In brief
The app 'Are You Dead?' has become a sensation in China, particularly among young people living alone. Users are required to check in every two days to confirm their safety; if they fail to do so, the app alerts their emergency contacts. This need for assurance coincides with a growing trend of solitary living, with projections of 200 million one-person households in China by 2030. The app has sparked discussions about its name and purpose, as it aims to provide a sense of safety and companionship to those in vulnerable situations.
A new bleak-sounding app has taken China by storm.
Named Are You Dead? the concept is simple. You need to check in with it every two days – clicking a large button – to confirm that you are alive. If not, it will get in touch with your appointed emergency contact and inform them that you may be in trouble.
Launched in May last year to little fanfare, attention around the app has exploded recently, particularly with young people living alone in urban China downloading it en masse. This surge propelled it to become the most downloaded paid app in the country.
Research estimates show that there may be up to 200 million one-person households in China by 2030, a statistic highlighted by the Chinese state media outlet Global Times. The app aims to cater to this demographic, which it describes as a safety company companion... whether you're a solo office worker, a student living away from home, or anyone choosing a solitary lifestyle. Users have expressed the need for such a tool, noting fears of dying unnoticed.
Wilson Hou, 38, who lives away from his family, shares that he downloaded the app due to concerns about living alone far from home. I worry that if something happened to me, I could die alone in the place I rent and no-one would know, he said. Some users criticize the app's dark title, suggesting alternatives like Are you ok? or How are you? The developers are considering feedback on the name as they look to expand the app’s reach, even targeting the elderly in a country where over one-fifth of the population is over 60.
While the app is currently listed internationally under the name Demumu, it holds a significant position among paid utility apps in several countries, partly driven by the demand from overseas Chinese users.
