The app, called “Die Yet?” in Chinese and marketed in English as Demumu, was developed by three post-1990s programmers. It targets the growing number of single-person households by requiring users to check in daily. If a user fails to log in for two consecutive days, the system automatically sends an alert email to a pre-selected emergency contact.
Priced at RMB8, the app is currently available only on iOS.
According to mainland media reports citing the development team, the app is primarily aimed at young people living alone in first- and second-tier Chinese cities. Users must set up emergency contacts in advance and complete a daily check-in. If the check-in is interrupted, an alert email is sent the following day. A member of the team surnamed Lu said downloads had been “growing very rapidly”, although the developers have yet to receive confirmed feedback of cases in which users successfully sought help through the system.
The app’s blunt name, which directly references death, has drawn mixed reactions online. Some users criticised it as inauspicious and suggested alternatives such as “Alive Yet?” or replacing email alerts with text messages. Lu said the team chose the name deliberately to encourage a more rational public discussion about life and mortality. He added that no regulatory authorities had requested a name change and that the developers had no plans to rename the app at this stage.
In a statement posted on Weibo on the 11th, the development team thanked users for their support and pledged to continue improving the service. They also said public feedback would be taken into account when developing a future version tailored for elderly users.
The app’s popularity comes amid growing concern over the safety of people living alone in China. According to a report cited by Blue News China, the country’s single-person population could reach between 150 million and 200 million by 2030. Of these, an estimated 40 million to 70 million would be young adults aged between 20 and 39.
The issue has attracted wider attention following earlier reports by the Guangzhou Daily of a 28-year-old man living alone who was treated in December last year after suddenly collapsing in his rented flat, highlighting the potential risks faced by solitary residents.
