US EditionChina’s ‘Are You Dead’ App Goes Viral, Sparking Debate Over Isolation and Solo Living
The app reflects growing solo living and thinning social safety nets in China, with over 125 million one-person households recorded in 2020, rising to an expected 200 million by 2030.
- On Jan 10, the indie safety app Are You Dead Yet went viral, topping China’s Apple App Store paid charts, and developers announced on Tuesday it will be renamed Demumu overseas.
- Rising solo living has left China’s one-person households at more than 125 million in 2020, with Beike Research Institute projecting 200 million by 2030 amid weaker informal safety nets.
- Developed by three Gen-Z creators from Zhengzhou, Are You Dead Yet requires a daily tap and emails an emergency contact after two missed days, costing just over 1,000 yuan.
- Investor interest surged as Guo and colleagues reported over 60 investors contacted them, downloads rose more than 100 times, paying users increased 200-fold, and new SMS features were considered on Jan 11.
- Copycats and mini programmes quickly replicated the app within 24 hours, while critics warned email alerts may act as `death notification`, raising concerns for elderly, migrants and vulnerable users.
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117 Articles
“Are You Dead?” Chinese app for single living goes viral, rebrands as Demumu for global launch - Tech Startups
A blunt question is fueling one of China’s most unexpected app success stories. An app literally called “Are you dead?” has exploded across Chinese app stores, tapping into a quiet fear shared by millions of people who live alone. What […] The post “Are You Dead?” Chinese app for single living goes viral, rebrands as Demumu for global launch first appeared on Tech Startups.
The “Are you dead?” app, which triggers an alarm if the user doesn’t connect every 48 hours, has become one of the most sold in China, where more and more people live alone.
By Jessie Yeung and CNN office in Beijing, CNN In recent weeks, a morbid sound app has taken China for assault, exploiting widespread loneliness and youth discontent in the second most populous country in the world. The app, called “Are You Dead?” and aimed at those living alone, has a simple premise: users must register for the app every day. If they miss several days, the app will automatically notify their emergency contact. In the last few w…
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