At the beginning of 2026, the app became the most downloaded paid app in China. A new paid app called 'Are You Dead?' or 'Have You Died?' topped the download charts in China. It is primarily aimed at young people living alone in major cities who fear dying without anyone noticing. The app was launched in May 2025 and relies on a simple mechanism: users must log in every two days by tapping a large button on the screen to confirm they are still alive. One user noted that the app could be useful for introverts, people with depression, and others going through difficult psychological or social situations. In an interview with the BBC, Wilson, a 38-year-old worker living in Beijing, said: 'I fear dying alone in my rented apartment and no one knowing if something bad happens to me,' explaining he had set his mother as an emergency contact. In turn, some users criticized the app's name, finding it too gloomy, and suggested gentler alternatives like 'Are You Okay?'. The app's developer, 'Monk Space Technologies,' acknowledged this criticism, confirming it is already considering changing the name. Globally, the app is known as 'Demomo' and is ranked among the best paid service apps in the USA, Singapore, Hong Kong, Australia, and Spain, likely thanks to Chinese users living abroad. The app markets itself as a 'safety companion' for people living alone, for students living far from home, and for those who choose a solitary lifestyle. One user wrote on Chinese social media: 'Sometimes I wonder, if I die alone, who will find my body?'. The app costs 8 yuan, equivalent to about 1.15 US dollars. The app's founders, three young men born after 1995, say its development cost did not exceed 1,000 yuan, less than 150 US dollars. One of the founders also told Chinese media they plan to sell 10% of the company's shares for 1 million yuan and are simultaneously considering launching a version for the elderly, targeting a large segment of China's population over 60. This surge in popularity coincides with the growing phenomenon of single-person living, as statistics indicate that the number of one-person households could reach about 200 million by 2030.
