Question

Language learning app Duolingo has been banned from TikTok.

Answer 1

Using the SIFT method, the claim that “Language learning app Duolingo has been banned from TikTok.” is likely false or misleading. Stop: The claim is from a TikTok user, so the claim is worth investigating. Investigate the source: The person who posted it is an influencer/ commentator who mostly posts about trends and controversies on the app. He does not seem to have a set political bias, but his claims in his posts likely come from gossip. Find better coverage: The company recently announced that it would be going “AI-first”, meaning it will be prioritizing AI technology over human employees. This decision sparked major backlash, especially from TikTok users, where the Duolingo account had a big presence. According to Fast Company, the TikTok account did delete all of their videos, but it did not appear to be banned in any way, as it returned with a strange video. Trace claims to original context: This claim likely originates from rumors surrounding the backlash towards Duolingo on their official TikTok account during the company’s decision to delete all of their videos. When an account is banned, it can look similar to how it would if all the videos on it become private.  

Sources:

https://www.fastcompany.com/91338068/duolingo-deletes-tiktok-ai-backlash-returns-with-strange-message

 

Comments

You do a really good job with this claim. You begin by using the SIFT method to debunk the original claim. You break down their sources and use your sources to show actual evidence to support your claim. The evidence of this ban comes from rumors surrounding the backlash and not from real sources. Overall, Great Job.

Answer 2

The claim that Duolingo has been banned from the app TikTok is false. This comes as a TikToker, Kai Lanier, whose handle is @kai_lanier on the app, claims that Duolingo has been banned from TikTok. In a video he posted on May 5, 2025, he claims that they have deleted all their videos, and their profile picture is not their typical logo. This is false because, as of May 21, 2025, Duolingo has one video posted on 5/20/2025, and their profile picture is currently their original logo. This proves that Duolingo is not banned from TikTok and proves the claim by Kai Lanier false.

Sources:

Kai Lanier TikTok Video Claim

Duolingo TikTok Account

Comments

I like this simple yet thorough fact check, I also think that the claim made by the tiktoker is also misleading. I don’t see why a harmless brand such as Duolingo would be ‘banned’ on this platform. They could not even show up after a search if this were true.

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I like that you checked Duolingo’s TikTok profile and provided specific dates, which helps show the claim is outdated or fabricated. One suggestion would be to add a bit more context about how misinformation like this spreads quickly on platforms like TikTok and why it’s important to verify before sharing. Overall, great job using primary evidence to disprove a viral rumor.

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A great and effective way to fact-check something is to look for yourself. I wish you would have gone into more detail about why the information was spread and what caused the false information to be brought up. (If the Tiktok creator had given a reason for the ban of Duolingo.)

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This fact check was very easy and efficient as you directly accessed TikTok to confirm the doubt between Duolingo and TikTok, which is presentable on both of the apps. Great update, maybe they just thought so because no videos were posted at the time of 5/5/25?

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The claim that Duolingo was banned from TikTok is false. As of May 21, 2025, their account is still active, with a new video posted on May 20 and their original profile picture intact. Always verify before believing viral claims.

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Your factcheck is clear and well structured. The backing with specific evidence from Duolingo's TikTok account. Another thing you did that stood out was included specific dates of the accounts most recent post's. Your factcheck highlights the importance of doing our own research as the audience, before spreading false claims.

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Nice job checking the actual Duolingo TikTok account and using clear, specific evidence to disprove the claim. Mentioning the post date and profile picture helps make your point solid. To make it even stronger, you could briefly explain why people might have believed the rumor and how misinformation spreads on apps like TikTok. Still, it’s a clean and effective fact-check overall.

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This is a good answer because you immediately state that the claim is false. You then go into saying who posted it, when they posted it, and where they posted it. You then provide factual evidence that agrees with your answer and takes down his claim.

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You did a great job fact-checking the claim and using direct evidence from the TikTok account to debunk it. I liked how you gave the exact date of the new video and noted the logo as proof that Duolingo wasn’t banned. One thing that could improve your response is a bit more polish in sentence flow—maybe combine or break up a few sentences for clarity. But overall, this was clear, well-organized, and effective.

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Great job covering this situation as you showed why this can be a false and misleading claim. Using the source you listed it helped gain an understanding to why this is a false claim.

Answer 3

This claim is false. Duolingo's TikTok account is still active as of May 21, 2025, they have just removed all of their content as part of a marketing tactic. Recently, Duolingo announced its new 'AI-first' policy, which resulted in extreme backlash across all social media platforms, not just TikTok. By "laying off 10% of its contractor base and introducing some AI features in 2023", the company showed that they were already moving towards AI for a few years. (fastcompany.com) Seemingly in response to the backlash, Duolingo published a nondescript video to their TikTok and Instagram on Tuesday, May 20th, as part of a marketing tactic.

