Duolingo language learning app is no longer downloadable from some app stores in China

The popular language learning app Duolingo is no longer available in some app stores in China. The announcement came on Thursday, August 5, after the company learned of the news of his candidacy.

Why is Duolingo banned from Chinese app stores

According to a recent Reuters report on Friday, August 6, the decision to remove the Duolingo app came after the Chinese government blocked certain educational practices from working.

The rules have targeted these for-profit companies: tutoring companies.

Since China launched the crackdown on the private tutoring industry, the country has suffered huge losses in this area.

The Duolingo language learning app has been removed from some Android platforms in China, especially those operated by Tencent and Huawei.

However, for those who have Apple App Stores, you can still download it.

“We are working to resolve the issue and hope that the app will be restored in the short term. In the meantime, existing users in China can continue to use the app as they always do,” Duolingo said in a Bloomberg report.

In line with the crackdown on tutoring across China, ByteDance has announced that it will lay off hundreds of employees who work in tutoring and other related activities.

Implication of the repression of private lessons in China

China’s sudden ban on the education industry from investing in tutoring could have a huge impact on citizens. The South China Morning Post said it could develop a “black market” that features expensive deals.

A resident of Chengdu said she would hire private guardians in secret despite government-imposed rules. This does not leave him the choice to do anything other than private lessons at home.

In fact, the “black market” implications of the crackdown on private tutoring are gradually appearing.

In Huangshan City, a middle school educator was caught by the police. It was discovered that the teacher was providing an underground tutoring service to some students.

Also read: Best apps for learning a foreign language: Duolingo, Babbel, Memrise, AnkiApp, Busuu, etc.

Growth and financing of the company Duolingo

In June, the Pittsburgh-based learning company saw 120% growth in 2020. Most of its profits came from its subscription service.

In 2019, Duolingo’s revenue was $ 70.8 million. A year later, it jumped to an increase of 129%, which represented a growth of $ 161.7 million.

For the first quarter of 2021, the giant EdTech achieved a turnover of 55.4 million dollars. The coronavirus pandemic was thought to have contributed a lot to its massive profit growth.

In 2015, Duolingo had successfully launched $ 45 million in funding. Meanwhile, its app was the most downloaded educational app in Apple and Google app stores.

Prior to this funding, the company had raised $ 3.3 million in 2011.

She also participated in the New Enterprise Associates (NEA) funding of $ 15 million in 2012, followed by the 2014 funding of $ 20 million courtesy of Kleiner Perkins Caufield and Byers.

Associated article: Duolingo, but for math? A new application in preparation for children

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Written by Joseph Henry

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