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Sex, Dating & Relationships

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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 34

Here's the most important ingredient for a wildly good orgasm

The thing is, so much of really delicious sex comes down to feeling safe.

03/02/2023

By Sarah Lempa

Illustration of a couple masturbating together as they look into each other's eyes.

Illustration of a couple masturbating together as they look into each other's eyes.

The best sex toys under $50 (that are actually worth using)

This year we're happy, horny, and saving money.

03/02/2023

By Bethany Allard

blue background with various sex toys surrounding a hand holding a butt plug

blue background with various sex toys surrounding a hand holding a butt plug

'Money Shot: The Pornhub Story' trailer offers a glimpse into the tube site

The documentary features interviews with porn performers, activists, and past employees of the tube giant.

03/01/2023

By Anna Iovine

screenshot of porn performer siri dahl in 'money shot: the pornhub story'

screenshot of porn performer siri dahl in 'money shot: the pornhub story'

What do our sex dreams mean?

"It can be something your unconscious is inviting you to consider."

03/01/2023

By Katie Baskerville

double bed hovering in air and with white cloud above

double bed hovering in air and with white cloud above

The dos and don'ts of Hinge audio notes

Want to try out Hinge's voice prompt feature? Read this first.

02/27/2023

By Mallory Minich

Illustration of someone whispering into another person's ear, with a heart-shaped sound wave between them

Illustration of someone whispering into another person's ear, with a heart-shaped sound wave between them

How to have an emotionally supportive threesome

Three isn't a crowd, it's a party.

02/23/2023

By Sarah Lempa

Three sets of feet poke out from under pink bed sheets.

Three sets of feet poke out from under pink bed sheets.

Are we dating the same guy? This Facebook group might know.

Thousands of women verify their online dates on this group, but is it actually helpful?

02/20/2023

By Darshita Goyal

Illustration of a woman holding an iphone with a heart bubble floating above it, while another woman stands behind her, pointing at her, with a man at her side.

Illustration of a woman holding an iphone with a heart bubble floating above it, while another woman stands behind her, pointing at her, with a man at her side.

Stripperweb empowered strippers. Where will they go now?

For 20 years, strippers connected on the forum Stripperweb. On February 1, it shuttered without explanation.

02/16/2023

By Reese Piper

How to explore a praise kink

For some, a compliment can result in a turn-on.

02/16/2023

By Beth Ashley

Woman in bed giving thumbs up from under a duvet cover.

Woman in bed giving thumbs up from under a duvet cover.

What does 'casual dating' mean these days?

"Since the pandemic especially, attitudes towards dating have gone through a categorical shift."

02/15/2023

By Alice Porter

Illustration of a mixed sex couple entwined, the woman sits in the lap of a male partner's lap, he has his legs outstretched. Both have their phones open in their outstretched hands.

Illustration of a mixed sex couple entwined, the woman sits in the lap of a male partner's lap, he has his legs outstretched. Both have their phones open in their outstretched hands.

Have non-monogamy labels on dating apps caused more harm than good?

Is it really fair to sideline non-monogamous folks?

02/14/2023

By Kitty Winks

Two couples kissing. One couple is same sex, the other is different sex.

Two couples kissing. One couple is same sex, the other is different sex.

How to have the 'define the relationship' (DTR) chat

It's not always easy but it's usually worth it.

02/13/2023

By Christianna Silva

Two people deciding where to go on a relationship map.

Two people deciding where to go on a relationship map.

The people who found love on Twitter

Who needs Tinder?

02/11/2023

By Tim Marcin

illustration of twitter birds chirping hearts

illustration of twitter birds chirping hearts

How TikTok is breaking us up

"There are times where she can hear me doing something around the house and instead of offering help you just hear the scroll of TikTok instead."

02/10/2023

By Adele Walton

Illustration of two figures with backs turned to each other as they both stare at their phones

Illustration of two figures with backs turned to each other as they both stare at their phones

What is piss play, the fetish in the new season of 'You'?

We asked the experts about the surprisingly not uncommon fantasy.

02/10/2023

By Anna Iovine

(L to R) Penn Badgley as Joe, Tilly Keeper as Lady Phoebe, Lukas Gage as Adam in episode 401 of You.

(L to R) Penn Badgley as Joe, Tilly Keeper as Lady Phoebe, Lukas Gage as Adam in episode 401 of You.

OkCupid debuts ChatGPT-generated matching questions

The questions have been answered more than 125,000 times and counting.

02/09/2023

By Anna Iovine

screenshots of chatgpt-generated questions on the okcupid app

screenshots of chatgpt-generated questions on the okcupid app

Everything you need to know about making friends on a dating app

Swipe right for friendship.

02/09/2023

By Beth Ashley

Five hands holding a heart symbol.

Five hands holding a heart symbol.

A guide to having nipple orgasms

Yes, they’re real and you can have them.

02/09/2023

By Gigi Engle

A hand clutches a bed sheet.

A hand clutches a bed sheet.

How does Tinder develop the features that keep you safe?

Mashable spoke to the team behind Tinder's safety tools.

02/07/2023

By Rachel Thompson

A person holds an iphone screen with the Tinder app open

A person holds an iphone screen with the Tinder app open

A beginner's guide to understanding Dom/sub dynamics

Want to try kink but don't know where to start?

02/02/2023

By Gigi Engle

A set of BDSM toys including a whip, gag and leather blindfold.

A set of BDSM toys including a whip, gag and leather blindfold.

Gillian Anderson wants your anonymous sex stories

"What do you think about when you think about sex?"

02/01/2023

By Rachel Thompson

A close up of Gillian Anderson's as she attends The Crown Season 5 premiere

A close up of Gillian Anderson's as she attends The Crown Season 5 premiere

KinkTok is rife with misinformation. Here's why that's dangerous.

TikTok is having its '50 Shades' era, for better or worse.

01/27/2023

By Anna Iovine

illustration of an anthropomorphized version of tiktok binding someone and forcing them to only watch 'tiktok approved' kink content

illustration of an anthropomorphized version of tiktok binding someone and forcing them to only watch 'tiktok approved' kink content

The ultimate guide to scissoring

Yes, it’s a thing. No, you don’t have to be a lesbian to do it.

01/26/2023

By Megan Wallace

Repeated scissors on pink background

Repeated scissors on pink background

12 sex tips for disabled people and their partners

Finding accessible positions, movements, and toys can involve a lot of trial and error.

01/24/2023

By Cathy Reay

Illustration of Black woman in a wheelchair, dressed in underwear.

Illustration of Black woman in a wheelchair, dressed in underwear.

Bumble and Netflix collab on weekly trivia game

The game starts on January 30.

01/23/2023

By Anna Iovine

cards for the bumble and netflix collaboration game, netflix nights in

cards for the bumble and netflix collaboration game, netflix nights in