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Looking for spoiler-free NYT Connections hints or just wondering why Connections is trending today? We've got what you need to understand the clues for today's puzzle without spoiling any of the answers.

Of course, Mashable has also provided daily hints and answers for Connections, Wordle, and Strands for years, so we can help you if that's also what you need.

While we are focused more on meanings than hints in this story, sometimes learning that many of the words have completely unrelated meanings is a clue in and of itself. Connections frequently includes clues that involve words within words and other visual clues.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for October 22, 2026 Grip meaning

To hold, seize or grasp something tightly.

Handle meaning

A piece designed to be grasped, lifted or pulled with the hand.

Hilt meaning

The handle of a sword, dagger, knife or bayonet

Knob meaning

A small, rounded grip used to open doors, drawers or cabinets.

Bust meaning

The physical measurement around the upper torso at the fullest point.

Mobile meaning

Capable of moving, being moved easily or operating without a fixed location

Relief meaning

The lessening or removal of physical pain, pressure or a heavy burden

Statue meaning

A three-dimensional work of art that represents a person, animal or mythical being

End meaning

The final part, limit or conclusion of something in time, space or action

Guard meaning

To protect, watch over, or keep someone or something safe from harm.

Safety meaning

The state of being free from harm, danger, injury or loss.

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Tackle meaning

To make a serious effort to deal with a difficult task, issue or crisis.

Blank meaning

Lacking writing, marks, expression or contents.

Comfort meaning

A state of physical relaxation, freedom from pain, emotional relief or financial sufficiency.

Pill meaning

A small, solid mass of medicine, vitamins, or supplements intended to be swallowed whole.

She meaning

A third-person singular feminine personal pronoun.

Have you learned the meanings and still want the things? Check out the hints and answers for today's NYT Connections puzzle.

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

Meet The Mashable 101: Our list of the content creators shaping the internet today

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

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

The NYT Connections puzzle today is not too difficult if you're an artist.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

SEE ALSO: NYT Pips hints, answers for October 22, 2026 Here's a hint for today's Connections categories

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

• Yellow: Hold it

• Green: Artworks

• Blue: Sports players

• Purple: Linens

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Here are today's Connections categories

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

• Yellow: Parts to be grasped

• Green: Kinds of sculptures

• Blue: American football positions

• Purple: Starts of bedding

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

Drumroll, please!

The solution to today's Connections #1228 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• Parts to be grasped: GRIP, HANDLE, HILT, KNOB

• Kinds of sculptures: BUST, MOBILE, RELIEF, STATUE

• American football positions: END, GUARD, SAFETY, TACKLE

• Starts of bedding: BLANK, COMFORT, PILL SHE

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

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

Meet The Mashable 101: Our list of the content creators shaping the internet today

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

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

Today's NYT Strands hints will be easy if you have a large family.

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

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

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

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

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for October 22, 2026 NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: Any relation?

The words are related to relatives.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

These words describe being related to someone.

NYT Strands spangram hint: Is it vertical or horizontal?

Today's NYT Strands spangram is vertical.

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NYT Strands spangram answer today

Today's spangram is Family Ties.

NYT Strands word list for October 22

• Blood

• Ancestors

• Family Ties

• Kinfolk

• Brethren

• Offspring

Meet The Mashable 101: Our list of the content creators shaping the internet today

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

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

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

Today's Wordle answer should be easy to solve if you give second chances.

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

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for October 22, 2026 Where did Wordle come from?

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

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

What's the best Wordle starting word?

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

What happened to the Wordle archive?

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

Is Wordle getting harder?

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

Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

Restart.

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

The letter E appears twice.

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

Today's Wordle starts with the letter R.

The Wordle answer today is...

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

Drumroll please!

The solution to today's Wordle is...

RESET

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

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

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

Meet The Mashable 101: Our list of the content creators shaping the internet today

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

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

The billionaire told Meta’s board that he planned to list his Silicon Valley home for sale. The company remade its stock structure to help him pay the tax if voters pass it.

Robert Downey Jr. spent years playing a tech billionaire who could summon digital displays with a wave of his hand. Now, his latest role brings a little of Tony Stark's world to life.

The actor has joined Specs, Snap's augmented reality glasses business, as its honorary chief customer experience officer. Announced Oct. 20, the partnership will involve original content, custom AR experiences, hardware collaborations, and in-person experiences.

SEE ALSO: I wore snap specs at last: here’s what these massive glasses can do

Downey is well aware of the casting here. In the announcement, he said the glasses deliver on the promise of AR technology associated with "a certain techno optimist superhero I portrayed."

"Life imitates art-imitates life!" he added.

According to a release shared with Mashable, the collaboration will explore how AR could be used across entertainment and education, as well as medicine, engineering, and manufacturing.

Downey's first project is an original content series, which debuted during Game 1 of the World Series, showcasing the glasses in action, "from work and entertainment to golf and creativity." The series launched on Oct. 20, and the 30-second clip was broadcast during the Knicks vs. 76ers game. More episodes are set to drop on the Specs website or YouTube.

Downey says the product won him over quickly.

"Trying is believing. Having tested practically every wearable tech that’s come to market in the last 20 years, and been largely unimpressed, I was absolutely sold on SPECS within 40 seconds," he said in the announcement.

"The applications are endless. Families can share experiences instead of hunching over devices, skills can be honed, big business can streamline development," Downey continued.

