In a nutshell: The average American spent $42.38 per month on streaming-based subscriptions in 2024. That works out to just over $500 per year - or around $30,000 over a lifetime - but is actually less than the previous year by a significant margin. According to Review's annual State of Consumer Media Spending Report, the average American spent 23 percent less on streaming subscriptions in 2024 than in 2023.Streaming services are a way of life for millions seeking their entertainment fix. The sheer number of services available to choose from makes it easy to keep up with current shows or rewatch your favorites on your own time, but too much of a good thing can sometimes backfire as some are finding out.Of those surveyed, 27.8 percent said they are experiencing streaming fatigue - or the feeling of being overwhelmed by the growing number of streaming apps on the market. And with the cost of goods and services at an all-time high, it's hitting folks in the wallet as well.The report additionally found that the average American has two streaming subscriptions, and watches three hours and 49 minutes of content each day. More than a quarter of subscribers - 26.5 percent - share subscriptions with others to save on cost although with recent crackdowns on password sharing, that might not be an option for much longer.As such, Reviews recommends downsizing the number of subscriptions you pay for each month or spending more time using free services if you're looking to cut down on costs in the New Year. For example, you could stagger subscriptions by signing up for a service temporarily to watch a specific show or movie and canceling when you are finished. It's also wise to keep an eye out for free trials, discounts, and limited-time streaming deals like those occasionally offered from Internet and mobile providers. // Related StoriesI'm planning on cutting my live TV service in the next few weeks once college football wraps up and look forward to the extra savings each month.

In brief: Lawson, the Japanese convenience store chain, has come up with a novel approach to address the country's chronic labor shortage: hiring remote workers from overseas. At first glance, this might not seem like a groundbreaking idea, but the twist lies in how these employees contribute. Despite being based abroad, they can virtually assist in stores by operating lifelike avatar clerks. Interactions through the new system function similarly to a video call for customers, except they interact with cartoon avatars rather than seeing the actual clerk. The remote operator's movements are replicated using cameras, allowing for a more dynamic experience. While this approach might feel a bit impersonal, the avatar system could help ensure these essential stores remain operational and accessible around the clock.A survey by Nikkei revealed that last year, an astounding 62.5 percent of franchise owners struggled to find enough part-time staff to keep their stores open 24/7. Lawson's innovative solution aims to address this challenge head-on.The company launched its first overseas cashier this month, operated by a Japanese national living in Sweden. Leveraging the eight-hour time difference, this remote worker can virtually "man" the graveyard shift in Japan while working during regular business hours in Sweden. Their avatar is projected onto screens at Lawson locations in Tokyo and Osaka, assisting customers with self-checkout as needed.Lawson President Sadanobu Takemasu has announced plans to expand the remote avatar workforce to other time zones, including regions like Brazil and New York. The goal is to boost productivity by tapping into underutilized labor pools in areas with significant time differences from Japan.The avatar technology, developed by Tokyo-based startup Avita, was introduced in collaboration with Lawson in 2022. By late 2024, the system had been implemented at 28 stores across major Japanese cities, with approximately 70 employees trained to operate the virtual clerks. Early results have been encouraging Lawson projects the avatars will save over 90 minutes of staffing time per store per day on average. // Related StoriesNotably, this marks the first instance of Lawson hiring a remote worker based overseas.Lawson's move highlights a broader issue: Japan's deepening labor crisis. With a declining population, the shortage of part-time and low-wage workers has become a serious problem. Despite innovations like avatar clerks, 37.5 percent of store operators still foresee staffing challenges in the fiscal year ending in March.Image credit: Keiichiro Sato

