China’s Hottest App Is a Daily Test for Young People’s Well-Being
A new app in China called Are You Dead Yet checks in on users daily, sending alerts to friends if they don’t respond.
Guo is one of the app’s three young creators. He used to make other social apps but wanted to do something more important. He thought about safety, which is really important for many people. In an interview, Guo said this focus felt right for him.
The app’s funny name and useful purpose make it very popular. Many young people in China downloaded it quickly. Right now, it is the number one paid app in the Chinese Apple App Store, and it’s also getting popular outside China. Guo mentioned that he has not paid for ads because his team doesn’t have enough money.
Since the app got a lot of attention, over 60 investors have reached out. They want to help the company, Moonscape Technologies, grow. Some are offering millions of yuan to join the business. Guo said they were surprised by how well the app did.
At first, the app cost 1 RMB, about 14 cents, but because of its popularity, they raised the price to 8 RMB, which is still low because it doesn’t require monthly fees. Guo didn’t share how much money the app has made yet, but he said it will help them improve the app.
Are You Dead Yet is especially liked by those who live alone. Many Chinese people are living solo—over 25% of homes are just one person now, compared to 14% a decade ago. While older folks often live alone, more young people are choosing this lifestyle too. Companies in China are creating services for people who need a friend, either online or in person.
Recently, the app creators announced a name change to Demumu to reach more people around the world. This name links to “death” and connects to a famous Chinese toy. However, many fans are unhappy about this change because the old name helped it become popular. A popular comment on social media said the name was why people loved the app.