The Oscar-award winning actor also made the role LinkedIn official, updating his profile and posting, "Day 1. New Gig," alongside a short video of him entering the SPECS headquarters in Santa Monica, California.

Snap Inc. co-founder and CEO Evan Spiegel welcomed him in the replies ("Excited to collaborate together."), while other commenters supplied the inevitable Marvel references. "Be careful to not work with Obadiah Stane," one advised.

Credit: Screenshot: LinkedIn What are Specs?

Snap introduced the augmented reality (AR) glasses in June 2026, announcing a $2,195 preorder price, with a refundable $200 deposit and shipping planned for the fall in the U.S., UK, and France.

As Mashable’s Timothy Beck Werth explained at launch, Specs function as a standalone computer. See-through displays layer digital content over the wearer's surroundings, while hand tracking and voice controls let people interact with it.

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In his latest analysis, Werth wrote that Specs reminded him more of Apple's Vision Pro than other smart glasses he'd tested. Both offer virtual screens and digital experiences positioned in the space around the wearer, though Specs use transparent lenses rather than a headset's camera-fed view of the world.

"For a computer, they’re impressively light, compact, and wireless. But for glasses, they’re undeniably chunky," Werth wrote.

Like VR glasses, Snap isn't necessarily expecting people to wear Specs through every waking hour. Spiegel previously told Mashable the company would start with developers: "And then we’ll extend beyond that, with the early adopters and folks who see a lot of value in specific use cases — whether they’re trying to improve their golf swing or whether they just want to work on the road and still bring the benefits of that large display or monitor."

SEE ALSO: People are missing the point of Snap's $2,195 Specs AR glasses

In more ways than one, the team is clearly trying to distance itself from the phrase "AI glasses." In the promo video, Downey even dumps an "AI glasses" box into the garbage. Of course, Specs have AI features, too, but Snap clearly wants to sell a bigger idea than another pair of glasses with an assistant built in.

Downey has drawn his own lines around AI

Downry's enthusiasm for Specs adds another chapter to a public conversation he's already been having about advancements in technology, specifically around AI.

As Mashable reported in 2018, Downey hosted and executive produced an eight-episode YouTube series, "The Age of AI," exploring the technology, featuring experts discussing how it could change the way people interact with each other and the world.

His later comments made clear that enthusiasm came with boundaries. During an Oct. 2024 appearance on On With Kara Swisher, Downey said he intended to sue future executives who authorized an AI replica of his likeness. When Swisher pointed out that he might be dead by then, he replied with the viral comment, "But my law firm will still be very active."

That same year, his Broadway debut, McNeal, explored questions about AI and artistic ownership. The production itself also used AI: "We used a ton of AI to make this show, but we're also mimicking how people feel about AI and how it expresses itself to us," said the show's projectionist and designer Jake Barton.

SEE ALSO: Behind the scenes: How AI powered Robert Downey Jr.'s Broadway debut 'McNeal'

Downey’s interest in AI also extends to investing. In Dec. 2021, he joined investors including Gwyneth Paltrow in Forethought’s $65 million Series C funding round. The startup develops AI tools to automate customer service. When software company Zendesk announced plans to acquire Forethought in March 2026, Downey said he'd "been a huge believer of this team and their tech since [the] jump."

He's also been an investor, board member, and public face of Aura, and supported how the company uses AI to help protect customers against scams and other online threats. A 2025 campaign even used AI-assisted visual effects to show him aging from childhood into his senior years.

For Snap, the partnership is part of a decade-long effort to turn smart glasses into a viable business — with some expensive setbacks along the way.

After launching its original camera-equipped Spectacles in 2016, the company recorded $39.9 million in inventory-related charges in 2017, primarily because of excess inventory.

This time around, there is still a good amount of doubt over who is going to buy $2,195 glasses. During its August earnings call, Spiegel didn't disclose preorder numbers when asked about demand, instead emphasizing the need for people to try Specs themselves. "It’s obviously a high consideration purchase at $2,195," he said. He also cautioned that mass-market consumer adoption likely wouldn’t arrive until "towards the end of the decade."

SEE ALSO: Snap CEO addresses Specs preorder interest during Q2 earnings call

Meanwhile, Meta's partnership with eyewear giant EssilorLuxottica sold more than 7 million AI glasses across its Ray-Ban and Oakley lines in 2025 alone. Its eyewear also accounted for 81.3 percent of global AI-glasses shipments in the first half of 2026.

That doesn't mean people necessarily like Meta glasses, or smart glasses in general. The discreet cameras that make the glasses convenient for recording have also raised legitimate concerns about filming people without their knowledge. On Oct. 13, The European Data Protection Board (EDPB), made up of national privacy regulators across Europe, issued a statement about smart glasses, calling for stronger safeguards, while Meta will now brick your glasses' camera if you tamper with it.

Snap has to ultimately convince people that its more expensive AR computer deserves a place in their lives, all while smart glasses face growing scrutiny. But if anyone can get people excited about futuristic eyewear, it's Iron Man.

SAVE $299.02: As of Oct. 21, the DJI Power 1000 V2 Portable Power Station is on sale for $399.98 at Amazon. That's a 43% discount and marks its best-ever price to date.

Opens in a new window Credit: DJI DJI Power 1000 V2 Portable Power Station $399.98 at Amazon
$699 Save $299.02   Get Deal at Amazon

Finding reliable emergency backup power under $400 usually forces you to pick between slow charging, low wattage, or noisy operation. The upgraded DJI Power 1000 V2 bridges that gap, dropping to a record-low $399.98 at Amazon, cutting 43% off its regular list price.

