‘Are You Dead?’: Chinese App for Solo Dwellers Goes Viral

A strikingly direct app named “Are You Dead?” has become one of China’s top-selling paid applications, capturing the needs of the country’s rapidly growing population of solo dwellers.

Created by Moonscape Technologies as a “safety tool crafted for solo dwellers,” the app requires users to check in every 48 hours; if they fail to do so, it automatically sends an alert to a pre-set emergency contact.

Its rise reflects broader social trends, including declining marriage rates and an increase in elderly empty-nesters, with official data showing solo households now make up about one-fifth of Chinese households.

While its blunt name—a play on a popular food delivery app in Chinese—has sparked debate, with a prominent state media editor suggesting a softer alternative like “Are you alive?,” many users defend its straightforward approach, arguing it’s important to confront the reality of living alone.

The app’s ghost icon and simple functionality have clearly resonated, making it a cultural and technological phenomenon.