According to a 2025 global report by the World Health Organization (WHO), one in six people worldwide is affected by loneliness. It is a condition that significantly impacts social well-being. The report highlights a stark reality that loneliness is linked to nearly 100 deaths every hour globally.
Among people living alone, it often carries a deeper, more unsettling fear that what happens if they die alone? Many worry whether anyone would come to collect their body, or if they would remain undiscovered in their homes. This grim but real concern became the foundation of a newly developed app in China called “Are You Dead?”.
The app is a viral safety check-in platform developed by a Gen Z founder and registered under Moonscape Technology Services Co., Ltd. in Zhengzhou for roughly $140–$200. Designed specifically for people living alone, the app was launched in May 2025 and gained immense popularity by January 2026.
Internationally, the app is listed under the English name 'Demumu'.
The app follows a paid subscription model, priced at $1.15 (8 yuan). It ranks among the top two paid utility apps in the United States, Singapore, and Hong Kong, and top four in Australia and Spain. This surge is possibly driven by Chinese users living overseas.
The sole reason behind the app’s popularity is the increasing number of lonely people worldwide. The app does not attempt to treat loneliness. Instead, it offers reassurance.
The functionality is intentionally minimal:
Users tap a large green button featuring a cartoon ghost to confirm that they are okay
If a user misses two consecutive check-ins, the app sends an email alert on the third day
The alert notifies a pre-selected emergency contact that something may be wrong
That is all. There is no location tracking, no health data collection, and no constant monitoring. The goal is reassurance, not surveillance.
On its English-language page, the app identifies itself as a “lightweight safety tool” designed to make solitary living feel less risky. Currently, it is available only on Apple’s App Store for iPhone and iPad.
The app’s rise mirrors a broader societal change. More people in China are living alone than ever before, driven by one-child policies, rapid urbanization, and work opportunities that pull individuals far from their families.
For many users, the app is not a joke but a safety net.
A 38-year-old user told reporters that he lives far from his family and worries about dying alone in a rented apartment. He set his mother as his emergency contact so someone would be notified if something happened to him.
Others shared similar sentiments online. People living alone, introverts, unemployed workers, and others belonging to this category suggested that the app provides peace of mind without demanding constant interaction.
One user shared:
“As an old guy who lives alone, I have exactly one person who occasionally reaches out. Everyone else, I initiate contact always or it’s radio silence. So yeah, I understand why this app could be popular.”
Another person from China suggested his preference:
“Most users of the app aren’t elderly. They’re young people in their 20s and 30s, living alone in big cities. Life in China is extremely compressed and emotionally restrained. Add the timing, right before Lunar New Year, when loneliness is amplified, and this app quietly became an emotional release valve. Not ‘Am I alive?’ but more like: ‘Can someone notice that I’m still here today?’”
According to WHO, Loneliness affects people of all ages, particularly young individuals and those living in low and middle income countries. Between 17-21% of individuals aged 13-29 years report feeling lonely, with the highest prevalence among teenagers.
Approximately 24% of people in low-income countries report loneliness, which is double the rate seen in high-income countries, where it stands at about 11%.
“Even in a digitally connected world, many young people feel alone. As technology reshapes our lives, we must ensure it strengthens — not weakens — human connection,” said Chido Mpemba, Co-chair of the WHO Commission on Social Connection and Advisor to the African Union Chairperson. “Our report shows that social connection must be integrated into all policies — from digital access to health, education, and employment.”
(Rh/VK)