Equipped with a 1,024Wh LFP (lithium iron phosphate) battery and a massive 2,600W continuous power output, this unit reliably runs 99% of everyday household appliances. That means keeping a full-sized home refrigerator cool for up to 20 hours during a blackout, powering a CPAP machine through multiple nights, or running high-draw gear like electric cookers, coffee makers, and power tools at a campsite without tripping the safety breakers.

SEE ALSO: Walmart's Holiday Gift Guide is live: See our top 10 picks ahead of Black Friday 2026

Plugged into a standard wall outlet, the V2 recharges from dead to 80% in just 37 minutes. Out on the trail or on the job site, you get dual 140W USB-C ports (delivering 280W total combined output) to fast-charge high-end laptops like a MacBook Pro without extra brick adapters, plus two of DJI’s proprietary SDC ports (one standard SDC and one SDC Lite) to top off drone batteries directly in the field.

Despite the heavy power output, it runs at an ultra-quiet 26 decibels, quieter than a soft whisper, making it ideal for nightstand use inside an RV or bedroom. Its safe LFP battery cells are rated to hold 80% capacity even after 4,000 full charge cycles (roughly a 10-year lifespan), and its built-in 10-millisecond UPS function instantly takes over during a grid failure so your connected home electronics won't crash.

Grab the DJI Power 1000 V2 Portable Power Station at Amazon for $399.98 before this record-low price disappears.

Astronauts should return to the Apollo 15 landing site on the moon and haul home some of its half-century-old poop and hardware, a panel told NASA on Wednesday.

A crew would land just north of the site at Mons Hadley — far enough away to avoid damaging it. From there, the astronauts would walk over to inspect the rover, lander base, instruments, and power systems the prior crew left behind in 1971.

That equipment has endured decades of space radiation and repeated heating and cooling as lunar days give way to nights. Scientists on Earth could study how the lunar environment impacts the hardware over time. A close look at the urine and feces in a lab could reveal how biological material changes and whether it affects the area around it. 

That "would be foundational information [for] how we need to engineer the systems for lunar bases," said Dan Dumbacher, co-chairperson of the committee, "for anything humans take to the surface of the moon." 

The mission proposal came from a National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine committee, whom NASA asked to recommend future moon-landing sites away from the lunar south pole, where the agency already intends to build a long-term moon base. In a new report, members of the committee selected four non-polar sites — Bhabha Crater, Mons Hadley, Orientale Basin, and Aristarchus Plateau — where they believe Artemis astronauts should collect samples, make observations, and conduct experiments. They prioritized locations they believed would benefit from human explorers over uncrewed robots.

SEE ALSO: A telescope's survey got interrupted by a comet nobody knew existed

These so-called "sorties," the term NASA used when tasking the committee, would be short, one-time visits. Because the poles lack the volcanic terrain found elsewhere on the moon, as well as radioactive metals like uranium and thorium, the brief trips would complement the base, not replace it, according to the report.

Each mission would send a pair of astronauts to make one to four moonwalks within 2 kilometers — or 1.2 miles — of their lander. That distance is a previously established "walkback" limit NASA decided long ago that the committee thinks the agency should try to extend. The panel also chose landing sites that offered the most opportunities for geology, biology, human health, and physics research. 

The top pick, Bhabha Crater, sits inside what may be the solar system's largest and oldest crater, and its rocks could pin down when that massive impact happened. Situated on the far side of the moon, the crew would have to land farther from home than any humans before, letting NASA test how astronauts cope with isolation.

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The site is also prime for a telescope, said James Day, the other chairperson of the committee. 

"It's an almost unmatched location for doing radio astronomy, and the reason for this is because it's in the quiet zone on the far side of the moon. It is shielded from the noise that we produce here on Earth," Day said. "This will give us information on the very early universe before the first stars or galaxies had formed."

Bhabha crater is the National Academies committee's top pick among four recommended moon landing sites. Credit: NASA / GSFC / Arizona State University

At Orientale, the moon's youngest large basin at roughly 3.8 billion years old, astronauts would collect boulders from deep in the crust that could show whether the moon was once entirely molten. They would also set up a detector for gravitational waves — ripples in spacetime. The instrument could alert astronomers months before distant neutron stars collide, the committee leaders said.

Finally, the Aristarchus Plateau, an Apollo destination that NASA never reached, holds volcanic deposits that may yield water. It spans about 60 miles, so crews there would gain the most from the simple open rover the committee thinks NASA should build.

Among its recommendations, the panel said NASA should keep mapping the moon in detail from orbit, build instruments that can run through the lunar night, and set up a communications system that keeps crews in constant contact with Earth, even on the far side.

NASA will decide when and in what order to fly the missions. 

"All four of these sites will give us profound knowledge," Day said, "not just of our moon, but of our solar system, and frankly of ourselves." 

SAVE $30: As of Oct. 21, the DJI Neo 4K Drone is on sale for $169 at Amazon. That's a 15% discount on this palm-sized camera drone.

Opens in a new window Credit: DJI DJI Neo $169 at Amazon
$199 Save $30   Get Deal at Amazon

Holding out for a camera drone that doesn't require a pilot's license, an FAA registration form marathon, or a giant suitcase full of gear is officially over. The ultra-portable DJI Neo is down to just $169, knocking 15% off its regular price tag and bringing top-tier aerial footage well under the $200 mark.