However there is no evidence that Duolingo was banned from TikTok in any way, therefore making the initial claim false.

https://www.fastcompany.com/91338068/duolingo-deletes-tiktok-ai-backlash-returns-with-strange-message

Comments

The response is strong because it clearly disproves the claim with recent evidence and references a credible source. It also gives useful context about Duolingo’s AI strategy and marketing tactics. However, the information could be more clearly organized, and the tone could be slightly more neutral to maintain objectivity.

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This was a really clear and helpful breakdown. I liked how you explained the difference between Duolingo being banned vs. them just pulling their content. The Fast Company article was a good source too. Great fact check.

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On May 20, Duolingo posted a vague video to both TikTok and Instagram, suggesting the brand is intentionally leaning into the controversy. However, there is no evidence that TikTok banned Duolingo’s account in any capacity. Therefore, the original claim is inaccurate.

Answer 4

This claim states that the popular language learning app Duolingo has been banned on the social media platform TikTok. The source comes from another social media user on TikTok with the account name: @kai_lanier. He states that the language learning apps TikTok account had been banned but it's clearly evident this is false. Upon my own research and findings, I found that Duolingo is in fact not banned, but that still doesn't necessarily explain their recent change on the social media platform. Duolingo has removed all its videos as well as changing their profile picture to something different. Some say this is a marketing tactics, possibly to keep some sort of relevance on TikTok? I found a seemingly credible article on Cybernews regarding this topic. Journalist, Niamh Ancell states that "The world’s most popular and arguably most annoying language learning app, Duolingo, has deleted all of its videos on TikTok, signalling to the masses that employees are unhappy with the company’s AI-first initiative.". So upon further investigation, this claim is still in fact false, but the social media active company has changed their large platform on TikTok as a result of received backlash due to changes within the company. 

https://cybernews.com/entertainment/duolingo-artificial-intelligence-backlash-tiktok/

Comments

There is currently no evidence to support the idea that Duolingo was banned by TikTok. Instead, this shift seems to align with recent backlash the company has received following its announcement of an "AI-first" direction. According to a Cybernews article by journalist Niamh Ancell, Duolingo deleted all its TikTok videos, potentially as a response to internal unrest and public criticism regarding its adoption of AI technology.

Answer 5

The claim that the language learning app Duolingo has been banned from TikTok is just not true. Duolingo currently has an up-and-running account on TikTok, which has a video uploaded and many products for sale on TikTok's online shop. After reviewing the video from TikTok and the account on TikTok, as well as the video, it seems that the app had some sort of rebirth as an app. AI features are improving, and as seen in the intriguing video they have uploaded, they seem to be creating a new identity, different from their other one, which might be connected to the account's brief blank profile on TikTok. There isn't much information about if Duolingo was banned, but most of what I've briefly read is no. I couldn't find a reliable source that directly answers the claim. Below is the link to the page Duolingo has on TikTok.

Comments

Overall your factcheck that the claim is false is accurate and appears to be backed by evidence; however, I would question where you searched as others seem to have been able to find more direct answers to the claim. Also be sure to cite your sources next time to back up your fact check.

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I like that you actually checked out the account and the shop - I also could not find an incredible source for this claim, but there were some helpful articles that talked about the company going AI first and how internet users responded negatively to it like The Verge

Answer 6

The claim "language learning app Duolingo has been banned From TikTok" is false. as of now there TikTok account is still up. Tiktoker Kai Lanier made this claim basted of the fact that Duolingo deleted all there vids and wiped there account. this was probably done as a marketing strategy. they actually have a post posted that is cryptic and teasing something. 

https://www.tiktok.com/@kai_lanier/video/7505260000726633770

https://www.tiktok.com/@duolingo

Comments

I liked that you pointed out how Kai Lanier made up this claim, but when I looked at his account I found that he mostly repeats things that get spread around the internet, so I wonder if he is really the first person to make this claim- but it is a good example of how quickly misinformation can spread. What makes you think the video was a marketing strategy, how has the company used similar tactics in the past?

Answer 7

This claim that duolingo has been banned from TikTok is false. While it has been recently under going changes like removal of certain post or pictures, it does not mean that it was banned entirely.

Answer 8

Duolingo's official TikTok account appears to have been temporarily deactivated or wiped, but not banned by TikTok. This action seems to be part of a response to public backlash following the company's announcement to become "AI-first," which included controversial statements about automating language education and reducing human staff. In reaction to the criticism, Duolingo removed its posts and profile pictures across platforms like TikTok and Instagram, leading to speculation and discussions among users. This claim is completely false.