China’s top paid app is called ‘Are You Dead?’ Here’s why it’s going viral

Are You Dead, internationally listed under the name ‘Demumu’, was initially available for free, but now it costs Rs 99. A report by the BBC says it is currently ranked in the top two in the US, Singapore and Hong Kong and has managed to grab the fourth spot in Australia and Spain for paid utility apps.

One of the reasons why the app has gained massive popularity in the past few weeks is that China is experiencing a growing number of one-person households. According to Chinese outlet Global Times, the number is expected to balloon up to 200 million by 2030.

Are You Dead has a pretty barebones UI. (Express Photo)

On the Apple App Store, it is described as a “lightweight safety tool crafted for solo dwellers, establishing invisible safety protection through check-in monitoring and emergency contact mechanisms to make solitary life more reassuring.”

The developers of Are You Dead? say the app requires no registration or sign-up and uses encryption to safeguard emergency contact information and check-in records. In a statement to Financial Times, Lyu said people experience “a strong sense of loneliness due to the lack of people to communicate with… accompained by… worries about unforeseen events occuring without anyone knowing.”

While not much is known about the creators, the report suggests that the developers of Are You Dead? comprises a small three-person team. One of the co-creators named Lyu has reportedly told the local media that the app targets young people living alone in big cities, especially young women around the age of 25.