Home > Life > Sex, Dating & Relationships

Sex, Dating & Relationships

Meet Our Experts

Rachel Thompson, sits wearing a dress with yellow florals and black background.

Rachel Thompson

Features Editor

Rachel Thompson is the Features Editor at Mashable. Rachel's second non-fiction book The Love Fix: Reclaiming Intimacy in a Disconnected World is out now, published by Penguin Random House in Jan. 2025. The Love Fix explores why dating feels so hard right now, why we experience difficult emotions in the realm of love, and how we can change our dating culture for the better.

A leading sex and dating writer in the UK, Rachel has written for GQ, The Guardian, The Sunday Times Style, The Telegraph, Cosmopolitan, Glamour, Stylist, ELLE, The i Paper, Refinery29, and many more.

Rachel's first book Rough: How Violence Has Found Its Way Into the Bedroom And What We Can Do About It, a non-fiction investigation into sexual violence was published by Penguin Random House in 2021.

anna iovine, a white woman with curly chin-length brown hair, smiles at the camera

Associate Editor, Features

Anna Iovine is the associate editor of features at Mashable. Previously, as the sex and relationships reporter, she covered topics ranging from dating apps to pelvic pain. Before Mashable, Anna was a social editor at VICE and freelanced for publications such as Slate and the Columbia Journalism Review. Follow her on Bluesky.

More Sex, Dating & Relationships - Page 21

Tinder announces AI tool to help select your profile pic

It's the latest in AI-powered dating app features.

07/17/2024

By Anna Iovine

This service will beat your dating fatigue in 2024

Relieve the pressure from your dating life with Tawkify’s real matchmakers.

07/15/2024

By Mashable BrandX and Tawkify

Couple reading together

Couple reading together

Is sexting right away on a dating app a red flag?

How to be sex positive while maintaining your boundaries.

07/12/2024

By Gigi Engle

A white woman with blonde hair lies in bed at night scrolling on her phone.

A white woman with blonde hair lies in bed at night scrolling on her phone.

Is Tinder Platinum worth it? I tried it for 3 months to find out.

It depends on what features you're looking for.

07/12/2024

By Anna Iovine

screenshots of tinder platinum

screenshots of tinder platinum

Bumble adds option to report AI photos and videos

Most millennial and Gen Z daters think there should be a limit to AI-generated media on dating apps.

07/10/2024

By Anna Iovine

You can be polyamorous in 'The Sims' now

'The Sims 4' Lovestruck Expansion Pack allows for multiple romantic relationships.

07/07/2024

By Anna Iovine

one sim romantically feeding a strawberry to another

one sim romantically feeding a strawberry to another

Dating app fatigue has led to a flurry of IRL singles events

Singles are sick of dating apps, so they're turning to a growing number of offline events to find love.

07/06/2024

By Sophie Hessekiel

two people sitting across from each other at speed dating, pixels dissolving at the bottom of their bodies

two people sitting across from each other at speed dating, pixels dissolving at the bottom of their bodies

Etsy to ban sale of most sex toys, explicit content, and more

Policy changes go into effect next month.

06/28/2024

By Anna Iovine

Political apathy can be a huge dating dealbreaker, research shows

Political divides = romantic consequences?

06/26/2024

By Meera Navlakha

A man and woman separated by a wall.

A man and woman separated by a wall.

Are vibrating sex toys on the way out?

It's time to make way for new sensations.

06/21/2024

By Beth Ashley

A woman's hand outstretched on white bedsheets, her red hair visible in the bottom corner of the photo.

A woman's hand outstretched on white bedsheets, her red hair visible in the bottom corner of the photo.

Pornhub to block Indiana and Kentucky next month over age verification laws

The two are the latest in a growing list of blocked states.

06/19/2024

By Anna Iovine

The essential guide to mirror sex

You might have seen the term "mirror sex" popping up while browsing your fave porn sites.

06/19/2024

By Beth Ashley

A woman lies on her side on her bed with a round mirror in front of her, her bra visible.

