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Block porn on X

Porn is allowed on X, but you can block it

The social network X (I still think of it as Twitter) has always had its seedier corners, but now Elon Musk has officially said porn is OK on the platform. And to keep your, uh, activity private, they’re now hiding likes, too. Coincidence? Yeah, I don’t think so.

Running into X-rated images is not going to be OK with millions of X users. If your kid is on X, you should walk them through these steps. If you don’t want to see … well, whatever people start posting, pop into your settings, too. It’s easiest to do on your computer.

To turn off the NSFW stuff on the web:

Click More > Settings and privacy.
Choose Privacy and safety > Content you see.
Uncheck the Display media that may contain sensitive content box.
Click Search settings and check Hide sensitive content.

You can get specific, too

On the Privacy and safety menu, there’s also a Mute and block option. Use this to hide certain words, hashtags and accounts you don’t want popping up on your timeline (or your kids’ timelines).

Choose Muted words.
Click the + (plus) button (top right) > Enter the word to block — like #nsfw.
Make sure From anyone and Until you unmute the word are selected.
Click Save.

Pro tip: NSFW means “not safe for work.” Yeah, use your imagination and you’ll know what kind of pics that means.

A word of warning

If you’re setting up these filters for your children rather than yourself, they can turn them right back off again. Don’t sneak in and do it — have a frank chat about why these settings should be adjusted. A good conversation can do wonders.

If all else fails, though, there are stricter options.

On Apple phones and laptops, use the Screen Time feature to put limits on content and apps. Go to Settings > Screen Time on an iPhone or System Settings > Screen Time on a Mac.
On Android, install Google Family Link, and on Windows try Microsoft Family Safety.

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The most popular Amazon Subscribe & Save products

Do you use Amazon’s Subscribe & Save feature? They lure you with an excellent discount to set it up, and you can choose how often you get something auto-delivered (two weeks to every six months). It’s handy for things you buy again and again.

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Unique bag bling

I always pop an AirTag in my checked bag, just in case it doesn’t turn up on the baggage carousel. But I also need a different kind of bag finder for when it does turn up so it’s not lost in a sea of black suitcases.

Luggage tag: This silicone bag tag with an initial ($7.99) has 26 letter choices and three color options. Green “K” for me, thanks.
Bag belt: A multifunctional bag belt ($9.99) keeps your stuff from spilling onto the tarmac and makes it easy to spot.
Strap cover: Another two-for-one luggage identifier, these neoprene bag handle wraps ($9.99) are cushy for carrying and bright for spotting. So smart.

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Cleanup time: Look around. Do you see USB or other charging cables starting to fray? Toss them. You’re just asking for trouble — specifically, a fire. The Apple Lightning cable and Amazon Basics USB-C cable are both solid options.

We may receive a commission when you buy through our links, but our reporting and recommendations are always independent and objective.

You have to be smarter than this: Over 10% of people still use 1234 as their four-digit PIN. Other most-used options include 1111, 0000, 1212 and 7777. If this is you, time for something more complex — and no, your birth year or address won’t cut it. On iPhone, upgrade to six digits. On Android, stick with your fingerprint if your phone has biometrics.

The best browser setting you’ve never checked

Every day is full of choices. I’m not sure we need 30 flavors of chips lining grocery store aisles, but it’s nice to have options when it comes to tech. The trick is knowing what you can customize.

Take your browser and all those tabs. Whether you hate clutter and want to start fresh each time, or you like everything exactly where you left it and want all your tabs to reopen when you turn on your computer … both are possible.

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Side gig: How to get paid for online jury duty

We could all use extra cash occasionally to pay for stuff like family vacations or a gas tank. Fortunately, there are plenty of side gigs, from Uber to Instacart to taking surveys online. Tap or click here for 15 new ways to make extra cash.

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Easier in-flight viewing

Your next flight might be BYOS — Bring Your Own Screen — which is fine until your arm starts falling asleep from holding up your phone for so long. I’ve got three options for hands-free watching. Psst, these are also nice for watching videos at home.

Secure: This sturdy plastic mount ($13.37) has an adjustable clip and 360-degree rotation for optimal viewing.
Flexible: The Flight Flap (41% off, $9.34) folds flat, then bends to create a little stand for your phone. Set it up on the open tray table or clip it to the top when it’s closed.
Versatile: This simple clip ($12.98) works with devices of all sizes — including tablets.

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🫰 Isn’t that snappy?! On Windows 11, you have all kinds of options for snapping multiple windows into place. Hold your mouse over the Maximize icon in a program (it’s the square next to the “X”), then choose your favorite. I like one large window and a couple of small ones.

For Chrome on a PC, drag the icon from your Start menu to the desktop to create a shortcut. Then right-click and select Show more options > Properties. There, you’ll see the URL string under “Target.” Add -incognito to the end.
On Safari for Mac, click Settings > General > Safari opens with a private window.
For Android phones, tap and hold the browser’s icon, then select Open in Private tab.
On iPhone, press and hold your browser’s icon and choose New Private Tab (for Safari) or Incognito Search (for Chrome).

