Duolingo is the most popular app for learning new languages. The app has millions of users all over the world and allows users to learn phrases for up to 31 languages.
However, the company was recently the target of an online Twitter campaign, encouraging the app to censor its phrases, as some Twitter users were offended by some of the phrases that Duolingo were asking users to translate during a Spanish lesson
“My partner sent me these screenshots from their Spanish lesson today,” wrote an offended Twitter user, tagging Duolingo in the public message. “Hey @duolingo can you please explain wtf this is about?”
https://twitter.com/AlyHassell/status/1176221379139723266
The tweeter added in screenshots of two phrases featured on the app’s daily Spanish lesson.
The first phrase was, “son ellos legalles” (are they legal?) and the second phrase said, “El tiene que ser detenido ahora.” (He has to be detained right now.)
Other users chimed in, assuming that the phrases were about illegal immigrants and others were suggesting that the phrases were racist, demanding from an explanation from Duolingo.
Other Twitter users piled on and, soon enough, Duolingo responded.
The Duolingo CEO, himself an immigrant from Guatemala, replied to the offended user and explained that the two phrases were not presented together in the app and that putting them together like that was taking them out of context.
Still, the CEO announced that they would censor the app and remove those phrases anyway to avoid any confusion.
However, many more users suggested that the phrases shouldn’t have been present in the first place.
https://twitter.com/awkrdlyfeminine/status/1176539832736051200
