Not everyone lives close to an abundance of electric vehicle chargers, but what if you just needed the sun to power a car?

That’s not exactly what’s happening with the new Lightyear 0 EV, but it’s close enough. Lightyear, a Dutch startup founded in 2016, announced production of its first prototype car by the end of the year. At $263,000 USD for one of the 946 planned units at launch, you’ll have to pony up some cash and hope you get lucky just to get one. But if you do, you’ll have a sleek, futuristic-looking EV that can get roughly 44 miles of range out of solar power alone.

Ideally you’d get more sun than that.
Credit: Lightyear

That’s just a small portion of the 388 total estimated miles of range the Lightyear 0 can produce, but the company says someone could theoretically drive one of these cars for months without going to a charging station, as long as they live in the right environment with lots of sun. It’s only got a top speed of about 100mph, so you won’t be scooting down the freeway in this bad boy, but at least you can feel good about yourself for driving a car with an interior made from 100 percent vegan materials.

Lightyear 0 isn’t the only solar-powered EV we’ve seen over the years, but it’s still a rarity in the EV space. The Mercedes-Benz Vision EQXX concept from CES earlier this year, for example, has solar panels on the roof, but they only add 15 miles to its range. Lightyear definitely has Mercedes-Benz beat on that front.

Of course, the car has to actually make it onto people’s driveways first. We’ll know more about how legit the Lightyear 0 is by the end of the year.

It’s possible to be selfless and a little selfish at the same time.

That’s the needle Apple CEO Tim Cook is seemingly trying to thread, anyway. In a letter to congress that you can read in full courtesy of 9to5Mac, Cook advocated for the passage of a federal data privacy law that would offer privacy protections to all U.S. citizens. Americans are currently at the whim of whatever (if any) privacy laws exist in their states, like the California Consumer Privacy Act.

Cook emphasized Apple’s existing commitment to privacy protections in his letter.

“At Apple, we believe privacy is a fundamental human right. It is why we have consistently advocated for comprehensive privacy legislation and contributed to the process whenever possible. It is also why we’ve always built products and features that protect users and their information by default. We do this by minimizing the data we collect, processing as much data as possible on a user’s device, giving users transparency as to what data is collected and control as to how it is used, and building robust systems to protect user data across all our products and services.”

It should be noted that Cook isn’t just asking for Congress to pass legislation out of thin air. A bipartisan draft bill called the American Data Privacy and Protection Act already exists, though it hasn’t been finalized or voted on by anyone yet. Among other things, the bill would restrict tech companies from collecting data beyond what’s strictly necessary and allow users to turn off targeted advertising.

“We recognize that there are outstanding issues to be resolved, but the areas of agreement appear to far outweigh the differences,” Cook said elsewhere in his letter. “Your drafts would provide substantial protections for consumers, and we write to offer our strong support towards achieving this shared goal.”

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While the kinds of protections Apple is promoting would indeed be for the common good, it’d be naive to pretend like the company is doing this purely out of altruism. Apple has stronger privacy controls than much of the competition, including an overwhelmingly popular iPhone feature that lets users block apps from tracking their activity. Apple is arguably more ready to accommodate sweeping regulations than its competitors are, and adopting stricter privacy controls actually netted Apple more cash last year on top of that.

A smart man once said “Gimme that short-ass movie.”

Hollywood movies are getting longer than ever, from superhero behemoths that clock in at three hours to even the most standard movies, which regularly go over two. Sometimes you just want to curl up with a good old-fashioned 90-100 minute movie, and that is your right as a cinephile. We’re not about to start The Irishman at 10 p.m.! Be rational!

For those situations and really any situation where you just do not have time to spare, here are the best short movies on Netflix with a reasonable runtime: an hour and 40 minutes or less. Less than 100 minutes? Yes, please.

1. To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before

Fake dating could never turn real, right? RIGHT??
Credit: Netflix

Netflix’s rom-com revival kicked off in 2018, a year whose slate included this criminally charming movie based on the novel by Jenny Han. Lara Jean (Lana Condor) is a hopeless romantic in the habit of writing letters to her most epic crushes — writing, not sending. When the letters are leaked, she starts pretending to date Peter Kavinsky (Noah Centineo) to divert attention from her real crush on her sister’s boyfriend.

With a bouncy pop soundtrack and visual style that is the envy of your entire Instagram feed, To All the Boys is the kind of movie you can return to again and again, a comfort watch as sweet as Lara Jean’s baked goods. Will we ever tire of watching fictional characters fake love until it becomes real? If they’re even half as adorable as Condor and Centineo, the answer is no.* —Proma Khosla, Senior Entertainment Reporter

Where to watch: To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before is streaming on Netflix.

2. Creep

In his directorial debut, found-footage genre genius Patrick Brice stars as Aaron, a freelance videographer who accepts a job working for a strange client, played by Mark Duplass. A spectacular combination of comedy and chills, Creep does a lot with a little — delivering a horror gem so good it merited a phenomenal sequel starring Desiree Akhavan that’s also on Netflix. — Alison Foreman, Entertainment Reporter (*)

How to watch: Creep is now streaming on Netflix.

3. A Nightmare on Elm Street

Oh, Freddy, you old so-and-so!

The inaugural outing of the Springwood Slasher, written and directed by terror titan Wes Craven, is among the sillier supernatural nightmares out there. And yet, there’s no denying the charm that comes with rewatching the imaginative havoc wrought by this venerable, villainous heavyweight.

Kick back and relax as Mr. Krueger, played by Robert Englund, terrorizes teenagers unlucky enough to live in his zip code. You’ll enjoy dreams that are real but sometimes not, fashion decisions that didn’t even make sense then, tongues coming out of telephones, and more. Sweet dreams!—A.F. (*)

Where to watch: Nightmare on Elm Street is now streaming on Netflix.

4. His House

Me watching this movie ngl
Credit: Netflix

Writer-director Remi Weekes’ His House is easily my favorite scary Netflix release of 2020. Wunmi Mosaku and Sope Dirisu star as refugees from South Sudan seeking asylum in Britain who are assigned to live in an eerie neighborhood where they aren’t welcome. Spectacularly frightening and ruthlessly critical of its subject matter, His House delivers everything it must — and then some.* —A.F.

Where to watch: His House is now streaming on Netflix.

5. How to Train Your Dragon

Vikings! Dragons! Epic battles! How to Train Your Dragon has it all. This animated fantasy from Dreamworks is a high-flying delight, featuring exceptional animation that will transport you to the village of Berk and the starry skies above. Berk is at war with the dragons who constantly attack them, making killing a dragon a rite of passage for any Berk resident. However for Hiccup (voiced by Jay Baruchel), things are a little more complicated than that. He meets a Night Terror dragon named Toothless and develops a real bond with him, learning that dragons may not be as deadly as they appear. Will Hiccup be able to change years of brutal tradition? You’ll have to ride along with him and Toothless in order to find out. — B.E. (*)

How to watch: How to Train Your Dragon is now streaming on Netflix.

