Tech

Taylor Swift becomes the internet troll she loathes

Published

6 months ago

October 7, 2025

Vicky

Taylor Swift's new album, The Life of a Showgirl, has a massive problem — a staggering lack of self-awareness.

Of course, that critique of Swift isn't novel. For years, Swift's critics have argued that she sees herself as a perpetual victim — of manipulative lovers, traitorous friends, cutthroat enemies, and unscrupulous music executives. They've also observed that Swift appears to sometimes cruelly and publicly punish those who betray or slight her, particularly through her songwriting.

This portrayal could be convincing at times. After all, some of Swift's biggest hits, like "Bad Blood," "Mean," and "Karma," are about score settling. Yet Swift also managed to balance her lust for vengeance with honest vulnerability or genuine growth in songs like "Anti-Hero" and "The Manuscript."

Not this time around. Showgirl features one song ("Eldest Daughter") that earnestly rejects toxic internet culture, but also two other tracks ("Actually Romantic" and "CANCELLED!”) that channel the worst parts of that culture, including mocking, humiliation, and a hot take that utterly misreads the gravity of the political moment.

The songs offer Swift's critics fresh evidence that their assessment of the billionaire pop star is accurate, at least sometimes. Sadly for Swift, who seems genuinely kind when she's not beholden to grievance, the stark contrast between these songs demonstrates that she can easily become the very internet troll she decries.

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How did we get here, Taylor?

There's an endearing scene in Swift's new album release film, The Official Release Party of a Showgirl, wherein she explains the premise of the piano ballad "Eldest Daughter." The song, she says, is about how the internet is a space that rewards cheap shots and callousness, a state of mind that can warp our lives and relationships.

She writes: "Everybody's so punk on the internet / Everyone's unbothered 'til they're not / Every joke's just trolling and memes / Sad as it seems, apathy is hot / Everybody's cutthroat in the comments / Every single hot take is cold as ice"

Swift wants to make a promise, presumably to her fiancé, Travis Kelce, that she'll never treat him so carelessly. Cue the mostly tender chorus: "But I'm not a bad bitch / And this isn't savage / But I'm never gonna let you down / I'm never gonna leave you out / So many traitors / Smooth operators / But I'm never gonna break that vow / I'm nеver gonna leave you now, now, now"

Swift may regret the awful, racially coded word choice of "bad bitch" and "savage," but the song's sincerity against the backdrop of cultural viciousness she describes in "Eldest Daughter" is welcome.

Still, Swift's commitment is clearly just to Kelce, because "Actually Romantic" couldn't be an uglier song if it tried. It's designed to shame and mortify its target, reportedly the Grammy-winning singer and producer Charli XCX. Her sin? Apparently, writing a song, rumored to be about Swift, about a girl who "taps my insecurities."

The track "Sympathy is a Knife" appears on Charli XCX's smash 2024 album Brat, which curiously also includes a song entitled "Everything is Romantic."

Charli XCX doesn't dedicate "Sympathy is a Knife" to ruthless insults, even if she dislikes the girl in question, and roots for her breakup (ostensibly referring to the demise of Swift's relationship with the 1975's frontman Matty Healy). Instead, she's grappling with a "spiral" of emotions unleashed by being near this person.

Charli XCX sings, alarmingly, about graphically killing herself, adding: "Volatilе at war with my dialogue / I'd say that there was a God if thеy could stop this / Wild voice tearin' me apart / I'm so apprehensive now"

As a journalist who's written about the intersection of suicide and digital culture for more than a decade, I can think of few things more quintessentially representative of the toxic internet than someone telling another person who feels suicidal or worthless that they, in fact, are insignificant.

"Actually Romantic" may not explicitly reference Charli XCX's despair, but it proceeds to methodically humiliate its subject:

"Hadn't thought of you in a long time / But you keep sending me funny valentines / And I know you think it comes off vicious / But it's precious, adorable / Like a toy chihuahua barking at me from a tiny purse / That's how much it hurts / How many times has your boyfriend said / 'Why are we always talking 'bout her?'"

Swift said in an interview with Amazon Music that the song is about realizing someone is engaging in a one-sided adversarial relationship with you and that the negative attention can be a form of flattery. But in the song, she suggests a sexual motive too ("feels like you're flirting with me"), and declares: "No man has ever loved me like you do."

Perhaps unintentionally, Swift revives a homophobic trope sometimes popular amongst middle and high school students that if one girl doesn't like another, it's because her aversion is a disguised crush.

But even if "Actually Romantic" isn't about Charli XCX, Swift spends two-and-a-half minutes dispensing spiteful cheap shots — a more lyrical version of the kind you'd find between two people at war with each other online.

