App Aimed at Combatting Loneliness Gains Popularity in China

There’s a new app in China that feels a bit like a modern-day life alert, specifically designed for younger and single individuals. It’s addressing what some are calling a loneliness epidemic by keeping tabs on those who live alone.

The app, quite ominously named “Are You Dead?”, requires users to press a large green button featuring a ghost icon every couple of days to confirm they’re okay. If someone forgets, it sends an email alert to their emergency contacts on the third day, suggesting that something might be wrong, as reported by a state-run publication.

On its English site, the developers describe Demumu, the app’s name, as a “lightweight safety tool” intended to enhance the security of solitary lives.

Launched without much excitement back in May, this $1.15 app has rocketed to the top of the charts, becoming the most downloaded paid app in China’s Apple Store. According to tech analysts, its popularity stems from the fact that many individuals in Chinese cities live alone due to various reasons, including the one-child policy and rapid urbanization, which have distanced people from their families. It’s projected that single-person households will reach around 200 million by 2030.

A social media user pointed out that a tool like this is essential for those at any life stage, including introverts and people dealing with depression or unemployment. One user, Wilson Hou, who lives around 100 kilometers from his family, said he uses the app as a safety measure, hoping that his family could be notified in case of an emergency.

Hou frequently commutes home but tends to spend many nights working in Beijing, which leads him to feel uneasy about the possibility of passing away unnoticed in his lodgings. He chose his mother as his emergency contact—kind of a poignant choice, really.

Interestingly, some users have expressed discomfort with the app’s somewhat grim name and suggested alternatives like “Are You Alive?”. One commentator emphasized the dual meaning of death and proposed that a name change might make the app more appealing.

The company behind the app, Moonscape Technologies, mentioned plans to enhance the platform, which may include messaging features and consideration of user suggestions for a name change. They’re also looking into launching similar solutions tailored for seniors, particularly vital in a nation where a significant portion of the population is aging.

As for whether this app might make its way to the U.S., that remains uncertain. The issue of loneliness is particularly stark among young men in America. A Gallup poll from last May revealed that about 25% of Gen Z and Millennial men feel lonely, contrasted with 18% of women in the same age group. The situation is even more pronounced when compared to their peers in countries like France, Canada, and Spain.