HBOTable of ContentsTable of ContentsThe Regime sticks to a binary versus structure that makes it a pain to watchA problematic portrayalNo direction homeIm not a professional critic, but Ive been designated Digital Trends Hater of the Year, something I wear with great pride. (And just a touch of fear.) While I was more than eager to complain about Trap, a movie that makes me viscerally angry to even think about, the TV show I hated most didnt immediately come to mind.In desperation, I scanned the Emmy nominations for inspiration and, sure enough, I found a winner or, rather, loser: The Regime. I had literally forgotten about because I gave up back in April after watching the first miserable episode.The Regime | Official Teaser | MaxFor your entertainment, I spent a few days of my life this week watching the entire putrid season. I wont spend nearly as many words on this tripe as I did on Trap because the problemsThe Regime arent quite as specific. In large part, they can be summed up with one word: paradox.Recommended VideosHBOThe Regime seems intentional with its use of paradox to expose political hypocrisies and emphasize the cyclical nature of political history, especially those committed by the United States in foreign diplomacy.RelatedDrama versus comedy, past versus present, Capitalism versus Marxism, fantasy versus. reality, domination versus conciliation The Regime navigates conflicts between all of these ideas, but ultimately bites off far more than it can chew, resulting in strange pacing, poor character development, and a plot that is patently unbelievable, especially when you consider the historicity that its clearly based on.Kate Winslet Welcomes You to The Regime | The Regime | MaxLets be clear: The Regime is a postmodern retelling of Grigori Rasputins infiltration of Czar Nicholas IIs court, right down to Chancellor Elena Vernhams (Kate Winslet) husband consort being named Nicholas. This fact is so obvious that the choice to set this unnamed country with a Marxist history in Central Europe and make it completely oblivious to Russian history is consistently infuriating.This context would, unsurprisingly, be incredibly valuable to Vernham, a once-powerful autocrat who is losing her grip on both her power and her reality. Believing the air around her is constantly poisoned by mold, she enlists a particularly vicious army corporal who killed 12 miners in the unseen moments before the show to be her personal moisture reader. Why him? She wanted one of the soldiers responsible for this global embarrassment.HBOVernham, you might think from this decision, is a ruthless dictator who completely dominates all in her sphere.The Regime very quickly ventures to prove the exact opposite, to the point that Vernham might be one of the most misogynistic characters Ive seen on television. Within roughly 45 minutes, shes characterized with basically every stereotype youve ever heard about women in power: Shes impulsive, shes irrational, shes emotional, shes overwhelmingly influenced by others. But most importantly, she has such a debilitating need to be loved that she regularly converses with her dead father, whom she keeps entombed like Vladimir Lenin, to make herself feel good.Not only is she feckless but in a world dominated by men in which she, supposedly, was at one time the puppet master, she becomes the complete puppet of Zubak in one episode. Its impossible to believe that this talentless, guileless, easily manipulated, and violently narcissistic woman was ever elected to power in the first place. Being mean is not a leadership trait, and its the one she falls back on repeatedly throughout the series.When Vernham does finally begin to regain her agency, its only because she had the sternest talking-to yet by Lenin her dead dad, who basically tells her to be the absolute worst leader possible. Her entire identity is tied to the control of less-powerful men.HBOMoreover, Vernham, like the plot ofThe Regime, appears to have no direction. Theres no clear motivation. She regularly talks about her dream, but its never really clear what that is. Initially, she seems to want to create an isolationist autocracy that retains complete control of its natural resources. But she, or representatives of her government, also say they want a true democracy, admission to NATO, and regional war to bait America. In the opening scene, we hear her military killed 12 protesting miners. By episode 3, Zubak has Vernham declaring the return of all private property to the people despite her spiderweb of corrupt personal holdings and invades a neighboring country in exact parallel to Putins actions in Ukraine. By episode 4, shes become a Chinese puppet.The plot and motives are all over the place, the characters are unforgivably stupid and ill-defined, and you cant help but feel whiplash between episodes. Its not tension its a lack of conviction.The Regime seems to want to satirize Russian history, criticize U.S. and Chinese imperialism, and celebrate self-determinism. It succeeds only at being almost completely impossible to follow which is perhaps its greatest tribute to Russian history.The Regime is streaming on Max.Editors Recommendations

