Duolingo's Desperate PR Stunt Backfires Spectacularly

Duolingo's Failed Publicity Stunt: A TikTok-Fueled Backlash Duolingo, the popular language-learning app, recently attempted a publicity stunt that quickly backfired. The company pretended to be hacked, deleting all its TikTok videos and altering its bio to create the illusion of a compromised account. However, this strategy was met with widespread criticism on social media. The video, created by TikTok user @dannyrayes, highlights how Duolingo's actions were perceived as desperate and inauthentic. The video shows screenshots of comments from other users, such as one saying, "y'alls plan is NOT working wrap it up." This clearly demonstrates the public's negative reaction to the stunt. Another user commented, "they really desperate trying to get people back." Duolingo's attempt to generate sympathy by faking a cyberattack proved counterproductive, causing a significant backlash and raising questions about the company's marketing strategies. The incident serves as a cautionary tale for brands considering similar publicity stunts, emphasizing the importance of authenticity and genuine engagement with their audience.