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Library/Moment/Sick Duo
Grade B20 sourcesHIS-00570

Sick Duo

Moment · 2024 · Notable

43Editable slideCertificate

Sick Duo content generated 30 million social impressions, according to Duolingo.

Chris Fox

@youcancallmefox · Aug 26, 2024

This Duolingo app icon is absolute nightmare fuel. I hate that they did this to me.

300
Original · Chris Fox

Kristen Gudsnuk

@henchgirl_comic · Aug 30, 2024

Duolingo owl needs to be checked out by the CDC

413
Post · @henchgirl_comic on X

Duolingo(デュオリンゴ) | 日本公式🇯🇵

@Duolingo_Japan · Sep 2, 2024

みんなごめんね、低気圧にやられてて

14.7K113
Post · @Duolingo_Japan on X

Tina Mories

@TinaMories · Sep 4, 2024

Can someone please tell me what is wrong with the Duolingo Owl because I am distressed on their behalf

92
Post · @TinaMories on X

Nancy Roy 💙 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🇬🇧🇪🇺

@NancyNHS · Sep 1, 2024

So @duolingo Is the peculiar icon of a sad sick Duo mean that the system is sick too? Lately I've had a lot of double points awarded that DO NOT double my points. Also the owl's icon is so ugly it's putting me off doing any learning.

10
Post · @NancyNHS on X

Colin Jones

@Colin_Throws · Sep 4, 2024

Got a bit of a stuffy nose and now I'm worried about whether it's just allergies or if I caught whatever the Duolingo Owl has

50
Post · @Colin_Throws on X
Clip · Duolingo on YouTube
This Duolingo app icon is absolute nightmare fuel. I hate that they did this to me.
@youcancallmefox on X
Duolingo owl needs to be checked out by the CDC
@henchgirl_comic on X
あのアイコンはわざとらしい。。。。Duolingoの不細工アイコン｜ちびこ
ちびこ / note
Can someone please tell me what is wrong with the Duolingo Owl because I am distressed on their behalf
@TinaMories on X
Why The Duolingo Owl Suddenly Looks So Sick | Duolingo | 86 comments
Duolingo / LinkedIn
#onlyatduolingo | Ryan Sims | 65 comments
Ryan Sims / LinkedIn
DUO HAS THE BIRD FLU IB: @vlufs
Duolingo on YouTube
Duolingo doente? Entenda nova aparência do Duo que viralizou
Diário do Nordeste
Duolingo's New 'Sick' App Icon: Why Users Are Concerned And How To Change It | Explained | Outlook India
Outlook India
Hey Duolingo Owl ... how do you say, "Are you feeling okay?"
The Mary Sue
Búho Duolingo: Nuevo logo de la app de idiomas genera polémica en redes
Publimetro México
Duolingo sick app icon
Creative Bloq

Spread Score

How it works
Reach52ContagionNo data yetBreadth30Velocity65Longevity2043

Numbers

Sick Duo total across Instagram and TikTok (company supplied)
30M
As of Apr 10, 2025 · Self-reported · Fast Company
Seed to peak
3 days
Aug 26 ’24 to Aug 29 ’24
Platforms
5
Started on X
Origin
Seeded
Education

Mechanics

  • Mystery & lore
  • Controversy
  • Creator relay
  • Platform jump
  • Press loop
  • Mascot personaPrimary

How it spread

Trace the origin

A sick-looking Duolingo icon prompted screenshot posts on X and Reddit in August 2024. Press covered the confusion and disgust. Duolingo joined the illness jokes and later reported 30 million impressions for Sick Duo content on Instagram and TikTok.

Google searchesAug ’24SepOctDecFeb ’25AprPeakApp storesXRedditPressOpen web
App storesXRedditPressOpen web

13 more events on this chart

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Timeline (16)

  1. August 2024

    Duolingo precursor · Aug 2024

    Duolingo changed its app icon to a sick-looking Duo.[2][1]

    This Duolingo app icon is absolute nightmare fuel. I hate that they did this to me.
    Open the first post ↗

  2. @youcancallmefox seed · Aug 26 ’24

    Chris Fox posted a screenshot and called the Duolingo icon nightmare fuel.[2][12]

  3. u/PerspectiveOne2087 platform jump · Aug 27 ’24

    A Reddit user asked what happened to Duo on the Google Play icon.[3]

Origin
Seeded
Sector
Education
Region
Global
Sick Duo total across Instagram and TikTok (company supplied)
30M
As of Apr 10, 2025 · Self-reported · Fast Company
Evidence
Grade B

Spread the same way

How Dare You

YouTube · 2019

58
Greta Thunberg (Young Climate Activist) at the Climate Action Summit 2019 - Official Video

Planet Earth II iguana chase

X · 2016

52
Amazing footage: a hatchling sea iguana makes a run for its life to the safety of the shore, but will it escape the runner snakes?

Doja Cat’s Schiaparelli crystal look

X · 2023

48
The way doja ignore her while she was busy talking shot with kylie jenner is kinda the best moment,, btw Doja cat is all red is 🔥,,

9.3M views

Sam Smith's HARRI inflatable suit

X · 2023

47
sam smith squidward walking sounds #BRITs

2B impressions

New cases, every week

How the next thing spread, the week it does.

See every timeline

Free account, every case's full spread.

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Google searchesAug ’24SepOctDecFeb ’25AprPeakApp storesXRedditPressOpen web
App storesXRedditPressOpen web

13 more events on this chart

Join free to see them

  1. August 2024

    Duolingo precursor · Aug 2024

    Duolingo changed its app icon to a sick-looking Duo.[2][1]

    This Duolingo app icon is absolute nightmare fuel. I hate that they did this to me.
    Open the first post ↗

  2. @youcancallmefox seed · Aug 26 ’24

    Chris Fox posted a screenshot and called the Duolingo icon nightmare fuel.[2][12]

  3. u/PerspectiveOne2087 platform jump · Aug 27 ’24

    A Reddit user asked what happened to Duo on the Google Play icon.[3]

  1. owner response · Aug 28 ’24

  2. press · Aug 29 ’24

Join free to see the other 13 events and the full chart. Free, on every case.

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Why it worked

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