Anyone who’s ever used the language learning app Duolingo knows resident mascot Duo the green owl can be a little…needy.
Duo regularly guilt-trips users into doing their daily language homework with his chirpy push notifications.
But occasionally he also makes his feelings known more overtly without the need for language.
Those opening the app recently will have noticed the green owl is looking a little under the weather.
This is unlikely to be a sign of avian flu but rather one of Duo’s physical status updates to nudge app users into action.
Why does the Duolingo icon appear ill ?
Duo the owl seems to be under par at present with sweat across his brow, red-rimmed eyes, one eyelid drooping and snot dripping from his beak.
A Duolingo spokesperson said: “Duo is quite literally sick of reminding everyone to do their lessons!
“But don’t worry his symptoms aren’t contagious – as long as learners keep their streaks going!”
It’s not the first time the icon has had a change of face and previous iterations have all been for the same purpose – to grab users attention.
Earlier this year in April, Duo looked a little ‘sad and tired’ with a downbeat expression.
At the time the firm said Duo the Owl was “quite literally exhausted from doing everything he can to remind learners to do their lessons” and after an “insanely busy few months” he was being honest about his status.
While in October last year, Duo appeared to be melting.
A Duolingo spokesperson said then: “The melting Duo you see is a new app icon that learners will see for a limited time.
“If learners have the latest version of the Duolingo app downloaded, they should see melting Duo as the app icon.
“The purpose of the new app icon is to encourage learners to open the app.”
This change in Duo’s expression only appears for people with the latest version of the Duolingo app, so if your owl looks perfectly fine that means you’re due an update.
Can you get rid of the unwell Duo icon?
Duolingo said users will not be able to change the app icon back themselves.
Previously there have been a couple of ways to get rid of the changed Duo icon but they are only available to certain users.
The first is to be a Super Duolingo or Duolingo Max subscriber, which – among other benefits – allows you to change your icon to the multicoloured Super or Max-themed ones.
To do this, tap the Duo icon at the top right of the screen, scroll down to Super App Icon or Max App Icon, and tap Turn On.
Members of Duolingo’s exclusive Streak Society can also customise their app logo, to an orange Duo with burning eyes, by following the same steps.
To be a part of the Streak Society you need to have racked up a long streak of app usage – at least 50 days.