Tipping the scales at a featherlight 135 grams, this mini drone is lighter than most smartphones. Because it comes in way below the federal weight limit, casual flyers can bypass FAA registration and Remote ID entirely. You simply unbox it, charge the battery, and take off — no paperwork, no test taking, and no bureaucracy standing between you and incredible 4K video clips.

What makes the Neo an absolute blast for beginners and solo creators is its dead-simple controls. You don't even need to use a remote or hook up your phone if you don't want to. Just place it in the palm of your hand, press a quick button, and watch it lift off automatically. Built-in smart tracking features lock onto you to keep you centered in the frame while you walk, run, or hike, making it feel like traveling with your own personal robotic camera crew.

Despite its tiny footprint, it shoots crisp, stabilized 4K footage and comes built with full-coverage propeller guards so you won't chew up the blades if you bump into a tree branch or bedroom doorframe. Whether you fly it completely hands-free using palm gestures, use voice controls, or pair it with your phone, this deal is easily the best entry point into drone photography right now.

Get this DJI Neo 4K drone while it's still discounted.

TL;DR: Keep your important info secure with this lifetime subscription to LegacyLocked Digital Estate Planning Vault, which is on sale now for just $49 (reg. $99).

Opens in a new window Credit: Mind2Matter LegacyLocked Digital Estate Planning Vault: Lifetime Subscription $49
$99 Save $50   Get Deal

When someone needs access to your important documents one day, you don’t want them to dig through your emails and scramble through scraps of paper to find everything. The LegacyLocked Digital Estate Planning Vault gives you a single encrypted space to organize all the information your family might need.

Right now, you can lock in a lifetime subscription to LegacyLocked Digital Estate Planning Vault for only $49.

You don’t realize how many important documents you have floating around until you try to consolidate them and find yourself digging through drawers, folders, and inboxes. LegacyLocked Digital Estate Planning Vault lets you sort them in one convenient place — with folders for financial accounts, insurance, legal records, crypto, and key contacts so you don’t have to scramble to find them all.

With LegacyLocked, your vault lives right on your device, not a cloud account. Every item is encrypted on your device before it’s saved in the vault.

Besides ensuring their security, keeping your files on the device rather than in the cloud also means they’re always accessible, even offline. You’ll also have a global search feature that lets you find items easily, as well as local action history to keep tabs on any changes.

With LegacyLocked, your usual lists and account info give a boost of security with encryption. There are folders for everything you need to store, and dedicated item types that save each kind of record in a format tailored to that type of information.

This lifetime subscription gives you permanent access without recurring fees. Windows and Mac desktop apps are available, and you’ll receive access to all future software updates. Since your vault is local to your device, you also get to choose how your trusted individuals can access it when they need to.

Get this lifetime subscription to LegacyLocked Digital Estate Planning Vault for only $49 today.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Nothing says "relaxing vacation" like a list of chores to finish before checkout. It’s a common issue for travelers staying in Airbnbs to find themselves forced to strip beds, wash dishes, and take out the trash before catching a flight — all while still paying a cleaning fee.

But now, Airbnb is putting limits on that routine. For reservations booked on or after Nov. 20, hosts generally won’t be allowed to ask guests to do the housework any longer.

SEE ALSO: Airbnb adds a bunch of new features for travellers What can Airbnb hosts still ask guests to do?

The update, announced by Airbnb on Oct. 20, draws a distinction between light tidying and cleaning the rental for its next occupants.

Here's how the company breaks it down:

• Dishes: Hosts can ask you to leave used dishes in the sink, but shouldn't ask you to wash and put them away.

• Laundry: Gathering used towels is allowed. Stripping beds or starting a load of laundry generally isn't.

• Trash: Hosts can ask you to separate garbage and recycling into designated indoor bins, but shouldn't ask you to haul it off-site.

• Air conditioning: Hosts shouldn't tell you to avoid an amenity advertised in the listing, though they can ask you to turn it off when you leave.

Airbnb may make exceptions based on the property, the stay, and local conditions. Some examples include putting trash in an animal-proof container in bear country and limiting shower time during local drought restrictions.

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There is an interesting financial wrinkle: Airbnb takes a cut of cleaning fees. Its single service fee, which is 15.5 percent for most hosts, applies to the nightly price and additional host charges, including cleaning. At that rate, $15.50 of a $100 cleaning fee goes to Airbnb. That means, if hosts raise those charges to cover more work, Airbnb could collect more, too.

No surprise rules after you book

The changes also address another familiar frustration: finding out about the rules only after the reservation is already paid for. Under the new policy, all house rules and requests must appear in the designated listing section when you book. That means no additional requirements slipped into a message, posted on the fridge, or delivered in person after arrival.

And hosts generally can’t attach their own fines or penalties, either. Hosts who persistently violate the policy could face a warning on their listing, reduced visibility in search, or other action from Airbnb.

To make those expectations harder to miss, Airbnb is displaying rules more prominently on listings, in guests' Trips tabs, and in reservation reminders. Listings with unresolved cleaning requests may also carry an alert reading "includes cleaning requests" — useful information before committing to a weekend away.

If this all sounds familiar, Airbnb has been working on the checkout chore problem for years. Back in Nov. 2022, the company said guests shouldn’t have to strip beds, do laundry, or vacuum before leaving. Its 2023 summer update made checkout instructions visible before booking and let guests flag excessive requests in reviews. Airbnb also said it would remove listings that repeatedly received low ratings over unreasonable chores.

