Are You Dead?’ App Tops China’s Charts

Tapping into a deep-seated fear among China’s millions of solo dwellers – dying alone and unnoticed – a morbidly named new app called “Are You Dead?” (死了么 Si Le Mi) has become a viral sensation, climbing to the top of the country’s paid app charts. 

The concept is simple: users must check in every two days by clicking a large button to confirm they are alive, BBC reported. 

If they fail to do so, the app automatically notifies a pre-appointed emergency contact that they may be in trouble. 

Launched with little fanfare last year, the app has recently exploded in popularity as it resonates with a growing demographic of young people who live alone, a group projected to reach 200 million by 2030. 

“There is a fear that people living alone might die unnoticed, with no one to call for help. I sometimes wonder, if I died alone, who would collect my body?” one user wrote on social media, echoing a common sentiment. 

Despite its success, the app’s morbid name – a wordplay on a popular Chinese food delivery app – has drawn criticism, with some users saying it might bring bad luck. 

A user surnamed Zhao from Sichuan in southwest China said he would pay to download the app if it were renamed "Are You Alive". 

The company behind the app, Moonscape Technologies, have acknowledged the feedback and is considering a name change. Listed internationally as Demumu, the app has also climbed the charts in the US, Singapore, and Australia. 

What started as a project that cost just 1,000 yuan ($143/RM581) to build has now grown into a valuable company, with the founders reportedly seeking to raise funds at a 10 million yuan valuation. Also, they are exploring a new product specifically designed for the elderly, another large and vulnerable demographic in China.