Home / Technology / China's Loneliness App: 'Are You Dead?' Goes Viral
China's Loneliness App: 'Are You Dead?' Goes Viral
20 Jan
Summary
- App checks in daily to alert contacts if users disappear.
- Viral app taps into China's growing urban loneliness.
- Marriage and birth rates in China have hit record lows.
An app called "Are You Dead?" has gained significant popularity in China, addressing the growing issue of urban loneliness. Launched by Moonscape Technologies, the app requires users to check in daily; failure to do so for two consecutive days triggers an alert to a designated contact. This innovative tool reflects and combats the isolation felt by many in China's rapidly modernizing society.
This phenomenon is occurring amidst record-low marriage and birth rates in China, with projections of 200 million single-person households by 2030. Intense work cultures and the stigma of unemployment contribute to social isolation. The app's developers were inspired by social media discussions on how to manage deaths without next of kin.
While the app's name has sparked controversy, with suggestions for a more positive moniker like "Are You Alive?", it addresses a genuine need for security. The company is now reconsidering its name and has faced removal from app stores, possibly due to regulatory concerns about 'superstitious' content.
