This App Asks ‘Are You Dead?’ Every 48 Hours — And Millions Are Downloading It

You unlock your phone. A notification stares back at you with a blunt question: “Are you dead?”
It’s not spam. It’s not a prank. And it’s the app that has quietly climbed to the top of paid download charts while igniting an intense global conversation.

Launched in May 2025, the app gained explosive traction over the past few weeks. Its concept is unsettlingly simple: every 48 hours, users tap a button to confirm they are alive. Miss two consecutive check-ins, and the app automatically alerts a pre-selected emergency contact that something might be wrong.

Priced at just 8 yuan (around $1.15), the app has become the number one paid download in China and is now climbing charts in countries including the US, Singapore, Australia and Spain.

What makes it viral isn’t technology - it’s psychology.

On Chinese social media, users openly discuss a fear many silently carry: dying alone without anyone noticing. One post went viral for its brutal honesty - “If I died in my apartment, who would collect my body?” That single line encapsulated why the app struck such a deep chord.

Wilson Hou, a 38-year-old professional living alone in Beijing, told the BBC he downloaded the app immediately. Long work hours, no family nearby, and minimal daily interaction made the app feel less like a novelty and more like insurance. His chosen emergency contact? His mother.

Online reactions swing between dark humour and genuine concern. Some call it genius. Others describe it as heartbreaking. Jokes circulate, but beneath them lies a serious debate around loneliness, urban isolation, and data privacy.

The numbers explain the momentum. China is projected to have nearly 200 million one-person households by 2030, driven by urban migration, ageing populations, and work-centric lifestyles. The app’s three young developers - all born after 1995 - reportedly built it on a shoestring budget of about $140. They are now seeking investors and planning specialised versions for elderly users.

Internationally branded as “Demumu,” the app’s creators admit the name is deliberately provocative, though critics argue it invites bad luck. A rebrand to “Are You Okay?” is reportedly under consideration.

Strip away the shock value, and what remains is uncomfortable truth. The app doesn’t sell ads, dopamine, or distractions. It simply waits - quietly - to make sure someone still exists.

In a world where hyper-connectivity often masks deep isolation, tools like this are becoming relevant in unexpected ways. Much like discussions around relocation, urban planning, and even business setup in dubai , the app reflects how modern cities attract opportunity but can quietly erode everyday human connection.

Whether seen as innovative or disturbing, “Are You Dead?” has forced millions to confront a question bigger than the app itself: When something goes wrong, who will notice?