Technology Updates: ‘Are You Dead?’ is now the top paid App Store app in China

Source:

https://9to5mac.com/2026/01/12/are-you-dead-is-now-the-top-paid-app-store-app-in-china/

ChatGPT:

A morbidly titled app, “Are You Dead?”, has surged to become the top paid app on China’s App Store, reflecting growing social changes among urban residents—particularly young people living alone. The app’s premise is deliberately simple: users must check in every one or two days by tapping a large button to confirm they are alive. If they fail to do so, the app automatically alerts a pre-selected emergency contact that something may be wrong.

Although the app launched quietly in May last year, its popularity has exploded in recent weeks. According to the BBC’s Stephen McDonell, the spike is closely tied to China’s rapidly increasing number of one-person households. Researchers estimate that by 2030, China could have around 200 million people living alone, a demographic shift driven by urbanisation, delayed marriage, and changing lifestyles. The app’s success highlights both practical safety concerns and underlying social anxieties faced by individuals without close daily contact.

The app’s Chinese name is a wordplay on a popular food delivery service, “Are You Hungry?”, with similar-sounding phrasing that adds a darkly humorous tone. This blend of humour and functionality appears to have resonated strongly with users.

Outside China, the app is available under the name Demumu and has also gained traction internationally. In the US App Store, it currently ranks among the top paid apps, priced at US$0.99, suggesting the concept has global appeal beyond China’s unique social context.

The rise of “Are You Dead?” has also sparked discussion about platform-level solutions. Some observers speculate that Apple could expand iOS’s existing Check In feature in Messages to include regular, automated wellness confirmations. Overall, the app’s popularity underscores how technology is increasingly stepping in to address loneliness, safety, and the realities of modern urban living.

Comments:

Simple but yet practical? 😋