A new digital sensation is sweeping the world! For most people, waking up and picking up your phone first thing in the morning is a daily occurrence. Typically people will scroll through social media or news outlets. In a study done by the New York Times, it has been found that over 300,000 people pick up their phones in the morning and play Wordle.What exactly is Wordle?

Developed by Josh Wardle, Wordle is a digital word game. You can only play it once every 24 hours, and every day there is a new 5 letter word to be guessed. It can be ANY 5 letter word! You have six chances to guess the correct word. As you guess, your letter tiles will show up as different colors. Green means that you have the correct letter in the correct spot. Yellow means that you have a correct letter in the wrong spot. Grey means that the letter is not in the word at all. You will know you have mastered the Wordle of the day when you have all green tiles!

Why is it so popular?

When looked at from a distance, Wordle is very simple and quite honestly like any other word game. There are a few things that have set this game over the top and straight into popularity.

1. The word changed every single day, so it almost becomes a daily task. It’s new. It’s different. It’s exactly what we need to distract ourselves from the predictable day we know is ahead.
2. It becomes a topic of conversation. Many days this week I have heard, “Have you done the Wordle today?” or “The Wordle was so hard today!” It is something we can bond over! It can even become competitive to see who can guess the word the fastest.
3. It is free! Wordle does not charge any fees. It doesn’t even have annoying ads.

Who exactly owns Wordle?

Josh Wardle-former social worker- first developed Wordle in 2013. It began as just a prototype for his friends, but blew up more than he ever thought it would. In February of 2022, The New York Times bought Wordle. When asked about the transaction, Wardle stated, ““I’ve long admired the NYT’s approach to their games and the respect with which they treat their players. Their values are aligned with mine on these matters, and I’m thrilled that they will be stewards of the game moving forward.”

Where can Wordle be accessed?

Wordle can be accessed through the website https://www.powerlanguage.co.uk/wordle/. 

Pro tip: by leaving the webpage open on your phone, you can start a winning streak!

Next time you find yourself scrolling aimlessly on your phone or looking for something to do, check out the Wordle of the day!