"Who ever runs Duolingo’s socials needs a raise," an X user demanded. Scores online poked fun at the new icon: "Duolingo went from friendly to full-on hostage negotiator," someone online noted.

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Our app icon reflects this tragic loss ... been about making language learning fun and doing fun things," she told Teen Vogue in March 2022. "Duolingo's culture has never been very buttoned ...

Nicole Carpenter is a senior reporter specializing in investigative features about labor issues in the game industry, as well as the business and culture of games. Anyone who’s taken language ...