Tech
UK government could ban VPNs for children
VPNs could be banned for children in the UK if a new law is approved by the government.
On January 21, the UK House of Lords voted to allow an amendment to the government's Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill which would ban VPN usage for children.
Effectively, it would require VPN users to go through age assurance — the way that the UK's Online Safety Act requires such assurance to view material deemed "harmful to children," from pornography to content about eating disorders.
"Within 12 months of the day on which this Act is passed the Secretary of State must, for the purpose of furthering the protection and wellbeing of children, make regulations which prohibit the provision to UK children of a Relevant VPN Service," the amendment states.
In the six months since the Online Safety Act went into effect, VPN use has more than doubled in the UK, as it's a loophole for submitting personal data to view certain content. Now, the UK government seeks to close the loophole and deem VPNs unsuitable for minors, as well.
When Mashable spoke to free speech and internet experts in 2025 about age verification, they warned of "second-order censorship," which comes after primary regulation. In this case, the primary regulation is the Online Safety Act, and people are finding workarounds. Second-order censorship would involve restricting VPNs.
It's a similar story in the United States, where a proposed bill in Michigan seeks to ban both porn and VPNs.
The Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill is still proposed legislation, thus hasn't been passed nor is it going into effect yet. MPs will now consider changes to the Bill as part of a process known as ping-pong: the to and fro of amendments to Bills between the House of Commons and the House of Lords.
The vote came days before Pornhub announced new restrictions coming in the UK: Any adult who hasn't verified their age on the site before Feb. 2 will no longer be able to access it. Representatives from Pornhub's parent company, Aylo, cited VPN use as one reason why the Online Safety Act is failing. Aylo instead advocates for device-level filters as a more comprehensive way to keep minors off porn sites.
Tech
Bad Bunnys halftime show sparked emotional reactions across the Americas. See the heartwarming videos now.
During Bad Bunny's Super Bowl Halftime Show, millions of viewers experienced the performance together — cheering in living rooms, filming on their phones, and reacting in real time. But for those of Latin American descent, hearing their home countries named out loud during Benito's grand finale made the moment especially meaningful.
In his closing act, Bad Bunny transformed the stage into a celebration of the Americas. Dancers carried flags from countries across North, Central, and South America, while a massive screen behind him flashed messages like "The only thing more powerful than hate is love." He capped the roll call of nations with a declaration that "together, we are America," framing the finale as a moment of shared identity and joy.
For those watching at home, the emotion didn't end when the music stopped. Viewers immediately took to social media to document their reactions, sharing clips of their friends and families cheering, hugging, and erupting with pride when their countries were named — turning a televised performance into a collective celebration.
Together, these clips formed a digital mosaic of diaspora, stitched from small, intimate moments across phone screens and time zones. Each video captured the same feeling: that for a few minutes, home — wherever it was — didn't feel so far away.
Tech
Best last-minute deals on Valentines Day flowers so far — you have way more options than plain roses
The Bouqs Co.
1-800-Flowers
Urban Stems
Unless your recipient has explicitly expressed their disdain for receiving flowers (we all know at least one hater), you really can't go wrong with surprising someone with fresh blooms for Valentine's Day. Not when there are so many opportunities to pick out a truly unique bouquet that fits his or her tastes: Most of the best flower delivery services are offering great last-minute Valentine's Day deals on flower deliveries, saving you 25% to 50% on a gift for the upcoming romantic weekend.
1-800-Flowers is your go-to spot for a classic bouquet of roses on a budget, while The Bouqs Co. and Urban Stems have elevated takes on traditional arrangements that aren't like anything you'd walk past in the grocery store. A majority of bouquets on sale can be delivered by Saturday, Feb. 14 (check the earliest possible delivery date for each). Either way, you're bound to find some pretty stems that scream "them" — so while the timing itself is rushed, the flowers they receive don't have to feel like an afterthought.
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SAVE $30: As of Feb. 10, the Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 4 is on sale for just $69.99 at Amazon. That's 30% off its list price of $99.99.
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Mashable's shopping team has spent quite a bit of time with Ultimate Ears Bluetooth speakers and we're big fans. We love the Hyperboom and Epicboom, but the itty bitty Wonderboom is one of our absolute favorites. If you're in the market for a portable Bluetooth speaker, we highly recommend this tiny powerhouse — especially when it's on sale.
As of Feb. 10, the Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 4 is down to just $69.99 at Amazon. That's 30% off its list price of $99.99 and just 10 bucks shy of its best-ever price from Black Friday.
Our favorite sub-$100 Bluetooth speaker, the Wonderboom 4 fits in the palm of your hand but offers surprisingly balanced and powerful sound. As Shopping Reporter Bethany Allard noted in our roundup, "the sound profile is well-rounded and can get loud."
It can last up to 14 hours on a full charge, handles drops from up to five feet like a champ, and can be submerged in water for up to half an hour. We do wish it offered a companion app to customize the sound profile, but for a ultra-portable no-frills speaker, it's an excellent value.
Bad Bunnys halftime show sparked emotional reactions across the Americas. See the heartwarming videos now.
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