When technologist Luis von Ahn was building the popular language-learning platform Duolingo, he faced a big problem: Could an app designed to teach you something ever compete with addictive platforms like Instagram and TikTok? He explains how Duolingo harnesses the psychological techniques of social media and mobile games to get you excited to learn — all while spreading access to education across the world.

Luis von Ahn: How to make learning as addictive as social media

How to make learning as addictive as social media

Harnessing social media's addictive qualities, Duolingo transforms language learning into a captivating pursuit for millions.

Leveraging 'streaks' and 'notifications', Duolingo ingeniously motivates learners, boasting over 3 million users with year-long streaks.

Duolingo's ambition: Extend its engaging, accessible education model beyond languages to encompass math, physics, and more globally.