Category Archives: Blog

We’re barely a few weeks into 2022 and it’s already time for some new flagship Samsung phones. Better strap in.

This isn’t a rumor, either. Samsung itself announced in a blog post on Thursday afternoon that its next Galaxy Unpacked livestream will take place in February, but without a firm time or date yet. It can most likely be streamed on Samsung’s YouTube channel. In the words of Samsung mobile head Tae Moon Roh, the event will cover “the next generation of Galaxy S,” which we’re pretty certain will be called Galaxy S22.

Of course, details about this new phone have leaked ahead of time because that’s what always happens. We’ve specifically seen renders of the 6.8-inch Galaxy S22 Ultra courtesy of MySmartPrice. The new Ultra in those renders has rounded sides with a flat top and bottom like the old Galaxy Note line, to go along with a slot for the S-Pen stylus. The Ultra is also said to have a quad-camera array on the back with a 108MP main lens and a 12MP ultra-wide lens, to go along with two 10MP telephoto lenses.

In other words, Galaxy Note might be gone, but some of its design characteristics seem to have lived on in the new Galaxy S phones. Those who want a more Galaxy S-like experience might instead turn to the recently released Galaxy S21 FE.

It’s not clear how much smaller the regular Galaxy S22 will be or how its camera setup will differ from the Ultra just yet, but Samsung will surely go over all of that and more in the Unpacked stream. If you’ve got north of $1,000 just lying around, one of these new-fangled Samsung phones should eat that right up in February.

John Cena, James Gunn, Danielle Brooks and the cast of Peacemaker cook up an alternative plot for their new HBO Max series.

Reese Witherspoon loves a good book.

I mean, she runs her very own book club, Reese’s Book Club. Not to mention her production work in turning many well-loved books into popular TV shows and movies: Big Little Lies, Little Fires Everywhere, Where the Crawdads Sing, to name a few.

Witherspoon is about to turn her hand to another type of storytelling. The Oscar-winning actor is set to take the BBC’s CBeebies Bedtime Stories seat to read Extraordinary, written by Penny Harrison on Jan. 28.

The book, which is illustrated by Katie Wilson, encourages readers to discover the beauty in everyday life.

“Sometimes, when we’re busy, it can be hard to find time to notice the world around us,” Witherspoon begins in her reading. “The things we see every day can seem a bit…ordinary. But if you stop, and look closer, you’ll see that our world is extraordinary.”

Witherspoon joins a long line of celebrities to read a CBeebies Bedtime Stories. Dolly Parton, Regé-Jean Page, Ryan Reynolds, Tom Hardy, Chris Evans, Orlando Bloom, David Schwimmer, and Alesha Dixon have tucked up with a good book in front of the nation.

Reese Witherspoon’s CBeebies Bedtime Story will air at 6.50 p.m. GMT, Friday Jan. 28 on the CBeebies channel and will also be available on BBC iPlayer.

Stu Macher should’ve come back as the new Ghostface. That’s the hill I’m willing to die on following Scream (2022), the disappointingly Stu-less but still fun “re-quel” from Ready or Not co-directors Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett. 

I know what you’re thinking: “But Stu Macher is dead! Sidney Prescott dropped a TV on his head at the end of Scream (1996), and he died.” To that I say: If Billy Loomis can return as a guiding ghost-dad, then there’s a lot that’s fair game in modern-day Woodsboro — and the reprisal of iconic co-conspirator Stu was well within reach.

How could Stu have survived his brush with home-entertainment head trauma? Well, in the final faceoff between Sidney (Neve Campbell) and the two original Ghostfaces, Billy (Skeet Ulrich) succumbs to a rash of chest wounds before being shot point-blank. The death of his best bud, however, is never confirmed. 

It was just a TV? Right? You’d think he’d SURVIVE.

Yes, Stu (Matthew Lillard) suffers from a gnarly stabbing in addition to the aforementioned television blow, complete with electrocution. But as the fiercely funny actor who played him once tweeted, “It was just a TV? Right? You’d think he’d SURVIVE.”

Horror heavyweight and franchise creator Wes Craven reportedly had plans to take advantage of that possibility in Scream 3 (2000), but a tortured production kept the story from happening. Lillard revealed that behind-the-scenes tidbit via The Bob Bendick Podcast in 2010 (h/t Screen Rant): “The idea was that from jail, [Stu] was masterminding this attack against Sidney [and Woodsboro].”

