TL;DR
A simple safety app called Are You Dead? has become the top paid app on China’s App Store after a recent surge in downloads. The app requires users to confirm they are alive every two days or it will notify an appointed emergency contact; it is available outside China under the name Demumu.
What happened
Are You Dead?, a minimal safety app first released in May of last year, has rapidly climbed to the top paid spot on Apple’s China App Store after recent spikes in downloads. The app prompts users to tap a prominent button at least once every two days to indicate they are OK; if a check-in is missed, the app contacts the emergency person designated by the user to report a potential problem. Reporters say much of the recent interest is coming from younger people living alone in Chinese cities. The app is available beyond China as Demumu, which has reached the top paid ranks in the U.S. App Store and is listed at $0.99 there. Coverage has also noted the app’s name plays on a popular food-delivery brand, and some commentators have suggested the trend could prompt platform-level features for routine check-ins, though that remains speculative.
Why it matters
- Signals growing consumer demand for simple digital safety tools aimed at people who live alone.
- Reflects broader demographic shifts: a rising number of one-person households in China.
- Could influence how platform owners and developers think about routine check-in or emergency-notification features.
- Demonstrates that straightforward, single-purpose paid apps can find rapid commercial success.
Key facts
- Are You Dead? launched in May of the prior year.
- Users must check in every two days by tapping a large button to confirm they are alive.
- If a check-in is missed, the app notifies the user’s chosen emergency contact.
- The app recently became the most downloaded paid app on China’s App Store.
- Reporters attribute a large share of downloads to young people living alone in Chinese cities.
- Researchers cited in coverage estimate China could have around 200 million one-person households by 2030.
- Outside China the app is known as Demumu and is ranked among the top paid apps in the U.S. App Store at a $0.99 price.
- The app’s Chinese name is a word play on a popular food-delivery app.
What to watch next
- Whether Apple adds or expands a routine check-in feature in iOS Messages (mentioned as a possibility in coverage).
- The app’s ability to retain the top paid ranking over coming weeks or months (not confirmed in the source).
- Any regulatory, privacy or platform-policy scrutiny as the app’s user base grows (not confirmed in the source).
Quick glossary
- App Store: Apple’s digital storefront for iPhone and iPad apps where users can browse, purchase and download applications.
- Check-in: A user action—often a tap or message—used to confirm presence or well-being at a scheduled interval.
- Emergency contact: A person nominated by a user to be notified if the user may be in danger or requires assistance.
- Paid app: An application that requires a one-time purchase or download fee rather than being free to install.
Reader FAQ
What does Are You Dead? do?
It requires users to confirm they are alive every two days; if they miss a check-in it alerts an emergency contact.
When was the app launched?
The app was launched in May of the previous year.
Is the app available outside China?
Yes. Outside China it is known as Demumu and is listed as a top paid app in the U.S. App Store at $0.99.
Who developed the app?
not confirmed in the source
Why has the app become popular?
Coverage links its popularity to younger people living alone in Chinese cities and the rising number of one-person households.
iPhone 17e launching as soon as next month: Here are five upgrades to look forward to Michael Burkhardt Jan 11 2026 APPS APP STORE ‘Are You Dead?’ is now the…
Sources
- ‘Are You Dead?’ is now the top paid App Store app in China
- “Are You Dead?” app designed for people living alone …
- The viral Chinese app for young people living alone
- “Are You Dead?” app surges to No.1 in China as millions …
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