‘Are you dead?’: Inside the viral Chinese app that is solving the national loneliness crisis
From living alone in a strange country to worrying about a friend who moved away, loneliness can strike numerous feelings in people. Typically, one would call up said friend or just plan a meet-up. But in China, there’s an app that asks one, most vital, and practical question: ‘Are you dead?’ As dreadful as it sounds, the app is truly named so and has gone viral in recent weeks.
How does it work?
The app targets one of the most widespread problems in the world’s second most populous country: loneliness and youth disaffection. Aimed at those who live alone, it requires users to check in on the app every day by clicking a large button. If two continuous days are missed, the app automatically notifies your emergency contact and informs them that you might be in trouble.The app described itself as a “safety company companion… whether you’re a solo office worker, a student living away from home, or anyone choosing a solitary lifestyle”According to the state-run tabloid Global Times, the app topped Apple’s paid App Store ranking on Saturday. Its popularity increased to the extent that it was rebranded and introduced with a subscription fee.
Rising loneliness in China
Home to 1.4 billion people, China has numerous individuals living alone and feeling isolated and depressed. As per the outlet, by 2030 there could be as many as 200 million single-person households in the country. This can be the future due to various factors at play in the present. The country’s rapidly ageing population means there is a growing number of seniors living alone. As for the youth, thousands have migrated from their hometowns to the cities, leaving behind emptying villages. There has been a decline in marriages and dating which adds to the trauma of depression, anxiety and disillusionment. Now, you begin to understand just why such an app is necessary.
What do the users think?
Considering the popularity of the app and the string of downloads it has received, it seems the Chinese public loves it and the purpose it serves. “People who live alone at any stage of their life need something like this, as do introverts, those with depression, the unemployed and others in vulnerable situations,” said one user on Chinese social media.“This 8-yuan app is somehow the last bit of dignity for so many young people living alone. The scariest thing isn’t loneliness – it’s disappearing,” wrote another on the blogging platform Weibo.However, there have been calls to give a more positive name to the app. As per the BBC, the company behind the app, Moonscape Technologies has considered the request. On Tuesday, it announced that it would adopt the name “Demumu” on its global app while also increasing the price from 8 yuan to 1 yuan.