But three weeks before filming was set to start, the Columbine High School shootings urged Scream 3‘s makers to switch directions. Instead of returning to Woodsboro High School, the first Scream film not written by Kevin Williamson would focus on the in-universe horror franchise Stab and a murder spree in Hollywood.

“They changed everything,” Lillard recalled for the podcast. “Took the script, threw it to the side, bought me out, and I never did the third one.” 

Bringing Stu back to mentor a couple of crazed superfans is the sort of full-circle moment ‘Scream 5’ needed to really stick the landing.

Knowing this early-stages Stu sequel got shelved, I was primed to see it finally play out in Scream 5. And for roughly 90% of the movie, I thought I was right. Because even if you’re not watching to confirm your own Stu-centric suspicions, the character’s involvement makes sense. For starters, the dude perfectly captures the toxic fandom Scream 5‘s screenwriters James Vanderbilt and Guy Busick send up in the final act. 

As it stands, newcomers Amber Freeman (Mikey Madison) and Richie Kirsch (Jack Quaid) explain their motives for carrying out the Scream 5 slayings as an attempt to revitalize the Stab movie franchise. By framing Billy Loomis’ daughter Sam Carpenter (Melissa Barrera) as the new killer and luring the “original” victims back to Woodsboro, the pair argue that they’re helping bring the upcoming Stab 9 “back to its roots.” They just love these movies, and want to offer their writers fresh yet loyal “source material.”

It’s a clever enough conceit that decently capitalizes on the forces that drove Stu and Billy to kill in the first film (Scream 3 retconning notwithstanding). Recall that in the original’s big reveal scene, Stu frames his and Billy’s ascension into slasher villainy as an exercise in pop culture education: “Watch a few movies, take a few notes…It was fun!” Like Amber and Richie, Stu is a horror movie nerd. That this famed serial killer would still be heavily invested in the Stab franchise —  a zeitgeisty memorialization of his heinous crimes — checks out. 

What’s more, bringing Stu back to mentor a couple of crazed superfans is the sort of full-circle moment Scream 5 needed to really stick the landing. Depending on your taste for ghosts in the Scream universe, phantom Billy sort of gets us there with the whole “Never fuck with a serial killer’s daughter” moment from Sam. But it’s muddled by the fact that Billy isn’t a “good” guy. His protecting a daughter he may not have even known existed borders on illogical.

Stu, on the other hand, has only a tenuous connection to Scream 5 through his nephew Vince Schneider (Kyle Gallner). So, he could have easily been repositioned as the movie’s biggest bad. Seriously, just imagine it. Stu emerging from behind a third Ghostface mask — revealing not only that he’d survived his fight with Sid back in 1996, but that the same reign of terror he’d begun in the very first film was still continuing? The movie’s body count would skyrocket; we’d all be dead!

By reducing Stu to a footnote, Scream 5 fails to honor the deadly duo that kicked off this smartly scary story we all love so much. Still, I’m holding out hope the powers that be will greenlight Scream 6 and give Stu his shot at revenge. Gale Weathers (Courteney Cox) may not be writing the Scream 5-based book set to ignite another generation of Woodsboro suspects, but someone should.

Plus, if you go by Randy’s rules, we’re owed a second Stu sighting. The killer always comes back for one last scare — and Stu never got his.

Scream (1996) is now streaming on Peacock; Scream (2022) is in theaters.

Every January we all seem to make (then inevitably break) the same New Year’s resolution. So in 2022, maybe it’s time to rethink what getting in shape looks like altogether.

Fitness isn’t the first thing that springs to mind when it comes to virtual reality, either. But a certain magic happens when you combine the unexpected bedfellows of exercise and VR: Suddenly, working out stops being a chore and can instead be a call to adventure.

So if you’re like us and need to trick yourself into exercising by entering a whole other reality, we’ve got you covered. There’s a huge variety of VR fitness games and apps, so it’s just about finding the right virtual adventure that gets your heart pumping.

The best part of VR fitness is finding joy in moving your body at your pace rather than doing more strict and rigorous goal-oriented workouts many lose interest in. The gains are achieved through fun rather than pure punishment.

