How to Make Learning as Addictive as Social Media | Duolingo's Luis Von Ahn | TED

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3 months ago
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Viral Duolingo addictive learning gamification psychology Luis von Ahn TED learning addiction streaks and notifications app engagement science educational gamification how to gamify learning mobile learning design brain hacks for retention

What if learning felt as addictive as TikTok? In this reveal, Duolingo co-founder Luis von Ahn shares exactly how education became fun—and habit-forming—by using the same psychological hooks found in social media.

We break down how Duolingo:

Transforms tedious repetition into rewarding habits through gamified features like streaks, XP, and leaderboards
Reddit
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ChatGPT学习宝典
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Reddit
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arXiv

Uses targeted notifications and behavioral psychology to keep users coming back daily
ChatGPT学习宝典

Leverages a freemium model to provide access globally—even while reinforcing user dependency across cultures
Readwise
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Toolify
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Continually A/B tests strategies to optimize retention—even at the cost of user efficiency and satisfaction
YouTube
+4
arXiv
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axios.com
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Whether you’re an educator, product designer, or truth seeker, this talk reveals how platforms train your brain to crave learning… or scrolling.

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