An app bluntly titled “Are You Dead?” has climbed to the top of China’s paid app charts, reflecting growing anxieties among people who live alone.
Launched in May 2025, the app requires users to confirm they are alive every two days, sending an alert to an emergency contact if they fail to respond. Its popularity has surged as more young people in major Chinese cities choose solitary living, with one-person households expected to reach 200 million by 2030.
The app positions itself as a simple safety companion, addressing fears of accidents, illness, or death going unnoticed. On social media, users have shared deeply personal reactions, saying it resonates with introverts, people with depression, and others worried about being alone in moments of crisis.
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