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By Michaela Gordoni
A viral app formerly named Are You Dead? is getting a name upgrade.
The Chinese mobile app was originally known in English as “Are You Dead?” which translates to “Sileme” in Mandarin. It’s designed for people who live alone. It has users confirm they are alive by checking in on the app every day. If a user does not access the app for multiple days in a row, the app will alert a pre-set emergency contact, PEOPLE reported Jan. 15.
The app is described as “a lightweight safety tool crafted for solo dwellers” that establishes “invisible safety protection.” Data for China in 2024 shows that around one-fifth of Chinese households are solo dwellings.
“Whether you’re a solo office worker, a student living away from home, or anyone choosing to live a solitary lifestyle, Demumu serves as your safety companion,” the app’s description reads.
The app is a top download in India, Britain, the US, Singapore, the Netherlands and other countries, Syracuse reported. It’s number two on the Apple paid app chart, Rueters reported.
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The app’s company announced Tuesday that it will officially change its name to “Demumu.”
“Moving forward, Demumu will remain steadfast in its founding mission of safeguarding safety, bringing China-originated protection solutions to the world and serving more solitary individuals globally,” the company said.
American users aren’t all fans of the new name. Some users suggested changing it to “Are you there?” or “Are you alive?”
“Maybe some conservative people can’t accept it,” said one user. But “It will make us unmarried people feel more at ease to spend our lives.”
“Don’t you think your virality is precisely due to your name? Without it, no one would have installed this app, except in cases of absolute emergency,” said one Weibo user.
Some people who just found out about the app commented that it’s what Snapchat is for.
One of the app’s developers, Ian Lü, 29, worked alone in Shenzhen, China for five years. He believes people like him, and especially introverts, need a way to let people know without direct communication.
He said, “Every country has young people who move to big cities to chase their dreams. It’s unrealistic,” he said, “to message people every day just to tell them you’re still alive.”
Right now, you can find Demumu on the Apple store for $0.99.
The popularity of this app may signal a loneliness pandemic, especially if people really view this app as a necessity.
Read Next: Greg Laurie Says This is the Answer to America’s Loneliness Epidemic
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