6. Vampires vs. the Bronx

Want a movie that’s got excitement, comedy, a scorching message about the evils of gentrification, and is a kid-friendly romp? Then take a bite out of Vampires vs. the Bronx. Oz Perkins’s PG-13 horror-comedy centers on Afro-Latino teens, who recognize that a flurry of missing person posters and influx of rich white folks with tote bags means bad news for the neighborhood. Together, they team up Monster Squad-style to take down the bloodsuckers and save their community. With a sharp wit, a warm heart, a rich sense of atmosphere, and an equal appreciation for the Blade movies and ’80s Amblin, Vampires vs. the Bronx is an easy watch full of rewards. —K.P.

How to watch: Vampires vs. the Bronx is now streaming on Netflix.

7. The Perfection

This is, um, not the beginning of a good trip.
Credit: Netflix

From cellos and foreplay to hallucinations and hiking, The Perfection does absolutely whatever it wants. Featuring Allison Williams in her best role since Get Out and Dear White People‘s Logan Browning in her best part ever, this vibrant genre blend will get a reaction out of you. Not necessarily a good reaction, but a reaction nonetheless. It’s body horror meets psychological thriller meets occult drama meets classical music. With bugs. And vomit. I, for one, loved it!* —A.F.

How to watch: The Perfection is streaming on Netflix.

8. The Platform (El Hoyo)

Imagine: Prison cells stacked one on top of the other, with holes in the floor and ceiling. Randomly assigned levels that change each month. And a platform of food that gets slowly lowered from the very top, getting sparser and sparser with each floor it descends. This is the concept at the centre of Spanish director Galder Gaztelu-Urrutia’s The Platform, a disturbing sci-fi thriller that wears its capitalist analogy plainly on its prison garb sleeve. It’s one of those rare gems where the execution is as strong as the idea at its core, driven by an excellent screenplay from David Desola and Pedro Rivero that’s dripping with horror and suspense. If you’re a fan of movies like The Cube or Saw, this is well worth checking out.* —Sam Haysom, Deputy U.K. Editor*

How to watch: The Platform is now streaming on Netflix.

9. She’s Gotta Have It

Thirty-one years before it was a Netflix series, She’s Gotta Have It was the daring comedy that launched Spike Lee’s career and became a landmark in America’s emerging independent film scene. Filmed on a tight budget and on black-and-white stock, this Lee joint centers on Nola Darling (Tracy Camilla Johns), a charming Brooklyn-based graphic artist who is juggling three male lovers. When these jealous men demand she choose just one of them, Nola is pushed to consider what she wants from love, sex, and relationships. Critics championed how Lee captured a side of Black experience rarely shown in mainstream movies. The prestigious Cannes Film Festival honored him with “The Award of Youth,” and the Independent Spirit Awards gave him the award for Best First Feature, and Johns the honor of Best Female Lead.* —K.P.

How to watch: She’s Gotta Have It is streaming on Netflix.

10. The Witcher: Nightmare of the Wolf

Before Geralt there was Vesemir.
Credit: Netflix

Despite its short-ass run time, The Witcher: Nightmare of the Wolf adds a complete and satisfying chapter to Netflix’s ongoing Witcherverse. It takes place decades before Geralt’s adventures begin, focusing instead on the backstory of Geralt’s mentor Vesemir and the fatal battle at Kaer Morhen that decimated the Witcher population. Its beautiful animation (especially its impressively layered CGI fight scenes) illuminates Vesemir’s struggle as he parses the questions all people, mutated or not, must face — love or money? Preservation or sacrifice? To witcher or not to witcher? —Alexis Nedd, Senior Entertainment Reporter

Where to watch: The Witcher: Nightmare of the Wolf is now streaming on Netflix.

11. The Breaker Uppers

This hidden gem comes from New Zealand, the fertile comedy ground that gave us Taika Waititi, Flight of the Conchords, and What We Do In The Shadows. Waititi collaborators Jackie van Beek, James Rolleston, and Jemaine Clement team up for a deeply quirky buddy comedy about two long-time besties with a bonkers — but brilliant — business model. Need someone to dump your partner so you can avoid a messy confrontation? Call on Jen and Mel (co-writers/co-directors/co-leads van Beek and Madeleine Sami). For a reasonable fee, these fearless Breaker Upperers will impersonate police officers, play pregnant, or even fake your death to help you ghost an ex. Whatever the shenanigans, van Beek and Sami sparkle. Booming with wild humor and big heart, this comedy is guaranteed to leave you cackling.* —K.P.

Where to watch: The Breaker Uppers is now streaming on Netflix.

12. Monty Python’s Life of Brian

You might be more of a Holy Grail guy, and Netflix has you covered — but for those who value a true underdog (like Jesus) there’s Life of Brian. Brian Cohen (Graham Chapman) is born next door to a certain Son of the Living God, and grows up to despise and eventually defy the Romans occupying his home. Brian joins the resistance, meets a girl, gets declared the messiah — all stuff that would make his neighbor envious, though Brian may have gotten more than he bargained for. —P.K.

Where to watch: Monty Python’s Life of Brian is now streaming on Netflix.

13. Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt: Kimmy vs the Reverend

What’s got Kimmy and Titus so shocked? It could actually be a number of things, and YOU get to choose.
Credit: Netflix

Depending on how you interact with Netflix’s choose-your-own-adventure Kimmy Schmidt movie, it might go over 100 minutes — but at that point, you’re having too much fun to notice. Kimmy (Ellie Kemper) prepares for her wedding to England’s Prince Frederick (Daniel Radcliffe), but an old book from her past leads her back to the Reverend (Jon Hamm) and a sinister secret he might be hiding. Come for the gameplay, stay for a sublime Radcliffe, and unlock every possible ending in this unhinged celebration of everything Kimmy Schmidt. —P.K.

Where to watch: Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt: Kimmy vs. The Reverend is now streaming on Netflix.

14. Over the Moon

Cathy Ang is the voice of Fei Fei, young girl with a love for science and an adorable pet bunny named Bungee, who was a gift from her departed mother. Years after the unfortunate passing, Fei Fei’s interest in space travel is kindled by the legend of Chang’e, Chinese Goddess of the Moon and a soon-to-remarry father who doubts the goddess’s existence.

