"Are You Dead?" Not a question, but the name of a new safety app rapidly gaining popularity in China. The app’s concept matches its name: it monitors users by having them check in daily to confirm they are alive. If a user does not check in for over two days, the system immediately notifies their emergency contacts.
Known as Si Le Me in China, meaning "Are you dead?", the app launched in May last year. It became the highest-paid app by downloads on China’s App Store this week, as many young people living alone in China rushed to download it.
According to Global Times, studies show that by 2030, the number of people living alone in China will reach 200 million, the target customer group for this app.
The app is designed to be "a safety companion for anyone: solo workers, students who must travel alone, and those who choose a solitary lifestyle."
"For anyone choosing to live alone—introverts, stressed individuals, the unemployed, or those in vulnerable phases—this app fits their needs," a user told BBC. It addresses concerns about dying alone unnoticed, raising the question, "If I die alone, who will find my body?"
Although the app’s name attracts users, its developer, Moonscape Technologies, is considering renaming it due to ongoing debates about the current name.
Are You Dead? is listed on stock markets outside China and ranks second among top downloads in the U.S., Singapore, and Hong Kong, and in the top four in Spain and Australia, likely reflecting Chinese diaspora users in those countries.
Initially free at launch, the app later became a paid service, charging $1.15 USD—less than 40 Thai baht—for use.
BBC reports limited information about the app’s founders, who plan to sell about 10% of company shares valued at roughly 1 million yuan (about 4.5 million baht), a high valuation compared to the app’s development cost of about 1,000 yuan (4,500 baht).
The app also plans to expand its user base to include elderly people, given China's large aging population, aiming to ensure continuous care for seniors.
Source:BBC,Business Insider
Follow the Facebook page: Thairath Money at this link -https://www.facebook.com/ThairathMoney