A provocative new smartphone application called ‘Are You Dead?’ has become an unexpected sensation in China, tapping into deep-seated fears about dying alone while highlighting the country’s rapidly changing social landscape. The app, which users must check into every two days to confirm they are alive, has surged to the top of China’s paid App Store rankings and sparked widespread discussion about isolation in modern urban Chinese society.
The concept is straightforward: users designate an emergency contact and must tap a large button every 48 hours to signal they’re safe. If they fail to check in, the app automatically alerts their contact that something may be wrong. At just 8 yuan (about $1.15), it has attracted hundreds of thousands of downloads in recent weeks, according to its developers.
‘There is a fear that people living alone might die unnoticed, with no one to call for help,’ wrote one user on Chinese social media. ‘I sometimes wonder, if I died alone, who would collect my body?’
This simple application has struck a chord precisely because it addresses a growing reality in China. Research institutions cited by state media suggest the country could see up to 200 million one-person households by 2030. The surge in solitary living stems from urbanization, delayed marriage, long working hours, and migration for employment that separates people from traditional family support networks.
Wilson Hou, a 38-year-old professional working in Beijing who lives about 100 km from his family, explained why he downloaded the app immediately after its release last May.
‘I worry that if something happened to me, I could die alone in the place I rent and no-one would know,’ Hou told the BBC. ‘That’s why I downloaded the app and set my mum as my emergency contact.’
The developers behind the app are three programmers born after 1995 who built the application in just one month at a cost of about 1,000 yuan ($140). Working from Zhengzhou in Henan province with a small team, they created the app after noticing discussions on social media about essential tools for people living alone.
‘We wanted to create something lightweight but useful,’ said one developer, surnamed Lyv, in an interview with Guangzhou Daily. ‘The name is direct, but we felt it was important to confront mortality directly rather than hide from it.’
The app’s blunt name has sparked considerable debate. Some users have criticized it as inauspicious, suggesting alternatives like ‘Are You Alive?’ or ‘How Are You?’ as more culturally appropriate options. In Chinese culture, where language often carries symbolic significance, directly referencing death can be seen as inviting bad fortune.
Moonscape Technologies, the company behind the app, has acknowledged the criticism and is considering a name change. The Chinese name ‘Si-le-ma’ is actually a play on the popular food delivery app ‘E-le-ma’ (‘Are you hungry?’), giving it a darkly humorous twist.
‘Death has both a literal and sociological meaning,’ said user Zhao from Sichuan Province on social media. ‘If it were changed to ‘Are You Alive,’ I would pay to download it.’
Despite the controversy, the app has found users beyond its initial target demographic. While designed for young urban professionals, it has also resonated with elderly Chinese living alone, as well as people with depression, introverts, and others in vulnerable situations.
The developers are now exploring expansion into the elderly market. In a recent statement, they said: ‘We would like to call on more people to pay attention to the elderly who are living at home, to give them more care and understanding. They have dreams, strive to live, and deserve to be seen, respected, and protected.’
This focus on elderly users addresses a pressing demographic reality in China, where more than one-fifth of the population is now over 60 years old. The country is expected to have around 300 million pensioners soon, creating significant challenges for families and social services.
Internationally, the app appears in App Stores under the name Demumu and has ranked among the top paid utility apps in several countries including the United States, Singapore, Hong Kong, Australia, and Spain. This international presence appears driven largely by Chinese users living overseas.
The success of ‘Are You Dead?’ reflects a broader trend of technology stepping in to address gaps created by social change. As traditional family structures and community support networks evolve in modern China, digital tools are increasingly filling the role of safety nets and connections.
‘The app meets an urgent need,’ said internet expert Liu Dingding in comments to Global Times. ‘The greatest hidden risk for this group [people living alone] is that sudden illness or accidents may go unnoticed. The app’s straightforward name directly highlights this reality.’
For now, the team behind the app is focused on improving its functionality, adding SMS notifications, and considering other features like heart-rate monitoring. They’re also looking for investment partners to help scale the service as downloads continue to surge.
In a society grappling with rapid urbanization and changing family dynamics, this simple app has done something remarkable—it has sparked a public conversation about mortality, isolation, and what it means to truly care for one another in an increasingly digital world.
