Entertainment
How to turn your social profiles into hubs for charity
There’s no denying the power of a skyrocketing social media post — millions of likes, views, or shares later, and people have suddenly built a fanbase, or raised tens of thousands of dollars, or finally reconnected with a long-lost friend. Social media, with all its ills, can still be a startlingly impactful tool.
The majority of us may never have a viral post change a life, but social media apps allow users to make small differences for causes that matter. From Facebook’s full fundraising platform to Instagram’s donation stickers, your social profiles can see frequent use as mini-donation centers for nonprofits and charities. And, in a small way, maybe that can help soothe the complicated relationship we have with social media as a whole. Here’s how it all works within each app.
In 2020, the app removed a personal fundraising tool that allowed users to receive funds directly for personal causes or small businesses (basically an in-house version of a GoFundMe), but users still have a ton of options to raise money for outside organizations. To support a verified nonprofit or charity, account holders can host fundraisers on posts, in their Instagram bios, using Instagram’s donation sticker, or hosting an Instagram Live for charity.
As of October 31, 2023, all fundraisers for Australian, Canadian, UK, and U.S. nonprofits across Meta platforms are processed through the PayPal Giving Fund. This means that they are also guided by PayPal’s rules for refunds or other issues, so make note.
Fundraising using Instagram posts and bios
Instagram users can use posts and profile bios to create 30-day fundraisers for organizations of their choice. Just make a post as you normally would, by selecting the “plus icon” on either the Instagram home page or your profile page. Under the New Post settings — right below the options to add a location and an AI label to your post — select “Add Fundraiser” and choose your organization.
Credit: Meta / Instagram
Credit: Meta / Instagram
The post will link to a donation site, and a fundraising notice will be added to your profile’s bio. The link will stay live for 30 days; 100 percent of donations go directly to the organization.
Fundraising using donation stickers
First, create a story on your personal profile by tapping the “plus” icon. Take or upload a picture — something relevant to your cause would probably be helpful. Before uploading, add a sticker by clicking the square smiley face icon in the top right corner of the post draft page.
From there, simply click the sticker labeled “Donation” and scroll through or search for nonprofits and charities accepting donations on Instagram. Select the one of your choice. Click on the new sticker to change the name of your fundraising campaign, adjust your goal, or even invite collaborators.
Credit: Meta / Instagram
Credit: Meta / Instagram
Fundraising using Instagram Live
To start a fundraiser on an Instagram Live, hit that same “plus” button on your Instagram profile and select the “Live” option. Before starting your Instagram Live feed, select the “Fundraiser” icon on the left side of the screen (you might only see a small heart inside of a coin icon), and then choose your fundraiser.
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Credit: Meta / Instagram
Credit: Meta / Instagram
Start your Live broadcast, chat with your followers, and raise money at the same time. During your Live, you can keep track of how many donations you’ve received by tapping the “View” button on the bottom of the screen and acknowledge donors by sending them “Waves” after they contribute.
TikTok
Any TikTok user 18 years or older can add a fundraising campaign to their profile bio or their posts themselves, which links followers to an in-app donation portal that keeps track of the campaign’s progress.
When making a TikTok post, users can easily add a donation option under “stickers.” First, record or upload your video. Once finished, select the pink checkmark in the bottom right corner. On the next screen, select the square sticker icon below the add text tool. Click “donation” and add in your fundraising details.
To add a fundraising link to your profile: Go to your profile page, tap “Edit Profile,” and scroll down to the “Nonprofit” section. Click to select your nonprofit and save your changes. A pink link will show up under your bio, alerting your followers that you’re supporting an organization.
Credit: Mashable / TikTok
Credit: Mashable / TikTok
Users can also add their campaigns to TikTok LIVE broadcasts. Start a LIVE video by clicking on the “Create” (or plus) button at the bottom of your screen. Users can add a nonprofit before or after starting their LIVE.
To add a fundraiser before starting your LIVE, navigate to “Select Non-Profit” on the top left corner of your screen (TikTok calls this your “anchor link”). Choose the nonprofit you’d like to support, and a donation sticker should appear on the left side of the screen. Then simply hit “Go live” to start fundraising. To add a fundraiser during a broadcast, click the three dots arrow in the bottom right corner for more options. Then select “Support Non-Profit” to add a donation sticker of your choosing to your LIVE, which will allow viewers to donate while watching.
Unfortunately for those of us who use the app mainly to surf others’ content, TikTok’s LIVE fundraising tools are only available to users with more than 1,000 followers (and are at least 18 years old). Additionally, users must be 18 years or older to use TikTok LIVE gifts and send or receive gifts, and the feature isn’t available everywhere. For more information on how to use TikTok LIVE, visit TikTok’s support center.
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Facebook’s integrated charity platform, Facebook Fundraisers, allows users to raise money for nonprofits through their own profiles.
To start a fundraiser, log into your account and go to the account menu. (For app users, select the bottom right icon with your profile photo and three lines, or use the menu on the left side of your screen for desktop.) Scroll down to “Fundraisers” — you may have to select “See All” or “See More” to find it. The Facebook Fundraisers hub also can be accessed directly via facebook.com/fundraisers, or by searching “Fundraisers” in the mobile app or desktop site search bar.