So Fei Fei sets out to build a rocket capable of carrying her off to the stars. She almost succeeds, but her failure — and certain doom! — is averted when a beam of light saves her and carries her skyward. So begins an adventure that helps Fei Fei finally get a handle on her grief, and her path forward in life.

Over the Moon also features the voices of Phillipa Soo, Robert G. Chiu, Ken Jeong, John Cho, Ruthie Ann Miles, Margaret Cho, Kimiko Glenn., Artt Butler, and Sandra Oh. —A.F. (*)

Where to watch: Over the Moon is now streaming on Netflix.

*Connotes this blurb has appeared in a previous Mashable article.

Let’s face it: None of us have spare time and we all need a distraction from … everything. And what better time-friendly distraction is there than a great TV show you can binge in one day?

If you’re looking to take your mind off current events, or if you want to catch up on some of TV’s most popular shows without taking up too much time, we’ve got some suggestions for you. From exquisite comedies to nail-biting dramas, we’ve put together a list of some excellent shows you can binge-watch in their entirety in about a day (between two and 10 hours).

Here, from shortest binge to longest, are 13 shows you can binge in a day.

1. Astronomy Club

An astronomically good time.
Credit: Lara Solanki/Netflix

How long: 2 hours (6 episodes, about 20 minutes each)

If you’re in the market for something light-hearted and low-commitment, you can’t do much better than this one-season sketch show. With a tight-knit cast of eight Black comics who honed their craft together at UCB, Astronomy Club gets funnier the zanier and more specific they get. — Angie Han, Deputy Entertainment Editor

How to watch: Astronomy Club is now streaming on Netflix.

2. Over the Garden Wall

How long: 2 hours (10 episodes, about 10 minutes each)

Over the Garden Wall transports viewers to the mysterious Unknown, a forest that’s home to many strange characters. Among the denizens of the Unknown are brothers Greg and Wirt, whose journey home sees them cross paths with a talking bluebird, a grieving woodsman, and the dangerous Beast. Strange, atmospheric, and brought to life with stunning 2D animation, Over the Garden Wall is a perfect show to binge — especially in the fall, or if you just want some Halloween vibes. — Belen Edwards, Entertainment Reporter

How to watch: Over the Garden Wall is now streaming on HBO Max.

3. Los Espookys

Things are getting espooky.
Credit: Jennifer Clasen/HBO

How long: 3 hours (6 episodes, about 30 minutes each)

Halloween may have come and gone, but there’s no wrong season for enjoying this silly and surreal comedy about four friends staging fake exorcisms and hauntings for paying clients — when they aren’t dealing with real mirror dimensions and water demons, that is. — A.H.

How to watch: Los Espookys is now streaming on HBO Max.

4. Schmigadoon!

How long: 3 hours (6 episodes, about 30 minutes each)

A show for musical lovers, by musical lovers, Schmigadoon! is a loving tribute to Golden Age musicals. Think Oklahoma!, The Music Man, and The Sound of Music. In a Brigadoon-esque plot, a couple (played by Cecily Strong and Keegan-Michael Key) whose relationship is going through a rough patch stumbles upon a magical village where life is a musical. From there, it’s a nonstop parade of joyful musical numbers, delivered by a cast of Broadway mainstays like Kristin Chenoweth, Aaron Tveit, Alan Cumming, and Ariana DeBose. Theaters kids, eat your heart out. Schmigadoon! is a treat. — B.E.

How to watch: Schmigadoon! is now streaming on Apple TV.

5. Heartstopper

Did your heart stop?
Credit: Netflix

How long: 4 hours (8 episodes, about 30 minutes each)

Looking for an absolutely adorable binge? Then Heartstopper, the wildly popular series based on Alice Oseman’s graphic novel, is the show for you. Follow along with the romance between Charlie (Joe Locke) and Nick (Kit Connor), two teenagers figuring out their feelings for each other. Because the show gives you so many sweet characters and relationships to root for, you’ll have no trouble going through all the episodes at once. And don’t worry once you’re done: Hearstopper has already been renewed for Seasons 2 and 3! — B.E.

How to watch: Heartstopper is now streaming on Netflix.

6. Literally any of the Disney+ Marvel shows

How long: 5 hours (6-10 episodes per show, 30-60 minutes each)

Whether you’re an MCU fanatic or a Marvel noob, the Disney+ TV shows set in the Marvel Cinematic Universe all do a great job of re-immersing the audience into its world of superheroes and cosmic villains. Each show has a totally different vibe — WandaVision is a riff on decades of classic sitcoms, The Falcon and the Winter Soldier is a thrilling spy series, Loki is a time-traveling drama, What If…? is an animated multiversal anthology, Hawkeye is a holiday buddy comedy, and Moon Knight is a psychedelic thriller. Just pick one, you’ll probably like it and if not, well, you didn’t really waste that much of your time. — Alexis Nedd, Senior Entertainment Reporter

How to watch: WandaVision, The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, Loki, What If…?, Hawkeye, and Moon Knight are all streaming on Disney+.

7. Only Murders in the Building

The trio of your TV dreams.
Credit: Craig Blankenhorn/Hulu

How long: 5 hours (10 episodes, about 30 minutes each)

Boasting an excellent cast and an engaging murder mystery, Only Murders in the Building is a must-watch. A death in a New York condo building leads three residents who are also true crime fans to make their own podcast to get to the bottom of the mystery. Exciting twists and turns ensue. The show’s central trio of Steve Martin, Martin Short, and Selena Gomez bursts with comedic chemistry, elevating one of 2021’s best, most compulsively watchable TV shows to new heights. — B.E.

How to watch: Only Murders in the Building is now streaming on Hulu.

8. Our Flag Means Death

How long: 5 hours (10 episodes, about 30 minutes each)

Our Flag Means Death is a bait-and-switch masterpiece that lures the audience in with the hilarity of creator David Jenkins and team’s anachronistic writing set against the Golden Age of Piracy and traps ’em with the reveal that OFMD is a gay romantic comedy. Our Flag Means Death treats the near-ubiquitous queer romances of its cast with humor, respect, and often stunning tenderness, culminating in one of TV’s most satisfying slow burn relationships. — A.N. (*)

How to watch: Our Flag Means Death is now streaming on HBO Max.

9. The Afterparty

How great is this party?
Credit: Apple TV+

How long: 5 hours (8 episodes, about 30-40 minutes each)

Many people have attempted modern twists on the classic detective whodunnit. Apple TV+’s The After Party is a series that got the genre absolutely right. Its all star cast delivers nuanced and hilarious performances that slowly build up the mystery of who murdered a pop star after their high school reunion, all of which culminate in one of the most satisfying mystery finales in a long time. All that in just eight episodes? Don’t waste your one (or two) shot(s) to hop on this bandwagon. — A.N.