Going gray: You want to spend less time scrolling but can’t stay away. Here’s a trick: Put your phone in grayscale mode. On iPhone, head to Settings > Accessibility > Display & Text Size > Color Filters, and toggle on Color Filter > Grayscale. On Android, it’s under Settings > Accessibility > Visibility enhancements > Color adjustment options > Grayscale.

You have my Word: Now, any text you copy and paste in Microsoft Word will automatically match the font, size and color of your existing document. Nice! Prefer the old way? Go to File > Options > Advanced > Cut, copy, and paste > Pasting from other programs, and choose Keep Source Formatting.

My picks to bring your records into the digital age

Got vinyl? You need a USB-based turntable that connects to your PC or Mac’s USB port. Just hit “record” and bring those records into 2024, ready for your phone, smart speaker and more!

Low: This retro-looking beauty has built-in stereo speakers, RCA outputs for connecting additional speakers, a Bluetooth input to turn it into a Bluetooth speaker, and USB outputs so you can record your LPs as MP3s. Best of all, it’s 39% off (only $42.99!).
Mid: This one has a slightly more modern look — white marble! — and the sound quality on the built-in speakers is a step up from the bargain pick. It also has Bluetooth input so you can play music on it from your phone, along with USB input and output options. It’s $129.98 (don’t forget to click the 15% coupon!).
High: Audio-Technica is one of the biggest names in sound, which means a big price point but also big sound quality. This player ($279) doesn’t have a built-in speaker (audiophiles would never do a two-in-one!), but it does have RCA and Bluetooth outputs for connecting it to your own speakers or sound system and a USB output for ripping your LPs.

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Programs love to sneak their way into your Mac’s dock (usually found at the bottom of your screen). You have two ways to kick them out: Click and drag up on the program icon, then let go, or use two fingers to click > Options > Remove from dock.

Iconic: It’s easy to adjust the icon size on your computer. On Windows, right-click on your desktop, select View, and choose from Large icons, Medium icons or Small icons. On a Mac, click on your desktop to ensure you’re in the Finder. From the menu bar, go to View and choose Show View Options. A window will pop up where you can adjust the icon size using a slider.

Leave me alone: You’re trying to get something done on your PC and the notifications won’t stop. Click on the Start menu > Settings > System > Focus assist. You’ll see options for customizing the notifications you receive — including one to make them all silent.

Missing a Windows-style Start menu on your Mac? The free XMenu app gives you options to add a menu with applications, documents, folders and more, whether you’re nostalgic for the classic Apple menu or the functions of your former Windows machine.

Cool little bags

One of my favorite little pleasures is returning to the car after a long hike, popping open my cooler and grabbing an ice-cold drink — ah-h-h. Recreate that bliss at the beach, on a boat or even at your desk with these little coolers — all chosen for their awesomeness by the folks at Consumer Reports.

Best status-cooler alternative: YETI, Stanley and Hydro Flask coolers make all the best-of lists — and their coolers can cost over $200. The nine-can Titan ($32.99) has features that rival the status coolers (deep-freeze insulation, padded and adjustable shoulder strap, a no-zip flip top) without the name-brand markup.
Best backpack cooler: If you can’t (or don’t want to) wait to get back to your car before popping open a cold one, swap out your regular daypack with this backpack cooler ($29.99). Its waterproof interior can hold up to 28 cans and keep ‘em cold for 16 hours. The outside pockets hold your keys, phone and granola bars.
Best for the golf course: A cooler so genius that it was on “Shark Tank,” the Caddyswag ($25.99) fits six cans of seltzer or soda or whatever and slides perfectly into your golf bag’s external pocket. This will be a slam dunk Father’s Day present for a lot of you, I’m sure.
Best for style: A hip cooler? Yup. They call it retro, but I just call it cool. Igloo’s neon ‘90s cooler (17% off, $24.99) is hot pink, teal and highlighter yellow with a carrying handle and a shoulder strap. Keep nine LaCroix ice cold for enjoying anywhere you want to be refreshed and stylin’.
Best for lunch: PackIt’s freezable lunch bag ($23.99) is both a bag and an ice pack all in one. The bag flattens down to practically nothing so you can store it in even the most packed freezer, then just grab it, pack it and you’re on your way. Cool color options, too.

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Best smart bulbs

You don’t need to spend an arm and a leg to make your house (and your lighting) a little smarter. I found options for any budget. Seriously, one is under $5.

High end: Wait, $29.97 for two lightbulbs? People do it gladly when it’s the Philips Hue. These top-of-the-line smart bulbs have a stellar glow. Control them with Alexa, Google Assistant or the Hue app.
Bargain: Give the smart bulb a whirl with a basic Alexa-compatible bulb from Sengled. At 61% off ($3.93), it’s a total steal.
Nightlight: The Echo Glow is a multicolor smart lamp that works with Alexa and makes a perfect nightlight. And right now, it’s 33% off ($19.99).

We may receive a commission when you buy through our links, but our reporting and recommendations are always independent and objective.

Tidy your tech: Best cable organization and cord management options

Everyone seems to own laptops, smartphones, desktop computers, Internet of Things devices and so much more. It’s great to be connected, but what isn’t great is all those tangled cords.

Thankfully, there are tons of organizing tools to choose from. Whether you want to hide those cables swinging from your TV or move the wires out of your way on your computer desk, we’ve got the right organizers for you.

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