Duolingo's sad appearance today is likely due to a deliberate design choice by the app makers to ignite curiosity and enhance user engagement. The Duolingo owl icon sometimes shows a sad or old look as part of a strategy to encourage users to open the app more frequently, interact with the community, and stay motivated in their language learning journey. This visual change aims to create emotional resonance and boost user activity rather than reflecting any actual issue with the app or user progress. It may also be part of occasional thematic or seasonal updates to keep the experience fresh and engaging for users.
Additionally, some users interpret the sad owl as a nudge or playful emotional manipulation encouraging them to complete their lessons or subscriptions, but it is more of a marketing and engagement tactic than a sign of app malfunction or real sadness.