How to watch: The After Party is now streaming on Apple TV+.

10. Arcane

Jinx is here, and she’s MAD.
Credit: Netflix

How long: 6 hours (9 episodes, about 40 minutes each)

Whether you’re a big fan of League of Legends or have no idea who Jinx, Vi, and Jayce are, you’re guaranteed to smash through Arcane. The show’s gorgeous animation is the perfect vehicle for an excellent story about magic, betrayal, and family ties. Trust us: as soon as you enter the cities of Piltover and Zaun, you won’t want to leave until you’ve finished all nine episodes. — B.E.

How to watch: Arcane is now streaming on Netflix.

11. Stath Lets Flats

How long: 7 hours (18 episodes, about 23 minutes each)

BAFTA favorite Stath Lets Flats hasn’t quite caught on in the U.S. yet, but that’s all the more reason to scope it out. Jamie Demetriou (the Bus Rodent from Fleabag) plays a horribly incompetent but strangely endearing lettings agent in London, surrounded by a similarly off-kilter collection of coworkers. — A.H.

How to watch: Stath Lets Flats is now streaming on HBO Max.

12. Squid Game

Is it too late to quit the Squid Game?
Credit: Noh Juhan/Netflix

How long: 9 hours (9 episodes, about 60 minutes each)

Thanks to a nail-biting premise and life-or-death stakes, it’s almost impossible not to binge the record-breaking phenomenon Squid Game in one or two sittings.

The 456 participants in the titular Squid Game are all in financial trouble and have agreed to play children’s games in exchange for money. The catch? If they lose, they die. Squid Game leans fully into the brutality of its premise, contrasting pastel playground aesthetics with tragedy and gore. However, the show also makes time for plenty of substance by fleshing out the relationships between its leads and interrogating the royally messed-up circumstances that led to each player ending up in this position. — B.E. (*)

How to watch: Squid Game is now streaming on Netflix.

13. Kidding

How long: 10 hours (20 episodes, about 30 minutes each)

The fact that Kidding works is, as described by its creator, a “magic trick.” No other show on television could bring its audience to a whimsical world of f-bomb dropping puppets, begin an episode with a flashback to one of the Dalai Lama’s past lives, and get Ariana Grande to cameo for a 30-minute musical episode about divorce while keeping its story on the rails, but Kidding makes it look effortless. Jim Carrey delivers a lifetime top-three performance as Jeff, a Mr. Rogers–type TV star whose long-suppressed trauma and parental grief chip away at the happy facade his show requires…with emotionally devastating (yet strangely beautiful) consequences. — A.N. (*)

How to watch: Kidding Seasons 1 and 2 are now streaming on Showtime.

There’s perhaps no social media app that has a greater influence on music right now than TikTok, so it only makes sense to define the year (so far) through the songs we can’t escape on our FYPs.

Here are the best TikTok songs of 2022. If you just got these out of your head… Sorry!

“So Hot You’re Hurting My Feelings” by Caroline Polachek

The 2019 song had its moment back in January when TikTokkers brought Polachek’s “So Hot You’re Hurting My Feelings” choreography to the platform. It’s an uncharacteristically easy TikTok dance, which allowed Polachek’s reverberated vocals to dominate the app for several weeks.

“We Don’t Talk About Bruno” from Encanto

Remember the death grip Encanto had on pop culture in February? Nothing is more representative of Encanto‘s success than the viral hit, “We Don’t Talk About Bruno.” The song rose to the top of the Billboard Hot 100 and soundtracked just shy of a million TikToks. The track was not only the go-to song for children and parents, but the Encanto jam also inspired its own trend.

TikTokkers isolated the most dramatic part of the song where the cast transitions from singing, “Like the grapes that thrive on the vine/ Óye, Mariano’s on his way” to “He told me that…” To follow this trend, users typically posted two clips. In the first snippet, they tried to get something done, then in the second, they walked slowly into the room as something inhibiting them from completing the task at hand. The walk itself was inspired by the choreography in the musical.

“Major Bag Alert” ft. Migos by DJ Khaled

Major bag alert! Major bag alert! This 2017 banger had its comeback thanks to a TikTok trend in which users posted about (mostly exploitative) situations where people or corporations raked in a lot of money set to this DJ Khaled track featuring Migos. The trend is funny and critical of the ways individuals and companies make their money. An example is @jacimariesmith’s video that reads, “Mommy bloggers when they get pregnant again.”

The Reading Rainbow theme song

The most obscure song that popped off on the clock app this year is the theme song from Reading Rainbow, a popular PBS educational show that aired from 1983 to 2006. Users isolated the portion of the song that goes, “Butterfly in the sky / I can go twice as high,” and paired it with a confusing sentiment. To top it off, TikTokkers who engaged in this educational trend accompanied the audio with the Space Filter, which duplicated their face and placed it in — you guessed it — space.

“Just A Cloud Away” by Pharrell Williams

TikTok reminded us that “Happy” isn’t the only upsettingly catchy Pharrell song from the Despicable Me 2 when “Just A Cloud Away” went viral on the platform in March. The groovy song didn’t soundtrack any particular trend, but rather briefly became the song of the moment on our FYPs.

“As It Was” by Harry Styles

As much as it physically pains me to call a Harry Styles track a TikTok song, the popularity of “As It Was” on the platform is undeniable. “As It Was” has been used in over 2 million TikToks since its release on April 1, and the platform will never be the same as it was.

“First Class” by Jack Harlow

No other song caused quite the tizzy that Jack Harlow’s “First Class.” The Louisville rapper teased a 13-second snippet of the song a week before its release, and it quickly became the most anticipated song on TikTok with 50,000 TikToks being made using the track in that initial tracking period. “First Class” owes its success to a genius sample of Fergie’s “Glamorous” and Harlow’s unabashed charm.

Unfortunately, the TikTok’s love of “First Class” didn’t guarantee Harlow’s album, Come Home the Kids Miss You, any critical success. It received a 2.9 rating from Pitchfork.

“About Damn Time” by Lizzo

Lizzo’s “About Damn Time” is poised to be the song of the summer. The upbeat track took off on TikTok thanks to its infectious beat and a fun dance created by @jaedengomezz. “About Damn Time” has been used in a whopping 3 million videos since its release in April.

“Jiggle Jiggle” by Duke & Jones and Louis Theroux

This wasn’t a song until TikTok made it one. The “my money don’t jiggle jiggle” audio is an Autotuned snippet of British American journalist Louis Theroux on Chicken Shop Date with Amelia Dimoldenberg. In the original Chicken Shop Date clip he’s remembering a rap he wrote for an episode of Louis Theroux’s Weird Weekends in 2000. Music producers @dukeandjones got a hold of the clip of Theroux and leveled it up by adding Autotune and backing music as part of their “Adding auto tune to random videos” series on TikTok.

