Duolingo's Dominance Raises Concerns About EdTech's True Value
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The World’s Top EdTech Companies of 2026: Duolingo’s Dominance Raises Concerns
Duolingo has emerged as the top-performing company in education technology for 2026, with over 60 million daily active users and $1 billion in bookings last year. However, beneath its impressive surface, the EdTech industry is facing growing pains.
One key factor behind Duolingo’s success is its ability to tap into cultural moments and capitalize on them for marketing gain. The company has successfully leveraged events such as the World Cup and Squid Game to resonate with users. Yet, this approach raises questions about the true value of EdTech in education: Is it enough to simply provide access to learning tools, or should we be concerned about how these companies are shaping our educational landscape?
The answer lies in the numbers. Literacy rates have been steadily rising around the world over the last decade, according to a 2025 UNESCO report. This progress is largely attributed to increased access to digital learning, which has been associated with higher test scores for students globally. However, what about the flip side of this coin? As we become more dependent on EdTech tools, are we losing sight of fundamental educational principles?
Researchers like Emily Weinstein and Stephen Aguiar have sounded the alarm about the potential drawbacks of relying too heavily on technology in classrooms. Excessive screen time and inadequate onboarding are legitimate concerns when implementing these tools. Moreover, there’s a growing recognition that EdTech companies often enter educational spaces with little understanding of their complexities.
The result is a “learning recession” in the U.S., where standardized scores for math and reading have been dropping despite increased access to digital learning tools. This issue is not solely about the technology itself but also how it’s being used or misused by educators and administrators. Aguiar pointed out that educational institutions are often underfunded and strapped for resources, leading them to seek shortcuts in the form of EdTech solutions.
The proliferation of digital cheating is a growing concern among educators. If AI tools can be used to cheat on assignments, then what does this say about our understanding of learning and assessment? As technology becomes increasingly woven into education, we risk a fundamental shift in how we think about knowledge and its acquisition.
Duolingo’s success raises questions about the true nature of EdTech. Is this industry driven by a genuine desire to improve learning outcomes or primarily motivated by profit? As technology continues to play a more significant role in education, it’s essential that we reevaluate what we’re doing.
We risk creating a system where knowledge is reduced to digital badges and certification rather than a nuanced understanding of the world around us. Aguiar aptly put it: “Education is not this thing where you drop off your kids, they sit there for a little bit, knowledge gets poured into them, and then they come out a little smarter.” That’s a business model, not an educational philosophy.
The EdTech industry has reached a critical juncture. Duolingo may be the top-performing company in education technology, but its success is only half the story. The real question is what this means for the future of learning itself – and whether we’re willing to risk our children’s educations on a promise that EdTech will solve all our problems.
Reader Views
- EKEditor K. Wells · editor
The metrics-driven approach of EdTech companies like Duolingo is laudable, but we mustn't forget that students' educational experiences are more than just numbers on a spreadsheet. The emphasis on scalable models and user acquisition often overlooks the subtleties of learning environments and individual student needs. By prioritizing growth over human-centric design, these companies risk perpetuating inequality in education – exacerbating existing disparities rather than bridging them. We need to examine how EdTech companies are cultivating long-term social impact, not just quarterly profits.
- CSCorrespondent S. Tan · field correspondent
The Duolingo phenomenon is a double-edged sword in EdTech. On one hand, its accessibility and gamification have undoubtedly expanded learning opportunities for millions worldwide. However, as these companies' influence grows, so does their capacity to manipulate user behavior and shape educational agendas. It's time to interrogate the role of profit-driven metrics in driving EdTech innovation, rather than merely scrutinizing Duolingo's marketing prowess or citing rising literacy rates. What are the long-term consequences when education becomes an industry beholden to investors, rather than learners?
- RJReporter J. Avery · staff reporter
While Duolingo's dominance in EdTech is undeniable, I'm concerned that the article glosses over the issue of unequal access to technology within schools. The assumption seems to be that if students have a device and internet connection, they're good to go. However, what about the districts with outdated infrastructure or limited bandwidth? Or the students who can't afford personal devices outside of school hours? Until we address these fundamental inequalities, Duolingo's success will only serve as a Band-Aid on a much larger wound in our education system.