The use of the mascot by Duolingo to garner attention is not new. With its passive-aggressive reminders to learn a new language, the owl has evolved from a pleasant teaching character to a meme icon.

Duolingo Push also gives you the "option" to chose which kind of owl will "bug you" in real life. There's the "Encouraging Duo," the "Passive-Aggressive Duo," and for the low, low price of $100 a ...

Still, not everyone loves it. When Duolingo's head of product, Cem Kansu, posted a thread in 2020 about the success of "the passive aggressive reminder," several unhappy Duolingo users chimed in.

The Duolingo mascot, Duo ... the push notifications stopped and fans mourned the loss of their passive-aggressive, green-feathered overlord. “Honestly, it was an idea we had a few years ago ...