The clip exploded in popularity, and Duke, Jones, and Theorux have since released it as a single. The track is currently the soundtrack to over 5.5 million videos.

“Material Girl” by Saucy Santana

For the gworls who like the finer things, “Material Girl” took over TikTok with its catchy hook and MUA-turned-rapper Saucy Santana’s charismatic vocal delivery. It’s the audio you use when you want to flaunt your wealth and financial savvy — in whatever form that takes, from showing off your designer bags to shopping on a budget while looking fabulous. So far, more than 1.2 million videos have used the song, and Santana is now gracing the covers of Teen Vogue and PAPER.

“Running Up That Hill (A Deal with God)” by Kate Bush

Who knew all Stranger Things needed to get back into mainstream public consciousness would be a key Kate Bush needle drop during a poignant scene in the Upside Down? And now Bush is running back up those charts and all over our FYPs — as she should be! — thanks to a TikTok trend that finds users recounting their “Vecna songs,” or the tracks that would save them from the show’s current Big Bad.

Calling all fans of fantasy, science fiction, and horror… It’s Geeked Week! For the second year in a row, Netflix is giving us a glimpse at upcoming genre projects all week long. Think Stranger Things, The Umbrella Academy, Shadow and Bone, and more.

Here are all the biggest announcements from Geeked Week 2022:

Geeked Week Announcements: Friday, June 10

Friday of Geeked Week focused entirely on games, from game-inspired shows to upcoming mobile games. Let’s take a look:

Dragon Age: Absolution is getting a series

Netflix is adapting the role-playing video game Dragon Age into an animated series. Check out the teaser above, and get ready for the show, which releases this December.

Dive into Tekken: Bloodline

Another video game getting an adaptation is Tekken. The popular fighting game will be turned into an anime series. Chief Producer Katsuhiro Harada introduces the series and new clips above.

Shadow & Bone, Too Hot to Handle, and more Netflix shows will become mobile games

If you’ve ever wanted to play in the world of your favorite Netflix shows, you’re in luck. The streaming service is releasing new mobile games based on the following series: Shadow & Bone, Too Hot to Handle, La Casa de Papel, and The Queen’s Gambit.

A sneak peek at new episodes of The Cuphead Show

We’re going back to the Inkwell Isles, folks! Cuphead and Mugman will return in new episodes of The Cuphead Show, coming soon to Netflix. Check out the teaser above.

Sonic the Hedgehog, meet Netflix

A new animated series based on the world’s fastest hedgehog is coming to Netflix. The first look at the show, called Sonic Prime, features a glimpse of Big the Cat and Froggy.

Netflix announces Castlevania: Nocturne

At last year’s Geeked Week, Netflix announced that they would be producing a Castlevania sequel centering on Richter Belmont. Now we have the very first look at Castlevania: Nocturne: It’s mostly just a look at Richter, but it feels good to be back in this world.

From Poinpy to Raji: here are the games coming to Netflix

In addition to creating games based on their biggest hits, Netflix is also adding other games to its catalog. Keep your eyes out for the releases of:

• Lucky Luna, a platformer based on Japanese folklore

• Desta: The Memories Between, a strategy game inspired by dodgeball

• Reigns: Three Kingdoms, a game where you rule your own kingdom in ancient China

• Terra Nil, a city-builder focused on the climate crisis

• Poinpy, a vertical climbing game that is now available to play

• Wild Things: Animal Adventures, a match-3 puzzle where you restore animals to their homes

• Raji: An Ancient Epic, an action adventure game about an orphan battling a demonic invasion

• Spiritfarer, a management game where you play as ferrymaster to the deceased

Geeked Week Announcements: Thursday, June 9

The Thursday of Geeked Week was all about Stranger Things. Let’s dive right in:

A sneak peek at Stranger Things 4, Volume 2

After the ending of Stranger Things 4, Volume 1, we’re all eagerly waiting to find out what the heck happens next. Geeked Week has only given us a 30-second clip to go on, but we see more of Vecna, more of Eleven’s powers, and more of the Upside Down. Is it July 1 yet?

Unlock the secrets of Stranger Things

The cast and crew of Stranger Things 4 unites to talk through all the juicy secrets of the season’s first 7 episodes. Learn about everything from the show’s horror movie influences to how this season almost killed off a beloved character. Spoiler warnings are in full effect.

Watch the Stranger Things cast play Dungeons and Dragons

If you just can’t get enough of the Hawkins gang, you need to check out this Dungeons and Dragons one-shot. Dungeon Master B. Dave Walters leads Finn Wolfhard, Gaten Matarazzo, Priah Ferguson, and Joseph Quinn through a fight against Vecna. Where can I submit my application to the Hellfire Club?

Geeked Week Announcements: Wednesday, June 8

Wednesday of Geeked Week focused entirely on animation. Here’s what we learned:

Go behind the scenes of Arcane

Netflix’s League of Legends series Arcane was an animated masterpiece. An upcoming documentary, titled Arcane: Bridging the Rift, will delve into the process of making the show. Check out the teaser above, then watch the documentary when it comes out on the Riot Games Youtube channel on August 4.

The Dragon Prince Season 4 is coming

The Dragon Prince and its heroes from Xadia will return soon for a fourth season. While Netflix hasn’t named a release date, you can check out the teaser above.

Get ready for Kid Cudi’s Entergalactic

Kid Cudi’s next project is an animated series based on his upcoming album, Entergalactic. It follows one man on his search for love in New York, and stars Cudi, Jessica Williams, Timothée Chalamet, and many, many more.

Junji Ito comes to Netflix

Junji Ito is bringing his terrifying manga to Netflix in the upcoming series Junji Ito Maniac: Japanese Tales of the Macabre. Check out an interview with the horror master above.

Cyberpunk: Edgerunners is almost here

If you’re a fan of Cyberpunk 2077, get ready for this new series that returns to the world of Night City. As part of Geeked Week, Netflix also released a clip and a panel about the upcoming anime.

Other animation news:

• Kevin Smith’s sequel to He-Man: Masters of the Universe is getting another installment, called Masters of the Universe: Revolution

• Go behind the scenes of Love, Death + Robots

• Check out the trailers for adult sci-fi comedies Farzar and Inside Job: Part 2

• Netflix Geeked unveiled photos from upcoming anime series exception, Moonrise, and Uncle From Another World.

• Kong: Skull Island, a series about shipwreck survivors trying to escape King Kong, is coming soon.