But if you’re looking for really intense challenges, note that you should raise the difficulty setting to the hardest level you can manage in rhythm games like Beat Saber. The ratings we’ve listed from the Virtual Reality Institute of Health and Exercise often measure the games’ real-world exercise equivalent on the most challenging setting (unless its difficulty surpasses the testers’ skill level, as with more strategic titles like Ninja Legends and Until You Fall). The institute also recommends turning on “no fail” or “endless” mode options when available to lessen downtime regardless of your skill level. While not required, we also recommend having a cordless VR headset like the Oculus Quest for a freer range of motion.

All of the games and apps below will definitely make you break a sweat regardless, though. So strap in, grab your water bottle—and make sure it’s at a safe distance from your arm span.

Whether you’re looking for your very first vibrator or have lost count of how many sex toys you have in your collection, the internet can be a pretty great place to find your next toy.

Of course, the insane amount of options that make finding that just-right sex toy possible can also make the process more overwhelming than you’d wish, especially for a product that’s supposed to deliver big on pleasure.

So where does one begin? The first step is to make sure you’re going to retailers that make quality products. Sex toys get a lot less fun when they’re not made out of materials that are okay to go on or in your genitals. To best guarantee this, we highly recommend shopping directly from trusted names in the sex toy business or from the manufacturers themselves, both of which you’ll find on this list.

And while a dose of healthy skepticism at any suspiciously low prices is always good (again we cannot express enough how important quality is for your safety), that doesn’t mean that you’ll have to break the bank to boost the thrills in your bedroom.

So go forth, and take your first digital steps into your next sex toy journey with these 15 online shops. If you need any more guidance making your selections, we have a handy (no pun intended, I swear) guide, along with a few recommendations below for each shop.

1. Lovehoney

If it’s sex toys you’re looking for, the XBIZ Award winner for “International Pleasure Products Company of the Year” is a good place to start. Lovehoney can sell you toys, sure, but you can also find a podcast on their site that answers customer questions and delivers expert advice, sex tips, and even little-known facts about sex! Lovehoney is clearly committed to sexual health and wellness, making their online shopping experience easy and comfortable.

Some current best sellers include the Magic Wand Plus Extra-Powerful Plug-In Vibrator, a Womanizer x We-Vibe limited edition set, and the Njoy Pure Wand.

2. Babeland

Don’t be fooled by the name, this one’s not just for the babes out there. Before you’ve really narrowed down your search, Babeland is a great first stop for seeing a finely curated inventory of sex toys, from top brands like Womanizer, Satisfyer, and Njoy. So whether you’re looking for that all-time classic Hitachi wand, a new Tenga Spinner masturbation sleeve (aka one of our favorite budget toys for penises), or just starting to browse, this site has got you covered, without giving you so many options that your search becomes overwhelming.

In addition to providing an impressive stock of vibrators, suction toys, dildos, couples toys, BDSM supplies, and most other popular sex toys that are out on the market, Babeland also hosts free online education events so you have the supplies and the know-how to really explore your sexuality.

3. PinkCherry

Like Lovehoney, PinkCherry promotes a sex-positive atmosphere with blog posts about sexual wellness and satisfaction, like “Vibrators For Men: Pleasure on the Rise” and “How to Clean a Dildo for Safe Personal Pleasure.” Oh, and they also sell sex toys. Go figure!

PinkCherry offers a wide assortment of adult pleasure items and sexual wellness tools for various tastes and comfort levels. You’ll find all the usual stuff like vibrators and lubricants, along with bondage tools and attire and autostrokers. You can also find current deals on site products like the Satisfyer Pro 2 and the Bodywand Midnight Massager.

4. Adam & Eve

Some of you may be Adam & Eve regulars and some of you only know them because you stayed up too late watching TV and saw an ad. Either way, chances are high you can find the sex toy you’re looking for from the adult toy store that turned 50 this year. They do say sex only gets better with age.

Some best sellers include Eve’s Rechargeable Thrusting Rabbit and the Big O Multi-Stage Vibrating Penis Ring.

The site also includes sections for gay (AdamMale) and lesbian (Eve’s Toys) shoppers.

5. Eve’s Toys

The Adam & Eve sub-site with toys and other pleasure products designed for lesbians offers vibrators, kink toys, strap-ons and many more. The Double Delight Strap-On is a current best seller and allows the wearer to “feel it thrust into you while you do some thrusting of your own!”

6. AdamMale

The other sub-site of Adam & Eve, with toys and other adult products geared toward gay men, has dildos, masturbators, cock rings, anal douches… the whole nine inche – yards. Yards.