A new phone from OnePlus is on the horizon, and it should attract lots of attention thanks to its purported battery capacity. The OnePlus Ace 5V is expected to join the OnePlus Ace 5 and Ace 5 Pro in the Chinese market. It may also be launched internationally as the OnePlus Nord 5, according to GSMArena.The OnePlus Ace 5V is anticipated to feature a substantial 7,000mAh battery capacity. In comparison, the forthcoming OnePlus 13 and OnePlus 13R will likely have battery capacities of 6,000mAh. By contrast, two of the bestselling phones on the market, the iPhone 16 Pro Max and Galaxy S24 Ultra, offer battery capacities of 4,685mAh and 5,000mAh, respectively.Recommended VideosWhat should we expect from a phone with a 7,000mAh battery? Expect this to be at leasta two-day phone per charge if not one that can last for three days on a single charge.Please enable Javascript to view this contentThe OnePlus Ace 5V is also expected to be powered by the yet-to-be-announced MediaTek Dimensity 9350. This new chip is anticipated to compete with Qualcomms upcoming Snapdragon 8s Elite, which will succeed the Snapdragon 8s Gen 3. The Dimensity 9350 is rumored to provide slight performance enhancements over the 9300 and improved power efficiency. Rumors also suggest the new phone will have a 1.5K resolution flat screen.RelatedThe OnePlus 13 and OnePlus 13R are expected to be announced on Tuesday, January 7. However, the OnePlus Ace 5V/OnePlus Nord 5 will not be released simultaneously. When it does arrive, it will not be officially available in the U.S. The current OnePlus Nord 4 is marketed in India and select regions in Europe and Asia, while in North America, it is only available through third-party retailers.Editors Recommendations

Happy New Year! AT&T is starting 2025 by increasing the bills for some of its customers.According to Android Authority, AT&T FirstNet customers will soon see a monthly price increase of $3 per line. This change has been confirmed in a posting on the AT&T website.Recommended VideosAT&T FirstNet is a dedicated wireless broadband network specifically designed for first responders and public safety personnel in the U.S. It was developed through a partnership between the federal government and AT&T.Please enable Javascript to view this contentThe company states that the price increase will help it continue to deliver the great wireless service you expect.RelatedFor AT&T FirstNet customers who activated their service after April 15, the price change will not take effect until they have completed nine months of service. During this period, these customers will receive a $3 monthly credit to offset the upcoming increase.AT&T FirstNet customers have enjoyed some of the lowest bills in the industry. With a recent change, their monthly charges will increase from $45 to $48, reflecting an approximate 7% hike.The price hike applies to FirstNet unlimited smartphone and data-only plans.Created by X's GrokNo doubt, this wont be the only price hike implemented by AT&T, the second-largest U.S. carrier, in the next 12 months. In 2024, we counted at least three price hikes, including a $10 increase per line for those on some older unlimited plans that was announced in June.Verizon, the nations No. 1 carrier, also raised prices last year, as did T-Mobile, the third-largest carrier.FirstNet is available to many public safety agencies and personnel, including law enforcement, firefighters, emergency medical services (EMS), health care professionals, and more.Editors Recommendations

Doing well by doing good Final Reminder: Donate today to win swag in our annual Charity Drive sweepstakes You have until the end of the day Thursday to enter and add to our charity haul. Kyle Orland Jan 2, 2025 11:22 am | 0 Just some of the prizes you can win in this years Ars Technica Charity Drive sweepstakes Credit: Kyle Orland Just some of the prizes you can win in this years Ars Technica Charity Drive sweepstakes Credit: Kyle Orland Story textSizeSmallStandardLargeWidth *StandardWideLinksStandardOrange* Subscribers only Learn moreIf you've been too busy reading about giant old TVs to take part in this year's Ars Technica Charity Drive sweepstakes, don't worry. You still have a little bit of time to donate to a good cause and get a chance to win your share of over $4,000 worth of swag (no purchase necessary to win).In the first weeks of the drive, hundreds of readers contributed tens of thousands of dollars to either the Electronic Frontier Foundation or Child's Play as part of the charity drive. But we're now in the final day of our attempt to best 2020's record haul of over $58,000.Entries have to be received by the end of the day today (Thursday, January 2) to be considered for the sweepstakes, so if you've been putting off a donation/entry, now is the time to pull the trigger. Do yourself and the charities involved a favor and give now while you're thinking about it.See below for instructions on how to enter and check out the Charity Drive kickoff post for a complete list of available prizes.How it worksDonating is easy. Simply donate to Child's Play using a credit card or PayPal or donate to the EFF using PayPal, credit card, or cryptocurrency. You can also support Child's Play directly by using this Ars Technica campaign page or by picking an item from the Amazon wish list of a specific hospital on its donation page. Donate as much or as little as you feel comfortable withevery bit