Credit: Meta / Facebook
Credit: Meta / Facebook
At the top of the Facebook Fundraisers page, select either the “+ Raise Money” menu option or “Select Nonprofit” button to being a fundraiser. Choose the organization you’d like to support, and you will be taken to a fundraising page where you can edit the campaign name, description, monetary goal, and even currency. Once your details are entered, create the campaign and revisit the Facebook Fundraisers page at any time to check your progress, post updates, and manage the fundraiser. The campaign will also be displayed at the top of your Facebook profile.
Credit: Meta / Facebook
Take note: Facebook’s fundraising tools vary by country.
UPDATE: Dec. 3, 2024, 2:43 p.m. EST This article was originally published in July 2023. It has been updated and recirculated.
Entertainment
Best Mothers Day gifts: Show mom some love
Mother figures are the backbone of the world. Yours may be your biological mother, or maybe she’s your mother-in-law, your best friend’s mom, or simply someone whose motherly instinct has helped you through hard times.
Moms teach you the adulting necessities, give advice even if the problem is your fault, and above all, they put up with your shit and (almost) never complain.
The game plan here isn’t just to snag the last bouquet at CVS just so you’re not the kid who forgot Mother’s Day (but definitely also get flowers). And you don’t even need to spend a lot of money. (Peep our list of Mother’s Day gifts that cost less than $50. Want even more cheap gift ideas?
Skip the generic mugs and show your appreciation with a gift picked just for her: Whether it’s something to make a part of her life easier, something she’s mentioned wanting in passing, or simply something to make her feel like a damn queen, you can’t put a price on everything she’s done for you, but heartfelt gifts certainly help.
After all, they say “No matter how hard you try, you always end up like your mother.” But is that even a bad thing?
Entertainment
Ban subscriptions and get Microsoft Office 2024 for life for just £121
TL;DR: Grab Microsoft Office 2024 Home and Business for PC or Mac for just £120.54 through June 1.
You wouldn’t keep paying for Netflix if you could own your favorite shows, right? So why are you still subscribing to Office apps you use every day? Microsoft 365’s price keeps going up, but there’s finally a way to break free — and it’ll cost you way less in the long run.
Microsoft Office 2024 is the answer you’ve been looking for. Instead of monthly payments, simply pay £120.54 once and be set for life (reg. £188.37). It’s that simple. And, yes, this lifetime download works for PC or Mac.
What’s included?
This license comes with:
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Word
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Excel
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PowerPoint
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Outlook
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OneNote
The newest version of Microsoft Office is a little different from Microsoft 365. But just because you’re switching to a lifetime license doesn’t mean you’ll miss out on some of the most recent updates. Word and Excel both still have AI integrations for text suggestions and smart data analysis, and PowerPoint still has improved tools for recorded presentations.
Once you’ve redeemed your purchase, you can install your apps on one computer. After that, they’re yours to use however you want. No more subscription fees or sudden price hikes to worry about.
Why rent when you can own?
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Get a Microsoft Office lifetime license on sale for £120.54 with no coupon needed.
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Entertainment
Wordle today: Answer, hints for May 9, 2025
Oh hey there! If you’re here, it must be time for Wordle. As always, we’re serving up our daily hints and tips to help you figure out today’s answer.
If you just want to be told today’s word, you can jump to the bottom of this article for today’s Wordle solution revealed. But if you’d rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.
Where did Wordle come from?
Originally created by engineer Josh Wardle as a gift for his partner, Wordle rapidly spread to become an international phenomenon, with thousands of people around the globe playing every day. Alternate Wordle versions created by fans also sprang up, including battle royale Squabble, music identification game Heardle, and variations like Dordle and Quordle that make you guess multiple words at once.
Wordle eventually became so popular that it was purchased by the New York Times, and TikTok creators even livestream themselves playing.
What’s the best Wordle starting word?
The best Wordle starting word is the one that speaks to you. But if you prefer to be strategic in your approach, we have a few ideas to help you pick a word that might help you find the solution faster. One tip is to select a word that includes at least two different vowels, plus some common consonants like S, T, R, or N.
What happened to the Wordle archive?
The entire archive of past Wordle puzzles was originally available for anyone to enjoy whenever they felt like it, but it was later taken down, with the website’s creator stating it was done at the request of the New York Times. However, the New York Times then rolled out its own Wordle Archive, available only to NYT Games subscribers.
Is Wordle getting harder?
It might feel like Wordle is getting harder, but it actually isn’t any more difficult than when it first began. You can turn on Wordle‘s Hard Mode if you’re after more of a challenge, though.
Here’s a subtle hint for today’s Wordle answer:
Gibberish.
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Does today’s Wordle answer have a double letter?
There are no recurring letters.
Today’s Wordle is a 5-letter word that starts with…
Today’s Wordle starts with the letter T.
The Wordle answer today is…
Get your last guesses in now, because it’s your final chance to solve today’s Wordle before we reveal the solution.
Drumroll please!
The solution to today’s Wordle is…
TRIPE.
Don’t feel down if you didn’t manage to guess it this time. There will be a new Wordle for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we’ll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints.
Are you also playing NYT Strands? See hints and answers for today’s Strands.
Reporting by Chance Townsend, Caitlin Welsh, Sam Haysom, Amanda Yeo, Shannon Connellan, Cecily Mauran, Mike Pearl, and Adam Rosenberg contributed to this article.
If you’re looking for more puzzles, Mashable’s got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.
Not the day you’re after? Here’s the solution to yesterday’s Wordle.
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Best Mothers Day gifts: Show mom some love