Right, back to cocks and stuff. More specifically, Adam’s True Feel Cock, a best seller listed at $44.95 that’s currently on sale for $22.48. The Satisfyer Men Beads are also flying off the virtual shelves and into bedrooms.

7. Unbound

Looking for an aesthetically pleasing sex toy brand that’s affordable and actually delivers? Yes, it’s real, and it’s Unbound. This women-run brands boasts a solid selection from toys, from a compact vibe we’re personally big fans of, as well as other finds like their best-selling suction toy, flexible vibrator, and beginner-friendly butt plug.

8. Lelo

Say you’re feeling pretty happy with your base collection of sex toys and are now on the hunt for something a little more luxury — look no further than Lelo. The brand sells sex toys with an extra something, like a rabbit vibrator that replicates the “come hither” motion inside of you (and actually works) and a clit suction stimulator that proves to be a bit of a tease, in the best way possible. As it is a higher-end brand, be prepared to shell out a bit more — many of their best sellers are $150 and up.

9. Dame

For a manufacturer that sits between Unbound and Lelo in terms of price range but brings some innovative and impressive products to the table, you’ll definitely want to check out Dame. From a hands-free vibrator to an intercourse game-changer, Dame has made plenty of products worth raving about, and oh, have we raved. Dame’s sex toys feel good, look good, and if for whatever reason you don’t find them to be absolutely satifsying, you can return them within 60 days for store credit, which is (unfortunately) not too common for most sex toy retailers.

10. Sunset Novelties

Sunset Novelties stores may only be located in the Southeastern U.S., but that doesn’t mean they can’t ship to you. So if you’re in the market for a new vibrator, butt plug, sex enhancer, or even a stripper pole(!!!), you don’t have to be a Southerner to get your hands on one. Maybe even pair that new pole with an exotic dancer ensemble in whatever style you’re looking for.

11. Wet For Her

Wet For Her is an adult toy store that was founded in Paris, France, in 2009, designed for lesbians and the queer community. “Owner and CEO Alice Derock was disappointed to discover that the sex toy industry was limited when it came to non-phallic sex toys for the lesbian and queer community… It was this that inspired Alice to create products specifically for lesbians and queer women,” their site reads. Eight different styles of dildos, harnesses, finger extenders, the best-selling scissoring vibrator, and of course, much more. Not to be forgotten is a line of “gender-affirming trans-masculine products,” like binders, packers, and a Trans Masc Pump.

12. The Kink Store

It’s exactly what it sounds like. The Kink Store is a destination for sex toys, attire, and equipment for those looking to explore their sexual kinks. You’ll find toys for chastity, BDSM, electro-sex, impact play, and a number of other kinks. The electro-sex-handy TAZapper, which delivers “a non-penetrating static spark of electricity,” is a staff favorite and best seller. It also kind of looks like a sexual lightsaber, which we think is pretty neat.

13. BoyZshop

This one’s for da boyz. BoyZshop’s collection of gay sex toys and products spans multiple tastes and experience levels. You’ll find penetrative toys and non-penetrative toys. Kink gear. Sex machines. Lube. Prep products like enemas. Whether you’re just looking for a standard dildo or if you’re exploring urethral play, BoyZshop offers options for both … and a heck of a lot in between.

14. Target

Yes, Target sells everything, including sex toys. So next time you’re out to grab some game day snacks and paper plates, go ahead and pick up a plusOne Rechargeable Dual Vibrating Massager or the Lelo Sona 2 Cruise while you’re at it. This is what a “Target run” looks like in 2021, and we’re not upset about it.

15. Amazon

You buy everything else from Amazon, so why not sex toys? You can find just about any toy you’re looking for, from a variety of pleasure product brands from Lynx to Shibari. Plus, that Prime shipping means you won’t have to wait long to try out your new finds. The main drawback from purchasing from third-party stores like Amazon is that you do run a higher risk of buying toys that aren’t authentic or made from the right materials, so before clicking add to cart, make sure you’re doing your research before hitting “Add to Cart.”

Best sellers range from vibrators to lube to lingerie. More specifically, you’ll find favorites like the Fleshlight Quickshot Vantage and plusOne bullet vibrator.

Related Video: The best sex toys to buy during quarantine

We love a good party as much as anyone. But the logistics of trying to get to know someone in a packed basement over blaring trap music while someone does body shots in the corner are a bit challenging. It’s not exactly the ideal environment for romance. (Although maybe you’re not looking for romance? Party on, friend.)

