Beijing, January 14, 2026 (NA) – The app called "Are you dead?" or simply "Dead?" has gone viral in a short time to become one of the most popular in China, as it is presented as a "safety tool for those who live alone (…)". Since Sunday, it has been among the best-selling apps in the iOS store of the world's second-largest economy, according to information gathered by the Noticias Argentinas agency. According to a team interviewed by Global Times, it currently leads the 'ranking' of paid apps in the Chinese App Store. Launched in May 2025 and developed by Moonscape Technologies Inc., it describes itself as a tool for people who do not usually live in one place, establishing an invisible security that works through monitoring that "makes solitary life safer". It allows you to check daily if the user is still alive, for which it requires a tap once a day as proof of life. And if there is no confirmation within the established period, it notifies emergency contacts by email. The app is called Silemeen in Chinese or Demumu for the international market. It is a play on words with the name of a popular food delivery app and translates to "Are you dead?". With an icon representing a ghost, it directs users to a page where they must enter their name and the email of an emergency contact. It costs eight yuan (1.15 dollars) and includes a 'Register' button with the warning: "If you do not register for two days, the system will notify your emergency contact by email the next day in your name". Solitary people In 2024, solitary people represented about a fifth of all Chinese households, up from 15% a decade ago, according to official data. Global Times estimates that by 2030 there could be more than 200 million single-person households. The small company Yuejing (Zhengzhou) will focus on improving the product, for example, by introducing SMS notifications, message sending, and features adapted for the elderly. The developers are also considering changing its name. It has been the subject of various opinions regarding its purpose and name that evokes concern, as it traverses various social contexts and problems, from the use of technology as support in individual security, to being an effective means of communication, to rethinking the formation of new ways of living, that is, prioritizing a solitary home over the traditional family model.
