A Viral App With a Blunt Question

A mobile app called “Are You Dead?” has gone viral in China. It targets people who live alone. The app’s Chinese name, Sileme, translates directly to the same question. Its blunt tone sparked massive online discussion.

The app describes itself as a “lightweight safety tool for solo dwellers.” It serves students, office workers, and anyone choosing a solitary lifestyle. Users add one emergency contact. If they fail to check in for consecutive days, the app sends an alert.

This simple idea touched a nerve. Downloads surged. Social platforms filled with debate. Some users found the name dark. Others called it honest and comforting.

Why Solo Living Is Driving This Trend

China has seen a sharp rise in one-person households. State media estimates up to 200 million people now live alone. The solo living rate exceeds 30 percent.

This shift brings freedom. It also brings risk. Medical emergencies, accidents, or sudden illness can go unnoticed. The app turns that fear into a system. It replaces silence with a signal.

For many users, it feels like a quiet companion. It does not intrude. Yet it notices absence. That balance explains its rapid adoption.

From Sileme to Demumu

The developers announced that the app will adopt a global brand name: Demumu. The new version will launch soon.

On Apple’s App Store, Demumu already ranks near the top of the paid chart. It briefly held the number one position earlier this week.

The team also introduced a small fee. In China, it costs eight yuan. On Apple’s Hong Kong store, it costs HK$8. The creators say rising demand increased operating costs.

The team shared that only three people built and run the app. All were born after 1995. They started as an unknown group. The viral wave changed everything.

A Name That Started a Conversation

Many netizens urged the team not to change the name. Others suggested softer options like “Are You Alive?” or “Are You There?”

Yet the original question forced a deeper discussion. It exposed the invisible risks of modern independence. For people living alone, the app offers reassurance. It turns isolation into awareness.

The “Are You Dead” app is not just a tool. It is a signal of how urban life is changing.