Travel has opened my eyes to the importance of cross-cultural collaboration to overcome stereotypes, foster inclusion, and address today’s critical issues — yet so many students don’t have access to meaningful exchange opportunities, whether it be due to finances, documentation, or family life. At the same time, millions of language learners around the globe have heard of Duolingo: an adaptive & interactive mobile application for developing new language skills through bite-sized lessons. While Duolingo is free for users, it is actually a for-profit organization, by asking users to translate articles from sources like CNN and Buzzfeed into their native languages as part of the English language learning experience. The fact that there are more than 200 million users on Duolingo, which has received more than $108.3 million in total funding, merits the question: is Duolingo investing their social and financial capital in a manner which generates the most social impact?

From a systems perspective, today’s critical issues are shared and have global impacts, from gender & racial equity to environmental sustainability. In today’s society, so many young people want to bring positive change by solving someone else’s problem, to be a ‘heropreneur’. To start a business, a nonprofit, a movement. To start something that magically breaks down barriers to women & POC in STEM, or access to clean energy. The reality is that there are hundreds of stakeholders on each front, and we must change the game through collective power of network. This doesn’t mean there’s no room for invention. It simply means invention must be diverse & inclusive, to see new perspectives and underlying currents of issues well-explored. I believe radical inclusion is the next step in enlightenment, because too much is missing from education simply due to the fact that communities operate in spheres of influence that do not collide. As a first-generation immigrant, I recognize these different levels of privilege & access. I recognize the urgency of creating more spaces at the table, and the importance of bridging those from different privilege spectrums to talk about dreams and fears.

In this lens, Duolingo has room for growth in increasing social impact. If I could be the CEO of Duolingo, I would analyze the demographics of my user base, to identify who are using these products and why. Based on this data, I would like to humanize the language learning experience, because learning a new language is so much more than grammar and pronunciation. It is about people, culture, values, traditions, and the daily patterns of life that carry so much more meaning from a perspective of one outside the system. For example, what if we could structure Duolingo lessons to follow the journey of a traveler in that country? Or digitally replicate the experiences of growing up as a child in that country through a combination of photos, 3D modeled objects, and primary testimonials? What if we could connect ‘heropreneurs’ and problem solvers to those who are actually experiencing their targeted problems?

While language learning will always remain a priority, I’d like to use Duolingo as a platform to build bridges across culture and privilege. von Ahn, the current Co-Founder & CEO of Duolingo, grew up in Guatemala, a country with one of the lowest literacy rates in the world. He insists the app provides ‘free language learning,’ for those without access to college courses or expensive software like Rosetta Stone. This I agree with, yet let’s expand ‘free language learning’ to ‘free study abroad’ or even, ‘free cultural understanding.’ As von Ahn suggests, too many people are siloed from conversations about climate to civic representation, and that is unacceptable. By pivoting the manner in which Duolingo presents it’s services, we can educate millions around the globe on roles other than the ‘heropreneur’, because the researcher, communicator, creator, ally, and others are equally critical.

Gen Z and youth culture today align with missions, not brands. We are on a quest for truth, and believe dialogue is the most effective way to improve the world. A report from AFS Intercultural Programs, which surveyed more than 5,255 high school students (ages 13-18) from 27 countries demonstrates that we don’t simply want to travel to other countries. We want to immerse in new ideas and authentically experience a culture drastically different from our own. Accordingly, when studying overseas, over two-thirds of Gen Z’ers ranked cultural experiences as more important than education. Meanwhile, financial barriers still pose a barrier for student mobility, as shown by 33% students from emerging or developing economies who can’t access such opportunities without a scholarship. If Duolingo is to not only lead the online language learning language market segment, but innovation within this framework, it must seek to provide more than language education. It must provide language education within lenses of human exchange, cultural understanding, and creating spaces for different spheres of life to have a conversation.