The Duolingo icon is crying or looking sad because it is a deliberate design change meant to psychologically encourage users to use the app more regularly. The crying or sad icon is a way for Duolingo's mascot, Duo the owl, to show "disappointment" or "concern" when users have not been practicing their language lessons for a while. This approach is a motivational tactic intended to create a sense of urgency or guilt that nudges users to open the app and continue their lessons. This icon change is part of Duolingo's ongoing strategy to emotionally engage users and keep them motivated in their language learning journey. The sad or crying Duo typically appears when there has been a break in daily practice or a weakening in learning progress, signaling users to return to their lessons. Duolingo has also used other variants like a "melting" Duo or a very tired-looking owl in previous updates to create a dynamic and emotionally engaging app experience.
In summary, the crying Duolingo icon is a purposeful design to remind users to keep up with their learning, using an emotional connection to encourage consistent app usage.