Geeked Week Announcements: Tuesday, June 7

The second day of Geeked Week gave us first looks at upcoming Netflix original movies. Here’s what you need to know:

A clip from The Gray Man

What’s The Gray Man? Oh, only the most expensive movie Netflix has ever made. The streaming service released a clip of the upcoming thriller that pits Ryan Gosling’s hero against Chris Evans’s villain (and his mustache). The Gray Man hits Netflix July 22.

Class is in session at The School for Good and Evil

Behold, the first teaser for The School of Good and Evil. Based on the best-selling series by Soman Chainani, this upcoming fantasy movie introduces us to a school that trains heroes and villains. The film, starring Charlize Theron, Kerry Washington, and Laurence Fishburne, hits Netflix this fall.

The hunt for The Sea Beast begins

If you want a tale of monsters and valiant monster hunters, chances are you’ll enjoy The Sea Beast. The first trailer gives us a glorious look at some massive sea creatures, as well as some truly thrilling naval battles. The Sea Beast is streaming on Netflix July 8.

A teaser for Troll

A troll awakens in the teaser for the upcoming Norwegian film Troll. What starts off as a seemingly innocent mountain trip ends with a massive eye opening in the cliff face and terrorizing new visitors. Spooky.

Jamie Foxx fights vampires in Day Shift

The first look at the horror-comedy Day Shift has everything: Jamie Foxx fighting vampires, explosions, car chases, Snoop Dogg, and more. The team behind John Wick is bringing this story to life, so expect a ton of badass stunts. Day Shift arrives on Netflix August 1.

Meet the Killer Book Club

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The new Spanish horror film Killer Book Club is about exactly what it sounds like: a book club that commits crimes. The teaser doesn’t give us much beyond some confessions of guilt delivered right to camera, but the atmosphere is menacing as hell.

Laser tag meets aliens in Blasted

The fate of our world rests in the hands of the protagonists of Blasted: two childhood best friends with a penchant for laser tag. The trailer for this Norwegian sci-fi comedy promises thrills, laughs, and lots of pew pew pews. Blasted hits Netflix June 28.

Key and Peele are Wendell & Wild

Keegan-Michael Key and Jordan Peele reunite in Wendell & Wild, a stop-motion film about two demon brothers who come to our world from the Underworld. A sneak peek hints at the paranormal chaos that’s in store when the movie arrives on Netflix this October.

A new Spiderhead clip will make you feel things

Chris Hemsworth asks Miles Teller some very uncomfortable questions in this clip from Joseph Kosinski’s Spiderhead. Basically, two inmates are asked how attractive they think the other is. After they get off to a rough start (and get a few drugs injected into their systems), they’re all over each other. Science is crazy, and so is Spiderhead, which premieres June 17 on Netflix.

And now, a message from Zack Snyder

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Zack Snyder stopped by Geeked Week to give a quick update about his upcoming space opera, Rebel Moon. He and cast member Sofia Boutella divulged that the movie is about a colony under attack by a tyrant, and the young woman who’s trying to gather warriors from other planets to take a stand. We didn’t get much beyond that, but we did get to see some creature designs.

Geeked Week Announcements: Monday, June 6

The first day of Geeked Week was entirely devoted to upcoming Netflix TV series. Here are the biggest teasers and trailers that dropped:

The Sandman dreams up a release date

The long-awaited adaptation of Neil Gaiman’s The Sandman finally has a release date: August 5. The teaser above revealed the premiere date as well as a closer look at the story of Dream the Sandman (Tom Sturridge), who is captured and held prisoner for a century. Now, he must restore order and journey across worlds, running into fascinating characters along the way.

The Umbrella Academy are checking in

A new clip from The Umbrella Academy‘s upcoming third season shows the Hargreeves siblings checking into the Hotel Obsidian.

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First Look at Tim Burton’s Wednesday

Sure, the teaser for Tim Burton’s series about Wednesday Addams is less than a minute long, but it packs a punch. Jenna Ortega looks picture-perfect in Wednesday’s iconic dress and braids and embodies the teen anti-hero with just a few seconds of screentime. Snaps all around.

Guillermo Del Toro’s Cabinet of Curiosities unearths a teaser

Guillermo del Toro, the mind behind Pan’s Labyrinth and The Shape of Water, is bringing a new horror anthology series to Netflix. Its teaser reveals that Guillermo Del Toro’s Cabinet of Curiosities features episodes helmed by horror heavy-hitters like The Babadook director Jennifer Kent and A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night director Ana Lily Amirpour. We’re getting scared (and excited) just thinking about it.

The Midnight Club teaser drops

Mike Flanagan, who terrified us with The Haunting of Hill House, The Haunting of Bly Manor, and Midnight Mass, is back to freak us out once more with The Midnight Club. The series adapts Christopher Pike’s YA book series, which sees the Midnight Club gather at midnight in an old house to tell some spooky ghost stories.

Meet The Imperfects with a new teaser

A teaser for Netflix’s upcoming series The Imperfects introduces us to three twentysomethings who were experimented on by evil scientists. Now, Juan, Tilda, and Abbi have monster mutant powers. Too bad they’re on the run from the government, though.

Locke & Key Season 3 teaser arrives

Geeked Week also brought us the first teaser for Locke & Key‘s third season. Head back to Keyhouse for one final adventure (and for the return of Dodge, who’s somehow still around). Season 3 of Locke & Key hits Netflix on August 10.

Flora joins Fate: The Winx Saga

The first look at Fate: The Winx Saga Season 2 introduces us to nature fairy Flora, played by Paulina Chávez. Winx Club fans were outraged when Flora didn’t appear in Season 2, but don’t worry: She’s here now.

Warrior Nun Season 2 blesses us with a teaser

Warrior Nun Ava is back, along with the other members of the Order of the Cruciform Sword. The Season 2 teaser shows Ava honing her powers and hints at the next showdown with the evil Adriel.

Manifest Season 4 is still on

Remember when NBC canceled Manifest and everyone lost their minds? Well, Netflix picked the show up for a fourth and final season so fans can get some closure. Check out the sneak peek.

Resident Evil is almost here

The trailer for Netflix’s live-action Resident Evil series introduces New Raccoon City, the sinister Umbrella Corporation, and some humans who have been infected by the gnarly T-virus. Resident Evil comes to Netflix on July 14.

1899 promises new thrills and chills

The creators of Dark are back with a mystery series, this time focused on a group of multinational immigrants adrift at sea.

First Kill’s first kiss

A new clip from First Kill shows a sweet first kiss between Juliette and Calliope. There’s one small catch: One is a vampire hunter, and the other is a vampire. Both of them are ready to make their first kill. This new series premieres on Netflix on June 10.

