Image used with permission by copyright holderWondering where all the eligible bachelors and bachelorettes are? “Eligible” may not be an applicable qualifier across the board, but if you’re looking for men and women to mingle with, you might want to check out Tinder, which has now been downloaded over 100 million times. Apparently, “New Year New You” is loosely translated in the digital age to “New Year New Significant Other,” as January 3 marked the app’s single highest increase in user growth. Tinder, which launched in September 2012, has drawn its fair share of negative attention, but that clearly hasn’t stopped men and women from getting behind the platform en masse.
This huge influx in users comes as great news, says CEO Sean Rad, not only for Tinder, but for people in search of love (or whatever) on the platform as well. “More downloads increases the potential for making matches and creating meaningful connections,” Rad has said in the past, noting that the app will continue to improve its functionality.
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But just because everyone seems to be on Tinder these days doesn’t necessarily mean you should jump on the bandwagon. For one thing, the Telegraph notes, crimes linked to dating apps have actually increased seven-fold in the last two years alone. Last year, more than 400 offenses arising from encounters initiated through dating app usage, including rape, child sex crimes, and attempted murder, were reported to the police, and officials worry that the unreported number is far greater.
Previously, the vast majority of the dangers associated with dating apps were largely relegated to STDs and STIs, but now, there seem to be even further potential consequences. “The rising popularity of online dating apps and websites has contributed to an increase in the number of recorded crimes,” said Andy Cooke, deputy chief constable of Merseyside Police over in England, who is also the national police council’s lead on violence and public protection. “I would urge those who use online dating apps to be as security conscious as possible and not to share personal data with anyone until they are sure about those they are communicating with.”
So if you’re one of the millions new to Tinder, proceed with caution.
There's plenty to love about Apple's AirPods. The glossy white ear speakers are among some of the best Wireless earbuds money can buy, which is why so many people have them. But like all consumer tech items, you may run into a few bugs or glitches with your AirPods from time to time, or perhaps you're selling off your original AirPods Pro to buy the latest model, the AirPods Pro 2 with USB-C.
Best tablet deals: iPad, Samsung Galaxy Tab, Fire, and more
Whether for work, play, or anything in between, a new tablet can make a nice addition to your tech lineup. They’re perfect for kids and professionals, and most brands have something at a price point for everyone. Tablets also make some great tech for some savings, as even the best tablets often see a discount. There are a lot of tablet deals out there, and among them are some of the best Samsung tablet deals, best iPad deals, and best Surface Laptop and Surface Pro deals we’ve seen. Below you’ll find what we feel are the best tablet deals to shop right now, as well as some information on why each might best suit your tablet needs.
Samsung Galaxy Tab A7 Lite (32GB) -- $90, was $160
If you need an Android tablet for simple tasks like browsing the internet and watching streaming shows, the affordable Samsung Galaxy Tab A7 Lite may be enough for you. Its 8.7-inch screen is decent with WXGA+ resolution, while maintaining portability so you can easily hold the tablet in one hand. Its internal storage is limited at 32GB, but you can expand it by up to 1TB using a microSD card. For the clumsy ones, the Samsung Galaxy Tab A7 Lite is perfect for you because it's protected by a sturdy metal frame.
Best cell phone plan deals: T-Mobile, AT&T, Verizon, Mint Mobile and more
One of the best phones deserves one of the best cell phone plans, and whether you’re shopping for yourself or you’re looking to add a line to your plan for a family member, there are more options out there than many people think. With larger carriers like AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile you can often find some great phone deals, but if you’re simply shopping for a cell phone plan, we’ve got all of the information you need to get yourself one of the best cell plan deals. Reading onward you’ll find the best cell phone plan deals to shop right now, and while these are general plans offered by each provider, they do include some of the best cell phone plans out there.
Mint Mobile: Get any 3-month plan for $15 per month
For a limited time, Mint Mobile has dropped the three-month price for all of its plans to just $15 per month. That means, the Unlimited plan, normally $30 per month, or $90 for three months, is no just $15 per month or $45 for three months. The base 5GB of data per month plan is $15 per month, and the 15GB per month plan is $15 per month, or $45 for three months. That is an incredible deal. All Mint Mobile plans include unlimited talk and text, access to 5GB high-speed data, free calling to Mexico and Canada, free mobile hotspot access, and WiFi calling support. You can't beat that!
U.S. Mobile: Pre-pay $23 per line per month
Prepaid wireless plans are a great option for light users, kids, and anyone else who won’t be consuming a lot of data on a daily basis. U.S. Mobile is one of the best prepaid service providers available today, allowing you to build your own custom plan, so you’re only paying for as many minutes, texts, and gigabytes of data as you want to. As just one example, its Unlimited Starter plan is just $15 per line, or $276 for 12 months -- saving you $72 per year. You get unlimited talk, text, and data, 10GB of hotspot data, international calling and texting, and more. If you're adding multiple lines to a plan, you can also unlock free extras like Disney+ and Netflix.
