TL;DR
A minimalist Chinese app that asks users to tap a daily button to confirm they are alive has surged to the top of app-store charts and attracted heavy investor interest. Its creators plan a global rebrand to 'Demumu' and say they will add AI-driven safety features, though details and full usage figures remain undisclosed.
What happened
An indie app known in Chinese as si le ma (死了吗), or “Are You Dead Yet,” has become a sudden hit after users embraced its simple premise: enter a name and an emergency-contact email, then tap a large daily button. If a user skips the check-in for two days in a row, the app emails the designated contact asking them to check on the person. Built by three Gen‑Z developers led publicly by a creator identified only as Guo, the app first appeared in June 2025 and cost roughly $200 to develop. It grew slowly at first, then surged in late December after attention on social platforms and became the top paid app on China’s App Store in early January. The team has fielded contact from more than 60 investors, raised its one-time price from 1 RMB to 8 RMB, and announced a planned global rename to “Demumu.” The developers say they intend to add AI monitoring features but have not given technical specifics.
Why it matters
- Shows demand for ultra-simple digital tools that address basic safety needs for people who live alone.
- Attracted rapid investor interest despite the app’s minimal feature set and low development cost.
- Highlights how social traction can propel small apps to national charts and international attention.
- Signals a potential shift toward AI-driven safety services on personal devices, though implementation is still undefined.
Key facts
- App name in Chinese: si le ma (死了吗), English: 'Are You Dead Yet'; developers will rename it to 'Demumu' for global markets.
- Core function: users register a name and an emergency-contact email and tap a daily button to confirm they are alive.
- If a user misses two consecutive daily taps, the app sends an automated email urging the emergency contact to check on the user in person.
- First released on the App Store in June 2025; initial release was free and later became a paid app.
- Development reportedly cost about $200 to build the first version.
- Pricing moved from a one-time 1 RMB fee to 8 RMB amid rising attention.
- Sensor Tower data indicates the app’s popularity grew in late December; it became the most downloaded paid app in China on January 9.
- Developers say they have been contacted by over 60 investors and received offers worth millions of Chinese yuan for stakes in their company, Moonscape Technologies.
- Team plans to add artificial intelligence features described as an 'AI safety companion,' but no specific features were disclosed.
What to watch next
- Outcome and terms of the fundraising conversations the developers expect to announce in a few weeks.
- Details and rollout plan for the promised AI safety features — not confirmed in the source.
- User counts, revenue totals and retention metrics as the team scales — not confirmed in the source.
Quick glossary
- Emergency contact: A person designated to be notified if the app detects a potential problem with the user’s safety.
- Paid app ranking: An app-store metric that ranks applications based on paid downloads within a regional store.
- Sensor Tower: A market intelligence firm that tracks app downloads and performance across app stores.
- Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs: A psychological model that organizes human needs from basic survival and safety up to self-actualization.
- Gen‑Z: The demographic cohort following millennials, roughly those born in the mid‑1990s to early 2010s.
Reader FAQ
What does the app do?
Users tap a daily button to confirm they are alive; two missed days trigger an automated email to an emergency contact.
Who built it?
It was created by a three-person Gen‑Z developer team; one founder gave only his last name, Guo.
How much does it cost to use?
The team initially charged a one-time 1 RMB fee, later increased to 8 RMB; earlier versions were free.
Will the app use AI to monitor users?
The developers say they plan to add AI safety features but did not provide specifics — not confirmed in the source.
How many users or how much revenue has it generated?
The developers declined to disclose active-user numbers and total revenue — not confirmed in the source.
ZEYI YANG BUSINESS JAN 13, 2026 1:27 PM China’s Hottest App Is a Daily Test of Whether You're Still Alive Are You Dead Yet soared to the top of app…
Sources
- China’s Hottest App Is a Daily Test of Whether You're Still Alive
- China's Viral New App Is a Safety Tool Called 'Are You …
- 'Are You Dead?': China's viral app for people living alone
- Viral Chinese app 'Sileme' responds to rising public …
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