Other series news:

• Sweet Tooth Season 2 has wrapped filming

• Shadow and Bone Season 2 has wrapped filming

• Vikings: Valhalla released bloopers

• Barbarians Season 2 is coming in 2022

• All of Us Are Dead is returning for Season 2

• New cast members have joined One Piece

• Check out new photos from Alice in Borderland Season 2

If you’re planning on watching Jurassic World: Dominion this weekend in order to get your dinosaur fix, I’m here to tell you that there’s another, better way. That better way is none other than Apple TV +’s Prehistoric Planet.

Narrated by Sir David Attenborough himself, Prehistoric Planet is a nature documentary about the lives of prehistoric creatures, with each episode exploring how they co-existed in different environments. Imagine any dinosaur documentary you would watch at a natural history museum, then add Apple’s budgetary power, and you’ve got a gorgeous, engrossing look at the creatures who used to roam the earth.

Prehistoric Planet is Planet Earth with dinosaurs

Open wide.
Credit: Apple TV+

In many ways, Prehistoric Planet is the spiritual successor to Planet Earth. It weaves stories out of the lives of its subjects, accompanied by stunning visuals and the dulcet tones of Attenborough’s voice. However, while the footage in Planet Earth is real, the footage in Prehistoric Planet is created from CGI, as our dinosaur friends died out millions of years ago.

You’ll have to keep reminding yourself of that fact as you watch the show. Prehistoric Planet‘s visual effects are so spectacular and life-like that you may wonder, “Huh, has David Attenborough been hiding live dinosaurs from us this time?” Seriously, every dinosaur we encounter, from Tyrannosaurus Rex to Triceratops, feels like it’s right in front of us. It’s enough to make you worried for the people behind the cameras!

And it’s not just the dinosaurs that look awesome. The environments they inhabit — from prehistoric oceans to scorching hot deserts — come to vivid life. If you’re looking to be as immersed in dinosaur land as possible (without playing God), this is sensational series will do just that.

Prehistoric Planet eats Jurassic World: Dominion for breakfast

Look at this beautiful baby Triceratops.
Credit: Apple TV+

Don’t let Jurassic World: Dominion‘s promise of cool new dinosaurs fool you — the sixth entry in the Jurassic Park franchise drastically underutilizes its main draw, focusing instead on its boring human characters. Meanwhile, there’s only room for one human on Prehistoric Planet, and that’s Attenborough (who deserves to live in all the cool places).

Attenborough’s legendary narration guides us through stories with high stakes and fascinating characters — characters who don’t even have to say a word for us to get invested. In the show’s very first episode, which focuses on prehistoric creatures living on coasts, we see a pregnant Tuarangisaurus struggling to guide herself and her calf through danger-infested predators. When a predator looms into view, it’s genuinely terrifying — both because it’s a giant creature with scary pointy teeth, and because we want the mother to make it out alive. Later, when two massive Dreadnoughtus clash on a desert mating ground, you’ll find yourself leaning forward to catch every blow.

There’s something kind of funny about documenting these encounters between two scripted dinosaurs as fact, but that’s all a part of Prehistoric Planet‘s charm. It’s earnest and educational, plus it gives us drama, a surprising amount of character development, and kick-ass dinosaurs. That’s far, far more than we can say about other dinosaur-related entertainment being released now.

Prehistoric Planet is now streaming on Apple TV+.

Have you ever gotten the sneaking feeling that someone’s creeping over your virtual shoulder while you browse the web? Don’t freak out, but your gut is right: Your internet service provider (ISP) is tracking your every click to compile anonymous browsing logs they can potentially sell to advertising companies, or even cough up to government agencies in the interest of censorship. (And yes, that includes the clicks that brought you to this article.)

Connected to a free public WiFi network? You’re basically inviting hackers to join in on the fun.

Your browser’s Incognito/private mode only gets you so far, unfortunately — it’ll clear your history, searches, cookies, and login deets, preventing other users of the same device from seeing what you’ve been up to, but it won’t hide and secure your connection from your ISP and other prying eyes.

For actual internet anonymity, you can reclaim your privacy by getting yourself a virtual private network, or VPN.

What is a VPN?

A VPN is a service that creates an encrypted connection between your device and a private, remote server, which hides and secures your traffic. If browsing the web like normal is like taking a naked Jeep out on the highway (where anyone can see who you are, where you’re going, and what you’ve got in the backseat), using a VPN is like driving an armored, tinted Humvee through a secret underground tunnel.

The technology’s origin story isn’t well-documented, but it’s believed to have emerged at Microsoft in the mid-1990s. Initially used exclusively by businesses, subscription-based VPN services for the general public starting gaining popularity about a decade ago “after a flood of security breaches,” per the cybersecurity and antivirus giant Kapersky.

What are the benefits of using a VPN?

There are a number of reasons why you might want to use a VPN, the main one being simply to stay anonymous online. The process of routing your traffic through a VPN masks your internet protocol (IP) address — the specific number that’s assigned to your device when it’s connected to a local network — which can otherwise reveal a surprising amount of personal information. (That includes your approximate whereabouts and the name of your ISP.) If someone decides to look up your device’s IP address, they’ll see your VPN server’s location, not yours.

Along those same lines, using a VPN will allow you to access websites and services that may be blocked in certain places (like Netflix in China or YouTube at your school); you can choose a server in a region where your desired content is available to skirt geo-restrictions and firewalls.

Using a VPN is especially important if you regularly connect to public WiFi networks, even those that are password-protected. It’s not difficult for nefarious parties to crack WiFi Protected Access 2 (WPA2) encryption — the security protocol most coffee shops, airports, hotels, and subway stations use to protect their hotspots — and exploit any network vulnerabilities vulnerabilities for so-called man-in-the-middle attacks. One of the more popular methods is known as WiFi eavesdropping, or an “evil twin” attack, where hackers set up fake WiFi access points and trick users into connecting to them.

But even the WFH crew can get some good use out of a VPN: Aside from the obvious privacy factor when it comes to confidential company information, a VPN can establish a remote connection with your office’s server so you’ve got access to internal networks and resources from home.

It’s important to note that while some VPN plans come with malware and ad blockers, those are just bonuses. The VPN itself will disguise and conceal your traffic, but it can’t shield you or your device from other online threats. (We recommend picking up some separate antivirus software for that kind of protection, even if you’re on a Mac.)

Hold up — are VPNs legal?

Aside from the few countries that have restricted or outright banned them (including Belarus, China, Iran, Iraq, North Korea, Oman, Russia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, and the United Arab Emirates), VPNs are perfectly legal in most of the world. But keep in mind that illegal activities like torrenting copyrighted material, buying prohibited goods, and hacking are still illegal even with a VPN. Let’s not get too brazen, here.

