don't work, and free speech experts Mashable have spoke to say there are privacy and security concerns.)
"Parents and schools should educate children because right now, sex work and any related content is so heavily censored that it restricts access to important conversations about sexual health, wellbeing and consent." - Researcher Carolina AreLike any other profession, working in a collective like the Bop House is better for the creators' mental and social welfare than filming alone. Are says, "I'm part of a research network where we address various aspects of content creators' lives, and something that stands out is how lonely their work can be."
Are insists that creator mansions like Bop House can play a vital role in their overall protection and safety. For instance, in February, Rain revealed that her stalker broke into the mansion while she and the team were away at the Super Bowl; he even told the cops that he was married to the creator. In a YouTube video, she sat down with Reyes and Araujo to talk about how terrifying the experience was while emphasising how having the group's support helped her process the trauma.
Globally, sex workers have a 45 to 75 percent chance of experiencing violence on the job. Popular OnlyFans creators are possibly at a higher risk of exposure to violence, as they're public-facing.
Energy agrees, "OnlyFans can be an isolating career, so I'm envious of what those girls have by working together." Unfortunately, as per the law, Bop House would be illegal in the UK. Two sex workers cannot work together in the country as it is deemed "brothel-keeping," making it increasingly unsafe by forcing creators to work in silos.
"But I am trying to access the community where I can," Energy says. "I've joined a few Telegram and Discord groups where we ask each other questions and discuss ideas; I hope those don't get banned too."
SAVE $90: Clip the on-page coupon to get the Jackery Explorer 300 portable power station for just $169 at Amazon. That's a 35% discount and the best price we've ever seen at Amazon.
Opens in a new window Credit: Jackery Jackery Explorer 300 Portable Power Station $169 at AmazonMaybe it's been a while since you physically clipped a coupon to score a discount, but that doesn't mean this type of opportunity has disappeared. Occasionally, Amazon offers an on-page coupon that offers a steep discount. They're hard to spot, but there's a great coupon right now that's perfect for the upcoming camping season.
As of May 1, the Jackery Explorer 300 portable power station is on sale for $169 with the $90 on-page coupon, marked down from the normal price of $259. That works out to a 35% discount and the lowest price we've ever spotted at Amazon.
SEE ALSO: Take $43 off the Marbero Portable Power Station and be ready for "just in case"Weighing slightly over seven pounds, the Jackery Explorer 300 deserves to get packed along on your next camping trip. The portable power station comes with 293Wh capacity and 300 Watts ouput which means you'll be able to stay powered up even if you go off-grid. In real-life terms, that means your phone can recharge 16 times or it'll keep a Bluetooth speaker pumping tunes for 19 hours. You'll get recharging options on the Jackery Explorer 300 with two AC ports, one USB-C, and two USB-A connections.
When it comes time to recharge the Jackery Explorer 300, you can do so either by car charging, wall charging, or solar charging. The Jackery also focuses on a quiet operation, working at a sound that measures just 36.4 decibels, so you won't need to worry about it being too loud if you're using it to power up a CPAP machine at night.
The Jackery Explorer 300 is perfect for outdoor adventures this summer, but it's also nice to have around the house should you experience a power outage. Instead of driving around the neighborhood to recharge your phone in the car, the Jackery is around to keep your gadgets ready to go.
While it's at its lowest price ever, grab the Jackery Explorer 300 portable power station for just $169 at Amazon. Be sure to clip the on-page coupon to score this $90 discount.
A24's latest film, Sorry, Baby, has the look of a quirky comedy with a serious edge judging by the brand new trailer out today.
Written and directed by and starring Eva Victor, the movie follows Agnes (Victor), a woman struggling to terms with something bad that happened to her three years before.
"Bittersweet, brilliant, and heartwarmingly funny, Sorry, Baby is a movie that is sure to find an audience beyond Sundance," wrote Mashable's Kristy Puchko in her review. "And not just because A24 is a master of marketing offbeat cinema, but because Victor has a voice that is strong, strange, and demands to be heard."
Naomi Ackie, Lucas Hedges, John Carroll Lynch, Louis Cancelmi, and Kelly McCormack also star.
Sorry, Baby is in select cinemas on June 27, nationwide on July 18.
If you've had a dream where Pedro Pascal is royally schmoozed by Walton Goggins, check out the reality of the exclusive clip above from The Uninvited.
A sneak peek at writer-director Nadia Conners' upcoming film, the scene takes place amid a deeply fancy party thrown by former actor Rose (Elizabeth Reaser, The Haunting of Hill House) and her Hollywood agent husband Sammy (Goggins, The White Lotus).
Sammy's white whale client target is a silk-shirted Pascal (The Last of Us) as Lucien, an A-lister movie star and bonafide lothario. But why do Lucien and Rose look like Sammy just interrupted something?
