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Reddit paywalls to hit this year as paid subreddits confirmed

Paywalled subreddits are coming this year, confirmed by Reddit CEO Steve Huffman.

In a prerecorded video AMA (Ask Me Anything) on Friday answering redditors’ questions about the company’s Q4 2024 earnings, Reddit executives shared some more information about its plans to monetize the social media forum.

Back in August 2024, Huffman hinted that paywalled subreddits were on the way, saying, “we will unlock the door for new use cases, new types of subreddits that can be built that may have exclusive content or private areas, things of that nature.”

When asked about the progress of monetizing subreddits during Friday’s video, Huffman said, “it’s a work in progress right now so that one’s coming. We’re working on it as we speak.” In a separate question about key features for 2025, Huffman confirmed that users can expect to see the introduction of paid subreddits this this year.

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Reddit had remained a pretty consistent platform since its inception in 2005. But its IPO last year triggered some significant changes in an effort to increase shareholder value. The most notorious one was hiking up its API fees, effectively shutting popular third party apps like Apollo. Reddit also made licensing deals with Google and OpenAI in exchange for letting their web crawlers access the site.

There weren’t many details about what a paid subreddit model might look like, but as mentioned in the AMA, the platform is actively looking for other ways to bring in revenue. Huffman also mentioned the introduction of a marketplace for buying products through the platform, though he described it as more of a longterm plan.

COO Jen Wong also chimed in about the importance of licensing deals for AI chatbots like Google Gemini and ChatGPT, in addition to “marketing intelligence and social listening” customers. Reddit also has its own AI chatbot called Reddit Answers which sources information from the Reddit community.

All that’s to say, expect more changes to come from Reddit, and expect them to come with a cost.


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Wordle today: Answer, hints for July 28, 2026

Today’s Wordle answer should be easy to solve if you’re a good listener.

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:

Sound navigation.

Does today’s Wordle answer have a double letter?

There are no recurring letters.

Meet The Mashable 101: Our list of the content creators shaping the internet today

Today’s Wordle is a 5-letter word that starts with…

Today’s Wordle starts with the letter S.

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…

SONAR

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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A Touching Surprise 85th Birthday Party

Surprise 85th birthday party

In early summer, my grandmother sent a text to our family group chat:

“SAVE THE DATE: June 14th. Tía Marta’s 85th birthday party at my house.”

Cut to the day of the party. My husband Max and I walk through my grandma’s front door, holding diaper bags and our children’s hands. We make our rounds, kissing cheeks and hugging all our family members — tías and tíos, our cousins, our parents, and the group of nieces and nephews whom our older children, Ella and Emiliano, quickly scamper off with.

When I settle onto a sofa and see my tía Mimi hastily blowing up balloons I suddenly realize, This isn’t an ordinary birthday party, it’s a surprise party.

Surprise 85th birthday party

My tía Marta married into our family almost four decades ago. She met my great tío Cris, my grandmother’s oldest brother, on a blind date while he was visiting his brother in Chicago. “I hadn’t expected our date to turn into anything,” says Marta. “He went back to California afterward, while I stayed in Chicago, and I thought we’d never speak again.”

To her surprise, Cris stayed in touch by calling her on the phone for a full year after their first date. “Our conversations were often short because he’d call in the evenings, right before my friends and I went out nightclubbing,” says Marta. “When I realized how serious he was about me, I thought, well, I guess that’s fate.”

Surprise 85th birthday party

Tío Cris saying hi to my son, Emiliano, at Cris’s 100th birthday celebration last year

Last year was especially challenging for Marta because a few months after his 100th birthday, Cris’s health declined. From spring to September, Marta did the hard work of caregiving for a sick spouse. She stayed by his side until he took his last breath.

After his death, my grandmother and tía Esther regularly checked in on Marta, inviting her to all big and small family gatherings, visiting her home multiple times a month, and helping her navigate this new stage of life. As her 85th birthday drew near, they wanted to plan a party that would make her feel extra special.

Surprise 85th birthday party

First, they filled my grandmother’s home with colorful paper fans and balloon arches. They ordered burnt almond cupcakes and a German chocolate cake from Peters’ Bakery, a staple in San Jose.

Surprise 85th birthday party

My oldest daughter, Ella

That day, as we waited for Marta’s arrival, we snacked on homemade ceviche and planned our hiding spots.

Surprise 85th birthday party

My baby, Evelynn

Once my tía Esther spotted Marta outside, right around the corner, everyone rushed to their positions with party blowers in hand. We held a collective breath as the front doorknob turned, and as soon as Marta walked in, we popped out with a hearty “SURPRISE!”