A woman lies on her side on her bed with a round mirror in front of her, her bra visible.

Men found a surprising new way to lie on dating apps

Sexuality is a spectrum, right bro?

06/17/2024

By Chance Townsend

A diverse group of six people is gathered around a table, engaged in a serious discussion or planning session. The table is covered with maps, papers, and coffee cups. The background is shaded in red, giving a sense of urgency or intensity. The individuals vary in attire, from casual to formal, and display focused and contemplative expressions.

A diverse group of six people is gathered around a table, engaged in a serious discussion or planning session. The table is covered with maps, papers, and coffee cups. The background is shaded in red, giving a sense of urgency or intensity. The individuals vary in attire, from casual to formal, and display focused and contemplative expressions.

Dating predictions for the rest of 2024

For one, it's time to drop the dating icks.

06/16/2024

By Anna Iovine

Woman with a rainbow heart reflected in her eyes and glasses.

Woman with a rainbow heart reflected in her eyes and glasses.

Zoosk review: Easy to sign up, but that's where its usefulness starts and ends

The dating site boast 40 million members, so why is it so difficult to find just one?

06/14/2024

By Leah Stodart and Bethany Allard

illustrated man and woman sitting at a table drinking coffee

illustrated man and woman sitting at a table drinking coffee

OkCupid review: An algorithmic site for millennials who find social activism sexy

For people who bring up politics on the first date.

06/14/2024

By Leah Stodart and Tabitha Britt

illustration of two people eyeing each other on the sidewalk while swiping through dating apps on their phones

illustration of two people eyeing each other on the sidewalk while swiping through dating apps on their phones

The 'meet people twice' theory is TikTok's latest path to love

To fall in love, you must meet twice.

06/12/2024

By Elena Cavender

Two people shaking hands against the blue sky.

Two people shaking hands against the blue sky.

Tinder adds Pride profile stickers for LGBTQ users and allies

Examples include "My First Pride" and "Proud Ally."

06/08/2024

By Tabitha Britt

tinder pride badges

tinder pride badges

Does Tinder notify users when you take a screenshot?

You've screenshotted a particularly interesting conversation on Tinder. Will your match know?

06/07/2024

By Mashable Team

tinder on app with red heart background

tinder on app with red heart background

How to unblock Grindr

Grindr is restricted in several countries. Here's how to get around that.

06/05/2024

By Anna Iovine

someone tapping grindr on a phone

someone tapping grindr on a phone

Grindr celebrates Pride with cross-country 'Grindr Rides America' bus tour

Get in, hunty! Grindr's bringing free HIV testing, PrEP resources, and a full-service photography studio to LGBTQ communities nationwide.

06/01/2024

By Tabitha Britt

'No-launch' is the latest Instagram dating trend

Some couples are opting to not post about their relationship at all.

05/31/2024

By Brianna Holt

couple sitting in park looking at each other surrounded by other people on their phones

couple sitting in park looking at each other surrounded by other people on their phones

Playboy Pleasure just dropped three new sex toys — two have a detachable cock ring base

The new line features an innovative thruster, a G-spot/P-spot vibrator, and a bullet vibe.

05/30/2024

By Tabitha Britt

Playboy Pleasure Match Play and Mix & Match

Playboy Pleasure Match Play and Mix & Match

What happens at a sensual masturbation workshop? Well, it blew my mind.

How do you masturbate in a room of strangers?

05/30/2024

By Mary Morgan

Illustration of a Black woman sitting with crossed legs, surrounded by sex toys, incense, a mirror.

Illustration of a Black woman sitting with crossed legs, surrounded by sex toys, incense, a mirror.

The major dating apps are collapsing into each other

Years ago, dating apps had variations. Lately, they're all starting to look the same.

05/30/2024

By Anna Iovine

a lab where tinder, bumble, hinge, and feeld are becoming one app

a lab where tinder, bumble, hinge, and feeld are becoming one app