Luis Von Ahn, the co-founder of Duolingo, explains that he created the language-learning platform to address the inequality in education prevalent in poor countries, where access to quality schooling often depends on wealth. To provide equal access to education to everyone, regardless of their financial status, Von Ahn and his team chose to focus on teaching foreign languages via mobile phones, as English proficiency can significantly increase income potential. Duolingo utilizes a freemium model that functions as a small form of wealth redistribution, where well-off subscribers indirectly pay for the education of those in poorer nations. Critically, to combat the distractions of smartphones, Duolingo makes learning as addictive as social media by leveraging the same psychological techniques, such as streaks and strategic notifications, to encourage daily engagement with educational material.