China's 'Are You Dead' App: A Viral Hit Addressing Loneliness Among Youth

• The 'Are You Dead' app, or 'Sile Me' in Chinese, is China's most downloaded paid app, requiring users to check-in every two days.
• If a user fails to check-in, the app alerts a designated emergency contact, serving as a safety tool for those living alone.
• Created by three young men from Zhengzhou, Henan, the app costs 8 yuan and has seen a 100-fold increase in downloads recently.
• Its popularity highlights China's growing 'loneliness pandemic,' with an increasing number of single-person households and delayed marriages.
• The app sparks debate about social isolation and the psychological impact of its name, though creators emphasize its positive intent to cherish life.

Why It Matters: A viral app in China reveals a growing loneliness crisis among youth, offering a tech solution for social isolation.