Airbnb guests have entered the chat

The announcement has prompted plenty of travelers to celebrate and share their own horror stories.

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One user recalled a stay that required stripping beds, washing every dish, cleaning the kitchen, and hauling trash to the road — despite a $100 cleaning fee.

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Another said a host in Florida had tried to charge an additional $250 after their stay because they hadn’t washed and replaced the bedsheets and towels, taken out the trash, or swept the floor. According to the post, Airbnb customer service intervened and told the host they couldn’t charge extra for those tasks.

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On Reddit, where a discussion in r/technology has drawn roughly 18,000 upvotes and 1,400 comments in 4 hours, users commiserate over similar experiences.

"We once had a host call us screaming because we piled the dirty towels in the bathtub instead of washing and drying them," one commenter wrote. Another described being asked to take garbage to an off-site dump that charged for disposal and closed on Sundays. The host told them, "You have to take it out on Saturday then bring your Sunday trash home."

"If you have to put your existing paying guests to work preparing your property for your future paying guests, while also charging everyone a cleaning fee, maybe hosting just isn't for you?" said one X user.

But the conversation also includes other frustrations with Airbnb. One X user argued that the combination of prices rivaling luxury hotels and an "extensive chore chart" had eroded the service's appeal. "There’s almost zero reason not to stay in a hotel at this point," he wrote. "Too late. So many of us have moved on back to hotels. Less hassle and cheaper," a Reddit user wrote in response to Airbnb's latest update.

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Not all guests could agree on where basic courtesy ends and an unreasonable chore list begins, though. "I never minded dishes, but laundry was asking a bit much," one Reddit user wrote. Another said washing dishes and taking out trash seemed reasonable, particularly when food waste could start to smell.

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Still, the online frustration hasn’t translated into an overall decline in Airbnb's business quite yet. In its second-quarter 2026 results, the company reported revenue of $3.6 billion, up 17 percent from a year earlier. Its combined "Nights and Seats Booked" metric, covering stays and experiences, rose 10 percent. So though some travelers may have sworn off the platform, bookings are still growing.

Nevertheless, Airbnb has drawn its line in a longstanding debate over what it means to be a good guest. Whether hosts and travelers can agree on it is another matter.

TL;DR: Learn piano from home with flowkey’s 5-year Classic Plan on sale for $79.99 (reg. $899).

Opens in a new window Credit: Flowkey flowkey Piano Learning App: Classic Plan (5-Year Subscription) $79.99
$899 Save $819.01   Get Deal

Whether you’re just starting or looking to build on your existing skills, flowkey lets you learn piano at your own pace without sacrificing progress. Its flexible lessons and guided practice make it easier to fit playing into your schedule, and this deal brings the five-year Classic Plan to just $79.99 (regularly $899) for a limited time.

Flowkey is designed to make practicing feel approachable instead of intimidating. Whether you’re sitting at a keyboard for the first time or returning after a long break, the app guides you through each lesson at your own pace. It even listens while you play, offering instant feedback so you know when you’ve nailed a note — or when it’s time to try again.

The Classic Plan includes access to more than 1,000 classical and public-domain songs, featuring composers like Beethoven, Mozart, Chopin, Bach, Debussy, Liszt, and Brahms. You’ll also unlock every course and exercise, covering everything from reading sheet music and learning chords to proper hand positioning and rhythm.

Helpful tools like Wait Mode, Slow Motion, Loop, and separate hand practice make difficult sections easier to master without feeling rushed. Because your subscription works across phones, tablets, and computers, it’s easy to fit practice into your schedule.

With five years of access, this is an easy opportunity to start building those piano skills while this offer is still available.

For a limited time, get a five-year subscription to the flowkey Classic Plan for a one-time $79.99 (reg. $899).

StackSocial prices subject to change.

The tool, which is not yet widely available, will compete with OpenAI’s dots and Meta’s Muse. It is built for work and not personal errands.

The spending is having an effect on the Silicon Valley giant’s cash flow, as Meta continues investing to lead in the technology.

Meta, which has fought numerous youth safety lawsuits this year, now faces a $25 billion penalty for violating New Mexico's consumer protection laws. The order, made Wednesday by a New Mexico judge, is the latest development in a lawsuit filed against Meta by the state in 2021.

The case stemmed from the 2018 Cambridge Analytica scandal, in which the U.K.-based data firm employed by Donald Trump's 2016 presidential campaign exploited Facebook features to harvest and misappropriate the personal data of more than 50 million users.

SEE ALSO: Meta: We're sorry for banning No Kings Instagram account

New Mexico's lawsuit argued that Facebook generally misled consumers about its data privacy practices, as well as its efforts to moderate misinformation and hate speech. Last month, a New Mexico jury found Meta liable for nearly 44 million violations of the state's consumer protection statute.

The jury found that Facebook's unfair and deceptive practices extended to messaging shared by its executives, including Meta's CEO Mark Zuckerberg and Facebook's then-chief operating officer Sheryl Sandberg.

"Facebook continued making public representations concerning users' control of data, third-party data misuse, misinformation, hate speech, and equal enforcement after employees, researchers, and senior personnel had internally identified that Facebook could not make good on its public promises," Judge Francis J. Mathew wrote in his decision.

Meta said the decision and penalty make it "all but impossible" to do business in New Mexico, according to a statement obtained by Yahoo! Finance.