Along those same lines, using a VPN to unblock streaming services like Netflix from a country where it’s not available isn’t technically against the law, but it is a violation of the company’s terms of use — i.e., you may get slapped with a warning or error message if caught.

What should I look for in a VPN?

Choosing a VPN can be tricky. There are a lot of providers out there, so you should definitely do your homework before signing up for a plan. Here are some criteria we recommend considering:

Trustworthiness. Above all, you want an experienced provider with a stellar track record and a clear-cut privacy policy that guarantees your data won’t be logged or collected. (Bonus points if that policy’s been verified by a third party audit.) One Google search can actually tell you a lot — a good VPN won’t have made headlines for security bungles or customer data leaks.

Jurisdiction. The physical location of a VPN provider matters big time. Look for VPNs based in the British Virgin Islands, Panama, Switzerland, Romania, and other privacy-friendly countries that don’t fall under the jurisdiction of the “eyes” intelligence-sharing alliances: There’s the original Five Eyes, a Cold War-era coalition between the U.S., the UK, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand; the Nine Eyes, an extension of the pact that includes Denmark, France, Norway, and the Netherlands; and the Fourteen Eyes, which added Belgium, Germany, Italy, Sweden, and Spain to the mix. Any VPN provider operating from one of those countries can technically be forced by authorities to collect and fork over user data, so it’s best to avoid them entirely. (That also underscores the importance of picking a no-logs VPN.)

Network size and diversity. The more servers (and server locations) you have to choose from, the less likely you’ll have to share your IP address with a bunch of other users. That’s great for two reasons — you’ve got more bandwidth to spare, and you’re less likely to get detected by a streaming service that blocks VPNs. (IP addresses with heavy traffic loads are big red flags to Netflix, Hulu, Disney+, and the like.)

Customer support. Realistically, you’re bound to run into connection issues at some point no matter which VPN you choose, so having easy access to a responsible, reliable support team is on the “must-have” side of things.

A VPN gets extra points in our book if it comes with any of the following security features and tools:

• AES 256-bit encryption. Encryption is the process of scrambling data up into unreadable “ciphertext” that can only be decoded by authorized parties with access to a secret key or password. Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) 256-bit encryption is a super strong, military-grade encryption protocol that’s effectively uncrackable.

• A kill switch. In the event your VPN connection drops or gets disrupted, a kill switch will immediately disconnect your computer/phone/tablet from the internet and block all traffic, keeping your real IP address under wraps until the connection is restored.

• Split tunneling. A split tunneling tool lets you pick and choose what traffic gets sent over your VPN; the rest gets routed over your local network to conserve bandwidth and prevent bottlenecks.

• Multihop connections. Some providers will give you the option to connect to a multihop (or double) VPN, which encrypts your data twice by routing your traffic through two servers instead of just one for extra security.

• Dedicated IPs. A dedicated IP is an IP address that’s assigned to a single user (as opposed to one that’s shared among multiple people). Providers usually charge a premium to add one to your VPN subscription, but it’s worthwhile for better download speeds and avoiding the watchful eyes of streaming services that block VPNs.

Pro tip: Don’t pick a VPN based exclusively on its performance in speed tests.

“For one thing, your internet experience will almost certainly be faster without a VPN,” write the experts over at PCMag (which is owned by Mashable’s publisher, ZiffDavis). “For another, speeds depend so much on which server you use, where you are, what your network environment is like, and so on. You might find that the service that’s as fast as lightning today is barely chugging along tomorrow.” Factors like trust, server distribution, price, and ease of use are far more important.

That said, if you’re super concerned about download speeds, upload speeds, and latency for activities like gaming and streaming, pick a VPN with a split tunneling tool (to prioritize those high-bandwidth activities) and a large server network (to decrease the likelihood that you share a server with someone else).

Should I pay for a VPN?

We recommend avoiding most VPNs that are entirely free to use; their terms and conditions are usually total crap, or they come bundled with spyware, or the companies behind them might sell the data they’re logging from your usage. (To bring up that driving analogy once more, using a free VPN is like going through a tunnel riddled with holes and hidden cameras.) True privacy on the internet comes at a cost — usually around $2 to $12 a month, depending on the length of the subscription and the number of features included.

On the plus side, many providers offer week- or month-long trial periods so you can take their VPNs for a test drive before committing to a paid plan. Keep an eye out for sales, too, especially around the holidays. For a rundown of our favorite VPNs under $4 a month, click here.

Without any further ado, here are the best VPNs of 2022 based our research and reviews. (Note: All pricing was accurate at the time of publication.)

Instagram has a new setting that allows users to filter content that some users may deem upsetting or offensive.

The feature is an expansion of Instagram’s “Sensitive Content Control,” a product launched last fall that lets users choose how much sensitive content shows up on their Explore page. This new setting extends that control to recommended content in your feed including Reels, searches, suggested accounts, and hashtag pages.

The help center page says Sensitive Content Control “applies to some content that goes against [Instagram’s] Recommendation Guidelines, but does not apply to content that goes against [Instagram’s] Community Guidelines.” In other words, sensitive content doesn’t violate the rules, but it might be considered offensive or triggering to some. That might include:

• Content that may depict violence, such as people fighting. (We remove graphically violent content.)

• Content that may be sexually explicit or suggestive, such as pictures of people in see-through clothing. (We remove content that contains adult nudity or sexual activity.)

• Content that promotes the use of certain regulated products, such as tobacco or vaping products, adult products and services, or pharmaceutical drugs. (We remove content that attempts to sell or trade most regulated goods.)

• Content that may promote or depict cosmetic procedures.

• Content that may be attempting to sell products or services based on health-related claims, such as promoting a supplement to help a person lose weight.

How to access Instagram’s new sensitive content setting

The new setting gives you the option of choosing “More,” “Less,” or “Standard,” which is the default for users. Each option corresponds to how much sensitive content you want to be filtered out. To access this setting follow the steps below.

1. Open Instagram and go to your profile page by tapping your picture at the bottom of the screen. On your profile page, open your account settings by tapping the icon of the three horizontal lines at the top-right

2. Next, tap “Account,” and go to “Sensitive content control“

Find “Sensitive content control” in your account settings.
Credit: Instagram

3. On this page you are given the three options of how much sensitive content you wish you allow. If you are under 18, you might not be able to choose the option of allowing more sensitive content.

A bit of context about the new setting.
Credit: Instagram

Choose how much information you want to be filtered by Instagram.
Credit: Instagram

4. Choose your setting and hit confirm.

If you don’t see this on your account, not to worry. Instagram is rolling it out in stages, so it will eventually be available to all accounts.