One explanation for Swift's behavior might be the first line of "Actually Romantic," in which she reveals that the song's subject privately called her "Boring Barbie." The other half of the riddle is buried in "Eldest Daughter" when Swift sings: "I have been afflicted by a terminal uniqueness / I've been dying just from trying to seem cool"

If you've spent your personal and professional life aspiring for both popular and critical acceptance, the insult "Boring Barbie" could feel maximally painful. It may not be in Swift's nature to walk away from the makings of a feud, but what if she had? Or what if, instead of trying to belittle, she wrote a song in the vein of "Eldest Daughter," exercising empathy or compassion toward someone who's clearly suffering? "Eldest Daughter" might have you believe that's the kind of world Swift wants to live in.

The weaponization of CANCEL! culture

Unfortunately, Showgirl offers competing visions of this world.

In the song, "CANCELLED!" Swift tries to turn a hot take about being at the center of scandal, real or not, into an anthem for people who experience public wrath.

Social media has guessed who Swift may have in mind for this track. Maybe it's the actress Blake Lively, who's currently embroiled in a lawsuit over sexual harassment against the actor and director Justin Baldoni. Perhaps it's for Brittany Mahomes, wife of Kelce's NFL Chiefs teammate Patrick Mahomes, because she took considerable criticism for publicly supporting President Donald Trump in 2022.

Regardless, "CANCELLED!" looks at the controversial concept of cancel culture and seems to buy into the narrative that any effort to hold a public figure accountable for their words and actions is tantamount to shunning them from society. “CANCELLED!" can’t be bothered by the reality that maybe some people are called out or questioned for good reason. Instead, the song treats cancellation like a badge of honor, and a path to personal empowerment and dark fellowship.

Swift sings: "Now they've broken you like they've broken me / But a shattered glass is a lot more sharp / And now you know exactly who your friends are (You know who we are) / We're the ones with matching scars"

Swift said she views this song as a story about navigating terrible periods of undeserved scrutiny and coming out stronger, but her take on so-called cancellation could not be hotter. It misreads a grave moment in political and pop culture, as the Trump administration routinely threatens and tries to silence speech it hates.

If fans are waiting for Swift to recognize how the weaponization of cancel culture has played into this dynamic, and then align herself with fundamental human and democratic rights, as she's pointedly done in the past, it seems they'll be waiting for a long time.

Swift is right that the internet is often lousy. But on Showgirl, Swift's rejection of that culture seems useful only when it serves her interests and vendettas.

This article reflects the opinion of the writer.

Tech

How to watch the 2026 Masters Tournament online for free

Published

12 minutes ago

April 13, 2026

Vicky

A detailed view of the pin flag on the 16th hole green

TL;DR: Live stream the 2026 Masters Tournament for free on Masters.com. Access this free live stream from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The wait for the first major golf championship of the year is over.

The Masters is here to deliver top-quality action from the Augusta National Golf Club. Expect the likes of Scottie Scheffler, Jon Rahm, Bryson DeChambeau, and Rory McIlroy to be battling it out for the green jacket at the end of the weekend. It's always a special occasion with a number of incredible storylines to follow.

If you want to watch the 2026 Masters Tournament for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

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What is the Masters?

The Masters is one of the four men's major championships in professional golf. The tournament takes place in the first full week in April, making the Masters the first major golf tournament of the year.

The Masters is always held at the Augusta National Golf Club, a private course in the city of Augusta, Georgia.

When is the 2026 Masters Tournament?

The 2026 Masters Tournament will take place from April 9-12. Practice rounds began on April 6.

How to watch the 2026 Masters Tournament for free

The 2026 Masters Tournament is available to live stream for free on Masters.com.

This free live stream is geo-restricted to the U.S., but anyone can access for free with a VPN. These handy tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in the U.S., meaning you can unblock this free live stream from anywhere in the world.

Access free Masters live streams by following these simple steps:

Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)
Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)
Open up the app and connect to a server in the U.S.
Visit Masters.com
Live stream the 2026 Masters Tournament for free from anywhere in the world

Credit: ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan)

$12.99 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee)

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but leading VPNs do tend to offer free-trial periods or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can gain access to free live streams without committing with your cash. This is obviously not a long-term solution, but it does give you time to watch the 2026 Masters before recovering your investment.

If you want to retain permanent access to the best free streaming platforms from around the world, you'll need a subscription. Fortunately, the best VPN for live sport is on sale for a limited time.

What is the best VPN for live sport?