"At its core, this lawsuit seeks to impose a tax on speech to enforce new rules for what people can say online," said C.J. Mahoney, Meta's chief legal officer. "We are confident we will prevail on appeal."

In 2019, the Federal Trade Commission separately levied a record $5 billion penalty against Facebook for violating consumers' privacy.

In August, Meta made a $17 billion settlement with states that sued the company for allegedly designing addictive platforms. Earlier that month, a separate New Mexico judge ordered Meta to pay nearly $1 billion in a different case about youth mental health and data privacy.

New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez said in a statement that the consumer privacy lawsuit made clear that companies must abide by the state's consumer protection laws.

"This case has always been about more than one company or one scandal," Torrez said. "It is about whether corporations can mislead consumers about what happens to their personal information without facing meaningful consequences."

One of the most influential RPG developers of all time is no more. And just like that, another beloved gaming studio is closing its doors for good.

Bloomberg reported on Wednesday that powerful video game publisher Electronic Arts is shutting down RPG studio BioWare, which had been around in some form or another since 1995. This move came as part of a wider layoff of around 400 employees. According to reporter Jason Schreier, BioWare's headcount at the end was around 50.

Minutes after Bloomberg broke the news, the BioWare X account shared a heartfelt message with gamers:

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Whether or not you've ever played a BioWare game, you've most likely heard of them or played something inspired by them. The studio made its name in the late 90s and early 2000s with hit RPGs like the original Baldur's Gate, Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic, and Neverwinter Nights. All of those games, as well as the studio's later works, helped pioneer and popularize storytelling that was shaped by player choices.

SEE ALSO: 'Final Fantasy Resonance' doesn't hit as hard as the classics, but it's still a fun throwback

BioWare arguably hit the apex of its popularity in the late 2000s and early 2010s with the Mass Effect and Dragon Age series. Both franchises saw massive success early on before waning a bit with controversial entries like Andromeda and Veilguard, but you do not have to look far on the internet to find people who love every single game BioWare made. A new Mass Effect was in the works at BioWare when the studio was shut down, but that title has been canceled, per Bloomberg.

Some gamers will argue that this development was inevitable given the events of the past few years. As Variety and Bloomberg reported last year, after the release of Veilguard, EA laid off some BioWare employees. EA was recently acquired by the Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund. Cuts were always a possibility after a big acquisition like that, and BioWare evidently found itself in the crosshairs once more.

The penalty, one of the largest levied against the tech giant, stemmed from a lawsuit by New Mexico claiming the social media company had misled users about their data privacy.

If you're buying the new iPhone Duo, Apple's first-ever foldable, the first thing you should do is marvel at its opening animation. The very next thing you should do is get a case for it. Not only is the Duo an expensive phone, but it's also a slippery one, according to Mashable's Stan Schroeder.

Since regular iPhone cases won't fit its passport-style design, you'll have to buy a brand-new protective case for your Duo. Below, I've rounded up over a dozen of the best iPhone Duo cases available ahead of its release on Friday, Oct. 23, including options from popular brands like OtterBox and Casetify with kickstands, MagSafe, and/or hinge protection. Prices range from $30 to $129.

If you haven't locked in your iPhone Duo preorder yet, you can save up to $1,200 with various carrier offers. Just know that it might be a couple weeks until yours arrives: The Duo sold out almost instantly when preorders opened on Oct. 16, and it's currently on backorder pretty much everywhere.

The best iPhone Duo cases so far Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple iPhone Duo Case $79 at Amazon
  Shop Now at Amazon Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple iPhone Duo Folio with Kickstand $129 at Amazon
  Shop Now at Amazon Opens in a new window Credit: Casetify Casetify iPhone Duo Impact Case $88 at Casetify.com
  Shop Now at Casetify.com Opens in a new window Credit: Casely Casely iPhone Duo Bold Flex Case + MagSafe $80 at Casely.com
  Shop Now at Casely.com Opens in a new window Credit: dbrand dbrand Grip Case with MagSafe for iPhone Duo $54.90
  Shop Now Opens in a new window Credit: kate spade new york kate spade Protective iPhone Duo Case with MagSafe $64.99 at Best Buy
  Shop Now at Best Buy Opens in a new window Credit: OtterBox OtterBox iPhone Duo Lumen Series Case $69.99 at Best Buy
  Shop Now at Best Buy Opens in a new window Credit: OtterBox OtterBox Foldable iPhone Duo Defender Series Pro XT Case $89.99 at Amazon
  Get Deal at Amazon Opens in a new window Credit: Pitaka Pitaka iPhone Duo Edge Case $49.99 at Amazon
  Shop Now at Amazon Opens in a new window Credit: Torras Torras Ostand Q3 VegSkin for iPhone Duo $71.99 at Amazon
$89.99 Save $18   Get Deal at Amazon Opens in a new window Credit: Speck Speck Presidio Perfect-Clear Fold MagSafe iPhone Duo Case $64.99 at Amazon
  Shop Now at Amazon Opens in a new window Credit: Spigen Spigen Nano Pop MagFit Case for iPhone Duo $29.99 at Amazon
  Shop Now at Amazon Opens in a new window Credit: Spigen Spigen Ultra Hybrid Pro MagFit Case or iPhone Duo $39.99 at Amazon
  Shop Now at Amazon Opens in a new window Credit: Spigen Spigen Slim Armor Pro MagFit Case for iPhone Duo $69.99 at Amazon
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If some of your usual websites aren’t working today, their operators may have temporarily shut them down to keep hackers out.