Dating apps are the saving grace of college students everywhere. Whether you’re serious about finding someone or just looking for a quick hookup, you may not need to look further than the right app. After all, everyone’s doing it.

At this point there are dating apps for every niche you can think of; whether you’re into gaming, geek culture, getting high, or focusing on your career, there are people seeking the same things you are. As a college student, you have specific needs and probably don’t want to wade through all the older people trying to get married ASAP. You need dating apps that are specifically suited for other college-aged people.

Online dating 101

It probably seems obvious, but the first rule of online dating is to just be yourself. It’s all too easy to pretend to be someone you’re not online, but that kind of catfishing game won’t result in a true connection. By being yourself and presenting who you are accurately and honestly, you open yourself up to the possibility of a great relationship with someone who likes you just the way you are. And isn’t that the whole point of dating?

Don’t be afraid to make the first move. Forget all those outdated rules that say a man is supposed to make the first move or that a woman can’t pay on the first date. Instead, focus on finding an equal partner who helps support your goals, wants to see you succeed, and has dreams of their own.

Get a bit more creative with your messaging than the standard “Hey.” If you’re looking to connect with someone on campus, then open up the conversation with a question about them and a little bit about yourself. Messaging someone is more discussion group than lecture hall — it’s about passing the conversation back and forth. 

Once you decide to meet up — which is the entire point, after all — stay open. We often come up with an idea for how someone will be after meeting them online, and it’s rare that our expectations sync up with reality. Allow yourself to really get to know this person for who they are rather than who you thought they would be before you make up your mind.

That said, it’s crucial that you’re honest. If you really don’t feel a connection, then do the right thing and tell them. A good line to use is something like, “I’ve really enjoyed meeting you but I think there are probably better people out there for both of us.” Not only will they appreciate your candor, but it will alleviate that post-date awkwardness of wondering where you stand. Ghosting sucks for everyone. Just be upfront and save the both of you a lot of discomfort and uncertainty.

On the other hand, what if you really do like them after finally meeting in person? Then what? Set up your next date while you’re still hanging out. That old rule about waiting three days to call? It’s dead. RIP outdated dating “rules.” Make plans to do something low-key, and for the first few dates make sure the plans are to meet in a public place. (A retro arcade or the student union could be a good, low-stakes meeting place. Bowling is always a good choice, too.) The benefits of making a date to do an activity cannot be overstated. It provides you with ample conversation starters and gives you the opportunity to get a little competitive and joke around. Some playful teasing goes a long way. And remember: It’s all about having fun.

So what are the best dating apps for college students?

Our best picks for college students are the following: We like OkCupid for its inclusivity, ease of use, and fun algorithms. Tinder also gets our stamp of approval, as the swipe-happy, low-touch app makes finding people nearby a breeze. Friendsy deserves a shoutout as well for how it keeps the dating pool limited to other college students.

Read on to discover which other dating apps for college students made the cut. We’ve narrowed down the list to the 10 best online dating apps for whatever kind of college experience you want — here they are:

Mashable’s readers (and writers) are known for being OBSESSIVE about the things we love. You may say we kind of geek out about things. Okay, fine, we *are* geeks. Whatever. Geeks are awesome.

But sometimes, awesome can use a bit of assistance in the dating department. Not because there aren’t enough geeks out there — how do you think Avengers: Endgame became the highest-grossing film of all time? (Thanks to geeks, that’s how.) Dating as a geek requires combing through normies and too much dating through the same group of locals. For women, it can involve a lot of creepy guys who want their manic pixie dream girl. For men, it can involve a lot of simply trying to not be that guy. If you’re in the majority of geeks who are a little bit introverted, dating can be hella intimidating.

News flash: Loving sci-fi and being *in love* are not mutually exclusive.

SEE ALSO: Which dating app should you use? This guide can help you figure it out.

We compared the internet’s top full-on dating sites, trendy swiping apps, and geek-specific sites to find the ones where geeks can express themselves and find that twin flame. Hidden in millions and millions of users, you could find that person who you can chat with for hours about how bad the Game of Thrones ending was or someone who dreams of the perfect couples cosplay. Maybe you’re a geek in the streets and a freak in the sheets — there are plenty of apps where geeks can just find a hookup, too.

What should I consider when choosing a dating site?

What are you interested in finding?: Are you looking for like-minded friends, casual hookups, or do you want to find a serious relationship? Whatever it is that you’re looking for — there’s a site for it, but settling on your expectations is key.

