Un-Paywalled link:

https://archive.is/2025.07.25-064258/https://www.lemonde.fr/en/pixels/article/2025/07/25/from-facebook-games-to-a-llama-reminding-you-to-drink-water-the-rise-of-streaks-the-rewards-that-keep-you-hooked_6743699_13.html

As I said on another thread, my duolingo streak addiction made me fucking miserable, but I just couldn’t stop. I knew that breaking it would plunge me into a horrible depressive state. I finally broke free after finishing the diamond league and make peace with “good enough”. I haven’t been able to use duolingo ever since, because there’s apparently no way of just using duolingo normally without gamification.