Viral Chinese App ‘Are You Dead?’ Checks on People Living Alone

A Chinese mobile app, "Are You Dead?", has become popular for ensuring the safety of people living alone. Primarily used by young urban dwellers, the app requires users to confirm their safety every two days.

A new mobile app is trending in China to ensure the safety of people living alone. "Are You Dead?"—named 'Sile Me' in Chinese—quickly reached the top spot on the Apple App Store in China. The app's success is driven by the increasing number of people living alone in the country and the resulting safety concerns.

Simple Function, Guaranteed Safety

The app works in a very simple way. Every two days, the user must log in to the app to confirm they are safe. If no confirmation is received for two consecutive days, the app immediately informs the user's pre-set emergency contacts via email or notification. A key feature is that the app does not require special login information or personal data.

Huge Popularity Among Youth

While such systems were previously aimed at the elderly, the majority of the new app's users are young people. It is mostly used by those living alone in cities for work and other reasons. The fear of dying unnoticed while living alone is what attracts many to it. According to a BBC report, about 125 million people live alone in China.

A Big Change at a Low Cost

Three Gen Z youths from a company called 'Moonscape Technologies' are behind this app. They created it with a budget of just 1000 yuan (about 13,000 rupees). Currently, the app can be downloaded for eight yuan (about 103 rupees). It has already gained popularity among the Chinese diaspora in countries like the United States, Singapore, and Australia.

Amid criticism that the app's name is a bit morbid, the creators are also considering changing it. Reports indicate that the number of people living alone in China is expected to exceed 200 million by 2030.