Two serious security flaws have been discovered in PHP, a programming language that helps websites run. On vulnerable servers, those flaws could allow hackers to run their own commands or access sensitive information. Because PHP is used across so many different websites, the same security problem has left operators around the world scrambling to protect their systems.

A fix became available on Oct. 21, but releasing it doesn’t automatically secure every affected site. Website operators and hosting providers still need to install the update on their servers. Some have taken sites offline or restricted features while they do that work, creating disruptions for visitors along the way.

SEE ALSO: PHP vulnerability: PHP security issues today explained From gaming services to government websites

Those precautions have disrupted everything from online forums to gaming services. 4chan switched to read-only mode while awaiting a PHP security update, while Wikimedia, the organization behind Wikipedia, took supporting tools offline until they could be safely patched. In a statement to Mashable, the Wikimedia Foundation confirmed its recent downtime was related to the PHP security issues.

Fur Affinity, Pinboard, and Miraheze also announced precautionary shutdowns, while games including Umamusume: Pretty Derby, Granblue Fantasy, and Princess Connect! Re:Dive announced maintenance to address PHP vulnerabilities.

Government websites have taken similar precautions. Reuters identified the Port of Rotterdam, Dutch football association KNVB, government portal Overheid.nl, and the Dutch National Cyber Security Centre among those taken offline. Finnish government public web services, Belgian foreign ministry websites, French prefecture websites, and several German federal websites also underwent preventive shutdowns. Taking these services offline doesn’t necessarily mean they were hacked — it can help prevent that from happening.

Other disruptions haven’t been publicly linked to PHP. Pokémon Sleep, Pokémon HOME, and Pokémon Champions underwent emergency maintenance, but a PHP connection remains unconfirmed. GOG also announced maintenance without specifying a cause, while Duolingo reported increased errors without mentioning the vulnerability. In addition, DownDetector users are reporting problems with popular tools such as the Internet Archive and Asana, though those issues couldn't be directly linked to the PHP security update.

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

Here’s what we know about the PHP-related disruptions and the other outages happening alongside them.

Which websites are affected by the PHP security update?

The following sites and services have announced PHP-related restrictions or shutdowns, or have been reported to have taken them. These disruptions occurred at different points on Oct. 21, so some services may have returned as operators completed their updates.

• OpenStreetMap’s wiki and secondary services: Its operations team temporarily shut down several supporting services, including its wiki. The announcement concerns those services, rather than the main map.

• Choice of Games: The interactive fiction publisher announced an overnight shutdown of its website while awaiting the security update.

• GrapheneOS forum: The project temporarily took its discussion forum offline. This concerns the forum, rather than the GrapheneOS phone operating system.

• Umamusume: Pretty Derby: The game’s maintenance notice identified a PHP vulnerability on its servers, according to Dexerto.

• Something Awful: The forums posted a maintenance notice linking their temporary shutdown to the PHP vulnerability. The forum homepage was accessible during our check.

• 4chan: The imageboard switched to read-only mode while awaiting an urgent PHP security update, according to reporting quoting its notice. That limits posting without necessarily preventing people from reading existing threads.

• Wikimedia supporting services: The organization behind Wikipedia took services including Toolforge and Cloud VPS offline. Wikimedia also warned that users might encounter wiki outages during the work. (Its announcement does not describe a complete shutdown of Wikipedia.)

• Fur Affinity: The art community announced it would take its site offline until it could apply a patch, citing the PHP vulnerability.

• Miraheze: The wiki hosting service said it was taking all services offline to protect its systems while awaiting a PHP patch.

• Pinboard: The bookmarking service said it had taken itself offline to protect users' data until patches became available.

• Granblue Fantasy: The game issued a maintenance notice related to the PHP vulnerability.

• Princess Connect! Re:Dive: The game also announced maintenance to address the PHP issue.

• Shadowverse: Worlds Beyond: The game underwent emergency maintenance that Japanese technology outlets linked to the PHP security issue.

• CHUNITHM: The rhythm game’s international account announced emergency maintenance following reports of a PHP vulnerability.

• Pokémon Sleep, Pokémon HOME, and Pokémon Champions: The games underwent emergency maintenance, though a direct connection to the PHP vulnerabilities has not been confirmed.

• Port of Rotterdam: Its website was taken offline as a precaution.

• KNVB: The Dutch national football association’s website was taken offline.

• Overheid.nl: The Dutch government portal was taken offline.

• Dutch National Cyber Security Centre: The cybersecurity agency took its public-facing website offline as a precaution.

• Finnish government public web services: State IT provider Valtori shut down the services as a precaution.

• Belgian foreign ministry: The ministry temporarily took its websites offline.

• French prefectures: The Interior Ministry temporarily took local administrative offices’ websites offline.

• German federal websites: Federal IT provider ITZBund temporarily deactivated several websites as a preventive measure.

SEE ALSO: OpenAI says GPT-5.6-Sol helped find the PHP flaws now shaking the internet When will affected websites be back?

There’s no single restoration time. Each operator needs to update its affected systems and make sure its services can safely return.

That process can be more complicated for organizations hosting tools managed by different people. Wikimedia, for example, said some volunteer-run services require their individual owners to make changes before they can come back online, potentially extending their downtime.

Want to learn more about getting the best out of your tech? Sign up for Mashable's Top Stories and Deals newsletters today.

Before O'Neil Thomas had millions of followers, he had a third-grade Christmas production and a serious case of stage fright.