helps.Once that's done, it's time to register your entry in our sweepstakes. Just grab a digital copy of your receipt (a forwarded email, a screenshot, or simply a cut-and-paste of the text) and send it to ArsCharityDrive@gmail.com with your name, postal address, daytime telephone number, and email address by 11:59 pm ET Wednesday, January 2, 2025.One entry per person, and each person can only win up to one prize. US residents only. NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. See the official rules for more information, including how to enter without making a donation. Also, refer to the Ars Technica privacy policy (https://www.condenast.com/privacy-policy).We'll then contact the winners and have them choose their prize by January 31, 2025 (choosing takes place in the order the winners are drawn). Good luck!Kyle OrlandSenior Gaming EditorKyle OrlandSenior Gaming Editor Kyle Orland has been the Senior Gaming Editor at Ars Technica since 2012, writing primarily about the business, tech, and culture behind video games. He has journalism and computer science degrees from University of Maryland. He once wrote a whole book about Minesweeper. 0 Comments

Blocked Almost the entire US South is now being blocked by Pornhub Supreme Court ruling could end Pornhub blackout across US South. Ashley Belanger Jan 2, 2025 11:16 am | 12 Credit: NurPhoto / Contributor | NurPhoto Credit: NurPhoto / Contributor | NurPhoto Story textSizeSmallStandardLargeWidth *StandardWideLinksStandardOrange* Subscribers only Learn moreIt's getting harder to access popular adult sites in the US South.On Wednesday, Pornhub's owner, Aylo, kicked off the new year by blocking three more states that implemented age verification laws requiring ID to access porn. According to 404 Media, Florida, South Carolina, and Tennessee are now among 17 states where Aylo sites, including Pornhub, RedTube, and YouPorn, cannot be accessed.The other blocked states are Alabama, Arkansas, Idaho, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Texas, Utah, and Virginia. Mapping it out, 404 Media noted that the Aylo blackout spans nearly the entire US South, with Georgia's age verification law set to take effect in July and likely to trigger another block that would almost complete the blackout.When users in any of the blocked states attempt to access sites like Pornhub, they see a message from adult performer Cherie Deville informing them that access is blocked for their own safety.Aylo has long argued that age verification laws intended to protect kids from accessing adult content are flawed. Rather than keeping kids away from adult materials, these laws actually serve to restrict adult activity online, Aylo argues.Aylo also says that requiring ID simply drives adult users to riskier adult sites that won't comply with laws or moderate content wrongfully uploaded without performers' consent, as Pornhub and other Aylo sites claim to do. And requiring adult sites to store personal information about each user also poses privacy risks, Aylo warned in a statement to 404 Media."First, to be clear, Aylo has publicly supported age verification of users for years, but we believe that any law to this effect must preserve user safety and privacy and must effectively protect children from accessing content intended for adults," Aylo said. "Unfortunately, the way many jurisdictions worldwide, including Florida, have chosen to implement age verification is ineffective, haphazard, and dangerous. Any regulations that require hundreds of thousands of adult sites to collect significant amounts of highly sensitive personal information is putting user safety in jeopardy. Moreover, as experience has demonstrated, unless properly enforced, users will simply access non-compliant sites or find other methods of evading these laws."Perhaps the easiest way to evade state age verification laws is by using a VPN to mask a user's location. According to a report from VPNMentor's cybersecurity and research lab, VPN use in Florida jumped by as much as 1,150 percent within hours of the age verification law coming into force on January 1. That's even higher than the 967 percent spike in VPN use that VPNMentor saw in Utah in 2023 and substantially higher than a Texas spike of 234 percentperhaps indicating that users are getting savvier at quickly securing VPN workarounds.Some First Amendment advocates, including the Free Speech Coalition, have joined Aylo's fight and are pushing the Supreme Court to block Texas' law. Many digital rights advocates and First Amendment scholars have filed briefs in support of the Free Speech Coalition, which has urged the Supreme Court to agree that Texas' law is not narrowly tailored and "burdens vast quantities of speech protected for everyone." If advocates win, the Supreme Court may order an injunction that could impact all states that passed essentially copycat legislation, potentially ending Aylo's long war against "haphazard" age-verification laws in the US.In its most recent filing, Texas argued that only intermediate scrutiny should be applied, pushing SCOTUS to agree that Texas has no other remedy to protect kids online. Texas claims that if Pornhub can verify the ages of content providers, it should have no problem verifying the ages of viewers.Oral arguments in that case begin on January 15.Ashley BelangerSenior Policy ReporterAshley BelangerSenior Policy Reporter Ashley is a senior policy reporter for Ars Technica, dedicated to tracking social impacts of emerging policies and new technologies. She is a Chicago-based journalist with 20 years of experience. 12 Comments

