Duolingo Mandarin learning users spiked by 216% following the migration of content creators from TikTok to a Chinese social app RedNote. On January 19, Chinese app TikTok will be banned from the US Play Store unless the Supreme Court does not overrule the law. Users will not be able to access the app installed on their mobile, the app will only work when VPN is activated for other countries.
As the ban comes near, more than 700 million users have shifted to the Chinese social media app RedNote (originally called Xiaohongshu), creating an unexpected cultural change. For instance, some Chinese users requested Americans to help with their English homework. However, many TikTok users faced difficulty while signing on to the Chinese app as its default language is Mandarin.
Duolingo Sees Spike in Mandarin Learners
With the TikTok ban coming near, and no sign of the company’s bid, users have started migrating to another Chinese social media app. While some TikTok users have faced technical issues and even been banned from RedNote for rule violations, switching to another Chinese-owned app sends a clear message to the U.S. government and competitors like Meta: there’s strong demand for the social experiences China offers, which U.S. companies have only copied.
Since Xiaohongshu/RedNote, based in Shanghai, is made for a Chinese audience, the app’s default language is Mandarin. This led many U.S. users of Duolingo to quickly start learning Mandarin. Duolingo reported a 216% spike in Mandarin learning in the US by users compared to the same time last year. Additionally, when users were asked “How do you know about the app,” most answered “TikTok.”
Duolingo’s Growth Boosts
App data from Appfigures shows that demand for Duolingo’s language courses has boosted its app installs. The app saw a 36% increase in U.S. downloads on the App Store and Google Play by January 3, likely due to users exploring Chinese apps before the RedNote surge later in the month. Just a week ago, Duolingo ranked in the 40s for Top Apps and Top Overall. Now, it’s No. 22 in Top Overall and No. 20 in Top Apps.
Duolingo’s Stock Updates
Duolingo’s stock (DUOL) experienced a slight decline this week, closing at $310.87 on January 14th, down 2.23% from the previous week’s close.
This performance comes amidst a broader trend of increased interest in language learning, particularly Mandarin, within the United States. As geopolitical and economic ties with China continue to evolve, the demand for Mandarin fluency is growing across various sectors, from business to academia. This surge in interest could potentially benefit language-learning platforms like Duolingo, as they cater to a growing user base seeking accessible and engaging language-learning tools.