But the nerves didn’t last past curtain call. Watching family members, faculty, and staff stand and applaud, he knew he wanted to keep performing. "I felt something really warm in my heart," Thomas tells Mashable. "I was like, 'I think this is something I want to do for the rest of my life.'"

By high school, he was studying performing arts, writing scripts, and filming YouTube sketches between classes and auditions. And as new platforms arrived, he kept finding new places to perform, learning what audiences responded to and how his comedy could work differently on each app.

Over the past decade, Thomas, 29, has grown his audience to more than six million across social media platforms, with fans following his social commentary, comedy sketches — like his YouTube series Shady Family — and viral recreations, including his take on Beyoncé's Grammy-award-winning album Cowboy Carter's cover art (which earned a shoutout from her team). But his latest project brings that work back to the passion that started it all: acting.

His vertical "microdrama", the 7:33 minute Investigator, Investigator, was selected for New York's inaugural Alza Film Festival, held Oct. 16–18, where he also joined a conversation aptly titled "What Does Creator Even Mean" to discuss the increasingly blurred lines between creators, filmmakers, actors, and producers, especially as the vertical series boom is getting bigger.

For Mashable's Creator Playbook, Thomas sat down with deputy editor Olivia Tauber ahead of the festival to explore his beginnings as a performer, how he brings an actor's approach to content creation, the comedians who inspire him, and how he gives viewers a reason to keep coming back.

Credit: O'Neil Thomas/Mashable

Mashable: You started out as an actor before becoming a creator. What drew you to acting, and how did that transition happen?

O’Neil Thomas: Honestly, it all started in the third grade. That’s when I found my calling for acting. I was in our first-ever Christmas production, and it was my first time ever onstage. I was terrified when I was first doing it.

But something about doing the lines, getting off the stage, and then, at the end, for curtain call, where all the cast and crew are on the stage, and I see all the family, the faculty, staff just standing up and clapping — I felt something really warm in my heart. I was like, "I think this is something I want to do for the rest of my life."

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Ever since that moment, I just went full-fledged into learning about comedy and acting, sketch comedy and everything. When I got into high school, I went there for performing arts. Whenever I wasn’t auditioning or in classes, I was just putting myself on camera. So I kind of learned the ropes as I went along.

I’d write my own little scripts and make my own little YouTube sketches, and just really enjoyed doing that. Over time, as more apps came to grow, I kept finding myself on a new platform, really testing it out and learning how to write my own stuff.

From YouTubers and TikTok stars to streamers and podcasters, Mashable talks to creators about how they built their platforms, the gear they swear by, and the trends they see coming next. 

What did you learn about making content for different platforms?

I learned that each platform has its own purpose, which I do love, because you don’t want different platforms to all serve the same way.

I like to credit my previous work on other platforms, like Vine and YouTube growing up. I really learned to study the algorithm and study what the audience is saying in the comment section. From there, I can learn, okay. This short-form works best on this platform. This long-form works best on this platform.

It’s a really fun challenge. One of my series that’s really popular now is a short-form series, Shady Family, but I’ve been able to transition it into a full-fledged, long-form episodic series.

I think that’s definitely something I've learned while cross-posting. Each thing has its own purpose, and once you know how to reach your audience and meet them where they are, you’re good.

Take me through your creative process.

It depends on the day, the week, the planning. There are some times that I do fully strategize and execute, like, here’s this episode that’s going to release this day, this week, this month. I have that scripted series that I take more time to nurture and really grow.

Then there’s also the occasion where I’m scrolling, and something really funny is going on. There’s a really funny conversation happening, and I want to throw my hat into the race.

When it comes to my scripted stuff, I really have to sit down in my own writers' room. I’m on my laptop somewhere in my house, and I break it down into an outline. What’s the overall story that I want to tell for this episode, and how do I see myself from start to finish?

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From there, I’m able to put in some jokes. I love writing the jokes in real time because I’m able to test it out. I kind of know how it’s going to respond, so I’m able to add a joke in, take something out. Maybe it’s not working well, or maybe this one isn’t the right time for it.

It’s more of a full-fledged showrunner process when it comes to my scripted stuff. I can just pop my camera in front of my face and press record [for other videos].

Are there comedians, actors, or creators who inspire you?

Honestly, I want to say it kind of changes. But as of right now, Druski is a huge one. I love Druski’s commitment to his craft, and it’s something that I find really admirable, especially in the social landscape that we’re in.

He’s someone I can really admire, who can take my concept to the next level and hire a whole production company for it.

SEE ALSO: Is Druski hosting 'SNL'? Here's why it would be a big deal for internet creators.

Quinta Brunson is also a huge role model for me because she’s able to navigate the social landscape and transition into the traditional TV space, which I absolutely love. I love the writing styles. I love their comedy, and I’m really inspired by them, for sure.

Building an audience is one thing, but getting people to stick around is another. What do you think has helped you do both?

I feel, number one, it’s how I show up on the platform, and I show up as authentically myself.

I think we’re in an age now where a lot of people do want to try this, and they see the success behind it. We’re still in the really scary world of perception, and I do not care about being perceived at all.

I think that resonates really well with my audience. They love seeing me whenever I show up. I can see a trend and add my own funny twist to it to really make it my own.

They say that they see a lot of themselves in me. It also makes me feel like that’s another good reason why they want to stick around, just to see what else I’m up to, what else I’m creating, and what else I’m doing.

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