Do We Need an App That Asks Us If We Are Dead?
Okay, think about it, how many scary movies start with someone living alone?
The house is quiet, and then they hear a noise.
They go to make a call, and suddenly there is no signal; they are literally in a “dead zone”. The noise is getting louder, and they panic, running towards the front door. They are moments away from touching the golden door knob, one turn and they will escape. Just as they are about to be free from whatever is coming... suddenly, they lose their footing, slip, and fall... they can not move. Will anyone ever find them? Or will they perish at the hands of whatever lurks in the dark?
They know, “No one’s checking in… but what if someone or something was?
No, it is not the “boogeyman,” or a creepy next-door neighbor, it is actually an App!
Apparently, in 2026, what’s really freaking out the younger generation isn’t what might happen to you when you’re alone... because being worried about Freddie or Jason in the middle of the night is “cringe”. But young students and professionals living alone are more worried about how long it would take for anyone to realize that they're dead. ☠️
Enter a new app originally called Sileme in Chinese, which translates to “Are You Dead?” in English. The app went viral overnight and became the most downloaded paid app in China. Why? Well, according to surveys conducted by research institutions. The Global Times reported that over the next 4 years, China will have over 200 million citizens living alone, and many of them have voiced fears about the repercussions on social media.
According to multiple sources, one of the biggest questions for people who live alone at any stage of their life, even younger people, is If I died here… how long before someone noticed me?
Since the launch of the app, the chatter on Chinese social media has been locals commenting that they worry if something happens to them, no one will notice, or if they need help, no one will be there to know that, and even on a darker note, they have anxiety about dying, and no one will find their body for days. People also reported that they downloaded and paid for the App quickly because they feared it might be banned soon...(more to come on that)
First, let me explain what the app is. The app is designed and marketed as a personal safety check-in. The company says it was created for anyone who lives alone, including students, urban professionals, and older adults who may not have daily in-person contact with others. Users register an emergency contact and are prompted at daily intervals to tap a big green button to confirm they are alive. If they miss two check-ins in a row, the app automatically notifies the selected contact to check on them.
The company behind the App is Moonscape Technologies. According to The Guardian, Ian Lü, one of the co-founders of Moonscape Technologies, says he came up with the idea for Are You Dead? while browsing on Chinese social media. “In recent years, there has been wide and heated discussion about a hypothetical ‘are you dead’ app,” Lü says. “For example, something with features like: if you don’t check in for 48 hours, someone will come and collect your body.” Lü and his two male partners were all born after 1995 and built the app in Zhengzhou, Henan, seeing a business opportunity amid so many people living in isolation, especially as marriage and birth rates hit record lows in China. The apps' reach over the last two weeks has far surpassed being popular in China; they are now ranked among the top 2 downloaded apps in the U.S., Singapore, and China, and among the top 4 in Australia and Spain...
So now the update you have been waiting for: the app was removed from the Apple and Android app stores in mainland China after becoming a press sensation. It turns out not everyone loves the clickbait-grabbing title; the company received pushback about the app's morbid tone, with Chinese commentators and users calling the name unlucky. Other experts pointed out that talking about death in general, especially in Chinese culture, is considered taboo, so maybe a more positive approach to the name, such as “Are you Ok?” or “Do you Need Help?” would curb the fear and superstition around the subject. However, in “Oh Gross” fashion, many supporters say the blunt name brings to the forefront something millions of people have anxiety and fear about, but are too scared to say out loud.
The company says it was already in the process of asking the public for help renaming it when it was removed from Chinese app stores, and that it has now publicly rebranded as Demumu and is listed internationally under that name. The name is a lexical blend of the word “death” and “Mumu.” The goal was to soften the dark subject and play off a growing trend of creating new words that sound “cuter” when tackling tough or darker subjects. There is also a rumble on the internet; this is a temporary name, so we could see a third iteration emerge in the future.
As of this article, you can download the app for $6.99 in the U.S. from the Apple App Store only. The team here at “Oh Gross” also found that your search needs to specifically say "Demumu: Are You Dead?" The founders also caution that, since the explosive media coverage, multiple copycat versions have been created, so buyer beware.
So my personal conclusion from investigating this new app trend is that, while this topic feels creepy, uncomfortable, and, for some, even taboo, it is actually really smart. It is one of those things your knee-jerk reaction is to squeal, “Oh Gross!” Then, after the shock wears off and you talk about it more and more with others, you realize we are destigmatizing talking about being alone, death, or even our fears around needing help. I think eventually this app or a new version of it in the future will help people feel less isolated or vulnerable and end up saving a lot of lives.
Cheers to leaning into the uncomfortable,
Kara