TL;DR: Live stream Musetti vs. Diallo in the 2025 Madrid Open for free on RTVE. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.
The 2025 Madrid Open quarter finals include some really interesting matchups, including Musetti vs. Diallo. The unseeded Diallo has been one of the best stories of the tournament so far. Can the Canadian continue to upset the odds and progress into the semi finals?
If you want to watch Musetti vs. Diallo in the 2025 Madrid Open for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.
How to watch Musetti vs. Diallo for freeThe 2025 Madrid Open is available to live stream for free on RTVE, including Musetti vs. Diallo.
RTVE is geo-restricted to Spain, but anyone can access this free streaming platform with a VPN. These handy tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in Spain, meaning you can unblock RTVE from anywhere in the world.
Access free live streams of the 2025 Madrid Open by following these simple steps:
Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)
Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)
Open up the app and connect to a server in Spain
Visit RTVE
Watch the 2025 Madrid Open for free from anywhere in the world
The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but leading services do tend to offer incentive deals such as free-trial periods or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these deals, you can live stream Musetti vs. Diallo without actually spending anything. This isn't a long-term solution, but it gives you enough time to watch the Madrid Open before recovering your investment.
What is the best VPN for RTVE?ExpressVPN is the best service for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live tennis on RTVE, for a number of reasons:
Servers in 105 countries including Spain
Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more
Strict no-logging policy so your data is always secure
Fast connection speeds
Up to eight simultaneous connections
30-day money-back guarantee
A two-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $139 and includes an extra four months for free — 61% off for a limited time. This plan also includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee.
Live stream Musetti vs. Diallo in the 2025 Madrid Open for free with ExpressVPN.
TL;DR: Live stream Draper vs. Arnaldi in the 2025 Madrid Open for free on RTVE. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.
The 2025 Madrid Open quarter finals are bringing together some of the best players in the world. We know this isn't the French Open, but this tournament provides an awesome opportunity to build momentum before the main event.
Draper takes on Arnaldi in one of the most interesting matchups at this late stage. If you want to watch Draper vs. Arnaldi in the 2025 Madrid Open for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.
How to watch Draper vs. Arnaldi for freeThe 2025 Madrid Open is available to live stream for free on RTVE, including Draper vs. Arnaldi.
RTVE is geo-restricted to Spain, but anyone can access this free streaming platform with a VPN. These handy tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in Spain, meaning you can unblock RTVE from anywhere in the world.
Access free live streams of the 2025 Madrid Open by following these simple steps:
Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)
Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)
Open up the app and connect to a server in Spain
Visit RTVE
Watch the 2025 Madrid Open for free from anywhere in the world
The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but leading services do tend to offer incentive deals such as free-trial periods or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these deals, you can live stream Draper vs. Arnaldi without actually spending anything. This isn't a long-term solution, but it gives you enough time to watch the Madrid Open before recovering your investment.
What is the best VPN for RTVE?ExpressVPN is the best service for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live tennis on RTVE, for a number of reasons:
Servers in 105 countries including Spain
Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more
Strict no-logging policy so your data is always secure
Fast connection speeds
Up to eight simultaneous connections
30-day money-back guarantee
A two-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $139 and includes an extra four months for free — 61% off for a limited time. This plan also includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee.
Live stream Draper vs. Arnaldi in the 2025 Madrid Open for free with ExpressVPN.
If you're a fiend for the world of John Wick, you'll want to watch this.
A new behind-the-scenes documentary, Wick Is Pain, will let you step inside the Continental hotel and go behind the scenes of Chad Stahelski's Keanu Reeves-led, puppy-fuelled, towering body count-clad assassin action franchise.
Directed by Jeffrey Doe, the film features interviews with the cast and crew including Reeves and Stahelski, alongside producers Erica Lee, Basil Iwanyk, and David Leitch. From the looks of the trailer, there's plenty of on-set footage of Reeves in full John Wick stunt mode — as his stunt double Jackson Spidell says, "When you see Keanu in pain onscreen, it's probably for real." After all, Stahelski did hit Reeves with a car.
But the film also promises to go into the fact that the first John Wick movie in 2014 — the one with the puppy that started it all — almost didn't happen.
Wick Is Pain is available to rent and buy on digital platforms from May 9, after screening at Beyond Fest at the American Cinematheque on May 8.
TL;DR: Live stream Cerundolo vs. Mensik in the 2025 Madrid Open for free on RTVE. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.
The 2025 Madrid Open quarter finals are here for the men's draw, with Cerundolo taking on Mensik in one of the toughest matchups to predict. We really can't call this one. It's going to be an absolute battle for a spot in the semi finals.