An activist in New York City protests the use of fossil fuels in 2024Erik McGregor/LightRocket via Getty ImagesAt home, I am surrounded by fossils. They are in my clothes, carpets and soft furnishings, the packaging wrapped around the food I buy and the myriad cleaning products I use every day. Even the contact lenses in my eyes are full of fossils.Im not talking about ancient life forms preserved in rock (though I do have quite a lot of those too), but fossilised carbon atoms, laid down millions of years ago and brought back to the surface by the petroleum industry.

I like using long international layovers to get aesthetic treatments at med spas.Many of my treatments have cost less abroad than they would've at home in San Francisco.Be sure to do your research and know the possible side effects of treatments before you book them.As a travel writer, I'm privileged to take many trips, and hitting the spa during a lengthy layover has always been a no-brainer.I love a deeply moisturizing facial to revive my cabin-dried, jet-lagged skin and there's nothing like a massage to relieve stiffness and tension after long-haul legs in economy.Recently, I've leveled up: I seek out med spas in countries where I have lengthy layovers and book minimal-downtime aesthetic treatments.With the right bookings, I've been able to get treatments for way less than what they'd be at local med spas in my home base of San Francisco.I've saved a lot of money by getting treatments while travelingI've been shocked to find that, sometimes, the treatments I'd planned to have at home cost more than what I'd pay for the treatments, flight, and a hotel while abroad.Recently, while en route to a bucket-list safari in Botswana, I had a full day to kill in Johannesburg during my layover.Fortunately, a highly-rated skincare and laser clinic was a short ride from my airport hotel. I got an appointment for Broadband Light and Halo treatments designed to correct sun damage and rejuvenate skin.The combined cost of these two laser treatments for my face and chest (which count as two separate areas) was 15,495 South African rands, or about $841. In San Francisco, the same treatments at my usual med spa would've cost me $3,960.Six weeks later, I stopped in Liverpool, England, to see family while heading from Denmark back to San Francisco.After a teleconsult via Zoom with a local med spa, I booked a few treatments including Sculptra, a type of injectable filler that targets wrinkles and fine lines.I got two vials of it, one each for my face and neck, which cost 850 pounds, about $1,064. It would've cost me about $1,900 at a San Francisco clinic near my home.Still, there are potential downsides and a few things to keep in mind I've had some great experiences using my layovers to get med-spa treatments. Abhishek Singh/Getty Images Many aesthetics providers recommend you receive multiple sessions spaced at intervals. You can plan subsequent sessions for later trips or continue at your home base if you're not planning to travel again but some in the med-spa field advise that a single, trusted specialist is best for optimal results."A dedicated provider develops an in-depth understanding of your skin's unique needs and aesthetic goals, creating a personalized treatment plan that evolves with you over time," said Polly Moore, registered nurse and senior director of laser operations at Revive Med Spa.With some pre-travel treatments, you'll want to proceed with caution and monitor your body during recovery.Dr. Rami Hosein, medical director and owner of Elinea medspa, has a strict policy of not treating patients with dermal fillers within 72 hours of travel in case of blood-vessel blockage a very rare but serious complication."Warning signs including excessive bruising beyond the treatment area, significant swelling, or persistent pain usually present immediately but can be delayed up to three days," he said. If this happens, you should immediately seek medical attention.If you fly right after treatment, Moore said, do lots of stretches to encourage blood flow as you heal and stay hydrated. Also, keep in mind that cabin-pressure changes may temporarily worsen swelling and bruising.As with all aesthetics or med-spa appointments, it's important to find a provider you trust. Read reviews, chat with the team to ensure you feel confident, and leave if you don't like the vibe when you arrive.Lastly, if you're paying with a credit card, check its foreign exchange rates. Your care may cost more than you expected if it has foreign-transaction fees.

