A morbidly named app called “Are You Dead?” has climbed to the top of China’s app store, becoming the number one paid download.
The app is designed to help people living alone by making sure someone checks in on them every single day.
The app known internationally as the “Moo Moo,” allows users to tap a large check in button daily to confirm their safety. If they don’t check in for two straight days, the app automatically sends a message to a registered emergency contact urging them to check on the user.
“This Internet culture of things in China is quite prominent. And in fact, a lot of people have grown to be so closed off after COVID especially, that they’d rather engage through Internet apps and whatnot,” host of social media channel “China Insider” David Jiang said. “So checking in for them may not be a phone call, but it could actually be a click above a button. The app also serves an alternative purpose.”
He added, “Actually, if you think about it, there’s a lot of talk of young people going missing in China, that they’ve been harvested for their organs randomly, you know, and even disappearing. So this app can also serve the benefits of that to track your loved ones and their whereabouts, which is actually something very serious right now.”
The app was released in May last year. It cost just US$1 and has quickly gone viral.
The app is growing in popularity as more Chinese citizens choose to live by themselves.
Its rise in popularity reflects a broader social shift in China.
More young people are choosing to stay single, marry later or live alone. A growing number of elderly are living without nearby family support.
According to the National Bureau of Statistics, single person households in China made-up nearly 20% of all homes in 2024, up from less than 8% two decades ago.
Chinese state-run media estimates there could be around 200 million one person households by 2030.
Developers say they plan to expand the app’s features to serve the elderly. They are a key demographic given that more than 20% of China’s population is already over the age of 60.
While many commentators have appraised the app’s purpose, others criticized its name, especially the reference to death.
There have been reports suggesting the company will change the app’s name in China following push back.