The emotion on her face, after she realized that everyone was there to celebrate her, is unbridled joy. I smile every time I watch this video! Also, how fun is the balloon drop?!

Surprise 85th birthday party

My grandma and tía Esther, over the moon that they pulled off the surprise

A few days after her party, I called Marta on the phone, curious to hear her thoughts. “I’m not one to celebrate my birthday, because it’s easier for me to give than to receive,” she told me. “But, oh, it was a very nice surprise. I hope everyone is fortunate enough to have people like my sisters-in-law in their life. I used to joke to Cris, if our marriage doesn’t work out and we split up, Esther and Loida are mine.”

Surprise 85th birthday party

Marta and her baby sister, Gloria, who had flown in from Texas

Surprise 85th birthday party

Marta with her great-nieces and nephews

Thinking back on that day, I so admire the female friendship and devotion that led to this party. I hope, dream, wish, and pray that I’ll have women in my life who will celebrate and love me that much when I’m in my eighties. It was such a gift to witness.

Have you ever planned a surprise party, or had one thrown for you? I’d love to hear about it!

P.S. 12 readers share their favorite birthday celebrations, and are you friends with any older women?

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Im watching the Hungarian GP for free this weekend — how to live stream F1 for free

TL;DR: Sign up for a 7-day free trial of Apple TV+ through Prime Video Channels to watch select F1 races for free. Watch the Hungarian GP for free with the Prime Video app.


Watch the Hungarian GP for free with a 7-day trial

Another weekend, another battle between the best drivers in the world. Seriously, what would we all do without a little bit of F1 to see us through to Monday?

This season of F1 continues to throw up interesting storylines. Mercedes is flying at the top of the standings, but there are clearly some issues between George Russell and his team. Meanwhile, Kimi Antonelli raced away from the competition to win again at the Belgian GP. He extended his lead over Lewis Hamilton, but Ferrari continues to cut the gap. Will we see another epic battle this weekend in Hungary?

If you want to watch F1 2026 for free from anywhere in the world, we’ve got all the information you need.

When is the Hungarian GP?

The Hungarian GP is the 11th race of the 2026 F1 season. Here’s the full schedule from the Hungaroring:

  • Practice 1 — 7:30-8:30 a.m. ET on July 24

  • Practice 1 — 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. ET on July 24

  • Practice 1 — 6:30-7:30 a.m. ET on July 25

  • Qualifying — 10-11 a.m. ET on July 25

  • Race — 9 a.m. ET on July 26

Fans can follow all the action from this race weekend without spending anything.

How to watch the Hungarian GP for free

Most subscribers hang onto Amazon Prime for the fast shipping, Prime Day discounts, and Prime Video library. But for F1 fans in the U.S., Prime Video is a secret weapon. Because Apple TV holds exclusive U.S. broadcasting rights for F1, you can sign up for a seven-day free trial of Apple TV directly through Prime Video Channels.

That trial gives you full access to stream select races — including this weekend’s Hungarian Grand Prix — for free. While the subscription rolls over to $12.99 per month after seven days, you can cancel auto-renewal in your settings right away and still stream the entire race weekend for free.

Of course, if you’re already paying for Amazon Prime, calling it “completely free” is open to interpretation. But if you don’t have an active membership, Amazon offers a 30-day free trial for new users. Stacking that Prime trial with the seven-day Apple TV channel trial means you are genuinely spending nothing to stream the race.

If you’ve already burned through that specific loophole earlier in the season, you still have a few solid workarounds:

  • Apple TV: New standalone subscribers qualify for a direct seven-day free trial through Apple’s app.

  • Apple One: If you want more than just streaming, the Apple One tier packages Apple TV alongside Apple Music, Apple Arcade, Apple Fitness+, Apple News+, and 50GB of iCloud storage — and it comes with a full one-month free trial ($19.95 per month after the promotional period).

  • Apple: The most generous Apple TV offer is tied to new hardware purchases. Buying an eligible iPhone, iPad, Mac, or Apple TV grants new subscribers three months of free service. You obviously have to spend money on hardware, but if you were already planning an upgrade, it effectively unlocks a massive chunk of the F1 season for free.

How to live stream 2026 F1 for free in 2026


Best Apple TV Deal


Apple TV

7-day free trial

Apple TV logo


Prime Video logo


Best Apple One Deal


Apple One

30-day free trial

Apple One logo

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