ExpressVPN is the best service for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport, for a number of reasons:

Servers in 105 countries including the U.S.
Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more
Strict no-logging policy so your data is always secure
Fast connection speeds
Up to 10 simultaneous connections
30-day money-back guarantee

A two-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $68.40 and includes an extra four months for free — 81% off for a limited time. This plan includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.99 (with money-back guarantee).

Watch the 2026 Masters Tournament for free with ExpressVPN.

Tech

How to watch Boston Bruins vs. Tampa Bay Lightning online for free

Published

21 minutes ago

April 13, 2026

Vicky

David Pastrnak #88 of the Boston Bruins

TL;DR: Live stream Boston Bruins vs. Tampa Bay Lightning in the NHL for free on ITVX. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

A number of interesting NHL fixtures are taking place this weekend, including Boston Bruins vs. Tampa Bay Lightning. Both sides are well positioned in the Atlantic Division, but both need a win to end a concerning run of losses. We're expecting a evenly-matched contest at TD Garden.

If you want to watch Boston Bruins vs. Tampa Bay Lightning in the NHL from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

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When is Boston Bruins vs. Tampa Bay Lightning?

Boston Bruins vs. Tampa Bay Lightning in the NHL starts at 12:30 p.m. ET on April 11. This fixture takes place at TD Garden.

How to watch Boston Bruins vs. Tampa Bay Lightning for free

Boston Bruins vs. Tampa Bay Lightning in the NHL is available to live stream for free on ITVX.

ITVX is geo-restricted to the UK, but anyone can access this free streaming platform with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in the UK, meaning you can unblock ITVX to live stream the NHL for free from anywhere in the world.

Live stream Boston Bruins vs. Tampa Bay Lightning in the NHL for free by following these simple steps:

Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)
Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)
Open up the app and connect to a server in the UK
Visit ITVX
Watch Boston Bruins vs. Tampa Bay Lightning for free from anywhere in the world

Credit: ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan)

$12.99 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee)

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but most do offer free-trials or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can access free live streams of the NHL without actually spending anything. This obviously isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to stream Boston Bruins vs. Tampa Bay Lightning in the NHL (plus more NHL fixtures) before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for ITVX?

ExpressVPN is the best choice for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport on ITVX, for a number of reasons:

Servers in 105 countries including the UK
Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more
Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure
Fast connection speeds free from throttling
Up to 10 simultaneous connections
30-day money-back guarantee

A two-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $78.18 and includes an extra four months for free — 78% off for a limited time. This plan includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.99 (with money-back guarantee).

Watch Boston Bruins vs. Tampa Bay Lightning in the NHL for free with ExpressVPN.

Tech

T-Mobile is giving away the Apple iPhone 17 for free — how to claim

Published

23 minutes ago

April 13, 2026

Vicky

Apple iphone on composite background

TL;DR: Score a free iPhone 17e when signing up for a T-Mobile plan with no trade-in required. Alternatively, you can get the iPhone 17 for free from T-Mobile when signing up for an Experience More plan and trading in an eligible device.

Credit: Apple

T-Mobile: Apple iPhone 17 for free

In the mobile world, the word "free" is usually followed by a list of caveats that make you wish you never started looking for a deal. You usually need to sign up for the most expensive plan or trade-in a premium phone to get your hands on what you really want. But that's not the case with the latest T-Mobile offer.

T-Mobile is offering a rare deal on the newly-released Apple iPhone 17e. For a limited time, you can pick up this A19-powered device for free by simply opening a new line.

You’ll need to activate a new line on T-Mobile’s Experience Beyond or Experience More plans to get the iPhone 17e. The phone’s full retail price is covered via 24 monthly bill credits, and since you aren't trading in your old phone, you can keep it as a backup, give it to a kid, or sell it on a third-party site to actually make money on this deal. We did say this was a rare opportunity to save.

Mashable's Stan Shroeder got his hands on the iPhone 17e and said "The combination of having Apple's latest chip and a decent amount of storage means this phone will be relevant for at least four to five years." That's an impressive lifespan for a budget-friendly phone, particularly when it's free.

If you need something a little more powerful, you can also pick up the iPhone 17 for free from T-Mobile when signing on for 24 months of an Experience More plan and trading in an eligible phone. That gets you unthrottled 5G data, 4K streaming, and enough international roaming for even the most adventurous of travellers.

It's important to note that T-Mobile will charge taxes on these free deals and a $35 device connection fee. Is this really "free" when you need to sign up to something or pay an upfront fee? It's a gray area, OK? We're doing our best.

Score an iPhone 17 for free this weekend with T-Mobile.