Are You Dead app goes viral among young people in China

A Chinese mobile app called Are You Dead? has surged in popularity among young people living alone in major cities.

The app requires users to check in every two days to confirm they are alive or it alerts an emergency contact.

Downloads have spiked in recent weeks, making it the most downloaded paid app in China.

The app targets solo workers, students and people living alone amid a rise in one-person households.

Users said fears of dying unnoticed were a key reason for installing the app.

I worry that if something happened to me, I could die alone and no one would know.

Wilson Hou said.

Some users criticised the app’s bleak name, arguing it could bring bad luck or emotional discomfort.

The developer, Moonscape Technologies, said it is considering changing the app’s name following public feedback.

The app, listed internationally as Demumu, has ranked among top paid utility apps in several countries.

The company said it is exploring new products aimed at elderly users living alone.