If you want to watch Cerundolo vs. Mensik in the 2025 Madrid Open for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.
How to watch Cerundolo vs. Mensik for freeThe 2025 Madrid Open is available to live stream for free on RTVE, including Cerundolo vs. Mensik.
RTVE is geo-restricted to Spain, but anyone can access this free streaming platform with a VPN. These handy tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in Spain, meaning you can unblock RTVE from anywhere in the world.
Access free live streams of the 2025 Madrid Open by following these simple steps:
Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)
Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)
Open up the app and connect to a server in Spain
Visit RTVE
Watch the 2025 Madrid Open for free from anywhere in the world
The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but leading services do tend to offer incentive deals such as free-trial periods or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these deals, you can live stream Cerundolo vs. Mensik without actually spending anything. This isn't a long-term solution, but it gives you enough time to watch the Madrid Open before recovering your investment.
What is the best VPN for RTVE?ExpressVPN is the best service for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live tennis on RTVE, for a number of reasons:
Servers in 105 countries including Spain
Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more
Strict no-logging policy so your data is always secure
Fast connection speeds
Up to eight simultaneous connections
30-day money-back guarantee
A two-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $139 and includes an extra four months for free — 61% off for a limited time. This plan also includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee.
Live stream Cerundolo vs. Mensik in the 2025 Madrid Open for free with ExpressVPN.
TL;DR: Live stream Sabalenka vs. Svitolina in the 2025 Madrid Open for free on RTVE. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.
The 2025 Madrid Open semi finals are here, with two absolutely huge matches in the women's draw. Gauff takes on Swiatek in the first, followed by Sabalenka vs. Svitolina. This is particularly tough match to call, but top seed Sabalenka will be favorite for many fans.
If you want to watch Sabalenka vs. Svitolina in the 2025 Madrid Open for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.
How to watch Sabalenka vs. Svitolina for freeThe 2025 Madrid Open is available to live stream for free on RTVE, including Sabalenka vs. Svitolina.
RTVE is geo-restricted to Spain, but anyone can access this free streaming platform with a VPN. These handy tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in Spain, meaning you can unblock RTVE from anywhere in the world.
Access free live streams of the 2025 Madrid Open by following these simple steps:
Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)
Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)
Open up the app and connect to a server in Spain
Visit RTVE
Watch the 2025 Madrid Open for free from anywhere in the world
The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but leading services do tend to offer incentive deals such as free-trial periods or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these deals, you can live stream Sabalenka vs. Svitolina without actually spending anything. This isn't a long-term solution, but it gives you enough time to watch the Madrid Open before recovering your investment.
What is the best VPN for RTVE?ExpressVPN is the best service for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live tennis on RTVE, for a number of reasons:
Servers in 105 countries including Spain
Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more
Strict no-logging policy so your data is always secure
Fast connection speeds
Up to eight simultaneous connections
30-day money-back guarantee
A two-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $139 and includes an extra four months for free — 61% off for a limited time. This plan also includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee.
Live stream Sabalenka vs. Svitolina in the 2025 Madrid Open for free with ExpressVPN.
TL;DR: Live stream Gauff vs. Swiatek in the 2025 Madrid Open for free on RTVE. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.
The 2025 Madrid Open is coming to a dramatic conclusion with some massive games still to play, including Gauff vs. Swiatek. This huge semi-final matchup is the one to watch. It's the defending champion's toughest matchup in the competition. Coco Gauff has the talent to beat anyone on her day.
If you want to watch Gauff vs. Swiatek in the 2025 Madrid Open for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.
How to watch Gauff vs. Swiatek for freeThe 2025 Madrid Open is available to live stream for free on RTVE, including Gauff vs. Swiatek.
RTVE is geo-restricted to Spain, but anyone can access this free streaming platform with a VPN. These handy tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in Spain, meaning you can unblock RTVE from anywhere in the world.
Access free live streams of the 2025 Madrid Open by following these simple steps:
Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)
Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)
Open up the app and connect to a server in Spain
Visit RTVE
Watch the 2025 Madrid Open for free from anywhere in the world
The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but leading services do tend to offer incentive deals such as free-trial periods or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these deals, you can live stream Gauff vs. Swiatek without actually spending anything. This isn't a long-term solution, but it gives you enough time to watch the Madrid Open before recovering your investment.
What is the best VPN for RTVE?ExpressVPN is the best service for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live tennis on RTVE, for a number of reasons:
Servers in 105 countries including Spain
Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more
Strict no-logging policy so your data is always secure
Fast connection speeds
Up to eight simultaneous connections
30-day money-back guarantee
A two-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $139 and includes an extra four months for free — 61% off for a limited time. This plan also includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee.
Live stream Gauff vs. Swiatek in the 2025 Madrid Open for free with ExpressVPN.
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