Site popularity: Niche dating sites are great for narrowing down your potential matches — but if there are barely any users, trying to find quality matches can become tedious. Look for a happy medium between your personal interests and site popularity to ensure you have plenty of options.

Security: Dating apps and websites are great — but like everything else online, you have to be careful. If you want to avoid potential catfishing or other scams, look for features like social media integration, photo verification, and the ability to block any unsavory members.

Budget: Do you want to stick to free websites and apps or do you have the budget (and interest) to pay for some extra bells and whistles? You can absolutely get away with opting for free services but a couple of dollars per month to speed up the process might be worth considering.

So what are the best dating sites for geeks?

Our top picks include OkCupid, which prides itself on being extremely gender-inclusive and a space safe for everyone, and match, which has a tried-and-true algorithm and a huge user base. Geek-specific dating sites that aren’t totally outdated and crappy are few and far between, but we were impressed by Gamer Dating.

Read on to discover what else made it into our list, and be sure to hit the gray arrow in the bottom of each card to expand the text and read all of what we had to say. Happy dating, nerds.

Online dating as a lesbian, for the most part, still involves having your space invaded by straight people.

The heteronormative weirdness got so alienating that lesbians began turning to TikTok as a means of meeting other single lesbians — turns out, it’s a damn good matchmaker.

But it’s unrealistic to expect a social media app to work like a dating app for everyone. (It’s hard for some of us to comprehend, but not everyone spends every free minute on TikTok.) Lesbians who have exhausted their local romantic options are still going to want to see who else is out there.

For much of current history, some people have acted as though lesbians didn’t exist outside of porn and Ellen DeGeneres, while jokes swirled about how girls only turned to dating women if they had a bad experience with a man. (Yikes.)

Even in 2021, these tone-deaf assumptions still find a way to rain on the lesbian online dating experience. If it’s not a man appearing in your feed when you specifically marked that you’re searching for women, it’s matching with a woman just to be hit with the classic “My boyfriend and I are looking for a threesome.”

There’s one big problem: The apps targeted toward the straights are still where most of the queer users are, too. Though women-only apps like HER are gaining traction fast, they can still be a bit of a ghost town… or a scammer’s paradise. You just have to decide whether you’d rather deal with the quirks of Tinder and have more options to swipe through, or be fine with coming across the same profile three times as long as it’s not a man.

A note on what didn’t make the list

A decent number of dating sites and apps specifically for lesbians do exist, but most are plagued with the same issues: Either their sole purpose is to sexualize lesbians and aren’t really meant for genuine connection at all, or their lax security protocols make it way too easy for ill-intentioned men to sign up pretending to be women. (Creeps are drawn to porn-y names like Pink Flirt.) If you’re wondering why we left most of those so-called female-only apps out, that’s why.

YouTube is reducing its original programming division following the departure of Global Head of Originals Susanne Daniels.

Launched in 2016, YouTube Originals began life as a subscription service streaming ad-free series and films. However, faced with an already-crowded video-on-demand field, the Google-owned video platform soon changed tack.

In 2019, YouTube all but wiped its $12-per-month Premium slate clean, offering up several projects to other outlets; Cobra Kai landed on Netflix, On Becoming a God In Central Florida was acquired by Showtime, and Step Up aired on Starz. Instead, the company pivoted to original—free—unscripted content like music, celebrity and creator-focused originals, and educational programming.

Tweet may have been deleted

Even those are ending soon, though, according to YouTube’s Robert Kyncl. In a Tuesday tweet, the chief business officer announced the end of YouTube Originals and its “award-winning” slate—save for a handful of in-progress programs. “YTO played an integral role in growing the YouTube creator economy,” he wrote, adding that more than $30 billion has been paid to creators, artists, and media companies over the last three years.

“However, with rapid growth comes new opportunities and now our investments can make a greater impact on even more creators when applied towards other initiatives,” Kyncl explained. Daniels’ exit also contributed to the decision to reduce YT Originals.

“What an exciting and tremendous experience I’ve had working to create meaningful programming for global users of all ages and backgrounds,” Daniels said in a statement published by Variety. “I’m so proud that our YTO content could contribute to the ongoing growth and success of this remarkable platform, and I look forward to new adventures ahead.”

YouTube plans to honor its commitment to already-contracted shows in progress, but, moving forward, will only pursue programs that are part of its Black Voices and YouTube Kids funds.