why is my duolingo crying

The reason the Duolingo owl (Duo) is crying is generally a playful and emotional design feature meant to motivate users. Duo often appears sad or crying when users have missed lessons or not engaged with the app, encouraging users to return and keep up with their language learning streaks. The crying indicates Duo's "disappointment" or a nudge to practice more to maintain or improve progress. This emotional expression is part of Duolingo's gamified approach to language learning, designed to keep users motivated and connected to the app. Some users also report that Duo can appear sad even after completing lessons due to app design choices or temporary glitches. If Duo is crying persistently, it may reflect missed lessons, low activity, or a signal to refresh skills. Users sometimes experience this as frustrating, as the icon can be emotionally impactful or annoying. Duolingo frequently updates its app animations, and the owl's tears are part of this expressive design. In summary, Duo is crying as a motivational reminder or feedback based on the user's recent engagement with lessons and progress in the app.