Pocket.watch is betting on the podcast boom and partnering with GoKidGo to launch shows.The studio is creating podcasts for kids focused on music and mystery content.Two execs broke down the strategy and why the studio is focused on audio content in 2025.2024 was a big year for podcasts in the creator economy and a kids' content powerhouse is betting it can capitalize on the momentum.Founded in 2017, Pocket.watch works with 53 creator brands including Ryan's World and Love, Diana on brand partnerships, merchandise, and other business ventures. The company's studio arm works with its family-focused creators to distribute their content on free ad-supported streaming television (FAST) channels, streaming platforms including Hulu and Peacock, and social-media platforms like YouTube.After partnering with Universal Music Group to launch a record label that produces music for kids, Pocket.watch is now working with the podcast company GoKidGo to produce audio shows with its creators.Pocket.watch execs told Business Insider that, in general, their podcasts for kids have several key differences from those geared toward adults. For example, they often follow a storyline and talk directly to the listener, asking them questions and engaging them in puzzles and mysteries.Its first two podcasts are a musical mystery show for preschoolers with its creator Diana Kidisyuk from the YouTube channel "Love, Diana" and a mystery show for tweens from three sisters behind the YouTube channel "GEM Sisters."BI spoke with Amanda Klecker, senior vice president of marketing and franchise at Pocket.watch, and chief content officer Albie Hecht about why the studio is betting on podcast shows for kids.'It's not just two people talking in a room'The Pocket.watch execs said a podcast for children needs to be set up differently than one for adults."It's not just two people talking in a room," said Hecht, who was formerly the president of film and TV entertainment for Nickelodeon.Hecht said Pocket.watch podcasts are generally narrative-based and include themes such as problem-solving, puzzles, education, music, and mystery."We want to tap into imagination formats," Hecht said. "The play-along element is really important for engagement.""It has kids almost talking back to the podcast that's what we want," he added.Never growing upSome of the podcasts are part of Pocket.watch's efforts to extend their creators' brands without involving them closely in the production."One of the first things we did with all of our creators was create animated versions of them in multiple formats," Hecht said. "Translating them to animation, we can use them in multiple places without the strain on them, and also preserving them in their most popular look and format. It's like Ryan is going to be eight forever, or 'Love, Diana' is going to be seven forever."Kidisyuk's podcast is an extension of the animated format Pocket.watch launched with her in 2024, which is the company's most-watched and most-engaged original series.Klecker said voice acting makes sense for some older creators, like the GEM Sisters. But for others, like Kidisyuk, who is 10 years old, Pocket.watch works with the parents and the kids to find and hire actors who match their voices."She, in herself, is truly a star for kids today," Hecht said of Kidisyuk. "But when we take her and put her in new formats, it's going to be based on her, and it's going to be based on the character she portrays versus having this young child speak in a podcast format."