** Shares of the language learning platform Duolingo DUOL.O fall about 2.1% to $276.61 in premarket

** D.A. Davidson downgrades stock rating to "neutral" from "buy," citing DUOL’s active user growth continuing to decelerate due to minimal social media marketing and continued push back from AI-first

** Brokerage also slashes PT to $300 from $500, which still represents a 6.1% upside to the stock's last close on Wednesday

**Brokerage says "Duolingo’s social media machine isn’t 'turned on' right now, and Duolingo has been quiet on social in recent months, largely due to the AI first backlash

** We believe Duolingo’s efforts to stabilize user growth in the U.S. may be driven in part by an increase in paid marketing, adds D.A.Davidson

** Average rating of 25 analysts is "buy"; median PT is $460 - data compiled by LSEG

** As of last close, DUOL is down nearly 13% YTD

(Reporting by Akriti Shah in Bengaluru)

((akriti.shah@thomsonreuters.com))