Viral Chinese App “Are You Dead?” will hit international markets with a different name after widespread criticism on social media, according to a Reuters report.
Called Sileme in Chinese, the app is said to target people who live alone. According to the development team, the app is a “lightweight security tool built for solo dwellers” — from students to solo office workers or “anyone who chooses a solitary lifestyle.”
After a surge in downloads earlier this week, the company introduced a subscription fee and changed its name for a global audience.
What will the viral “Are You Dead?” call app now?
“After extensive consideration, the Sileme app will officially adopt the global brand ‘Demumu’ in its upcoming new release,” the company said in an official statement.
According to an AFP report, the international version of the app was already called “Demumu”.
“We thank all the netizens for their enthusiastic support. We were originally just an unknown small team that we co-founded and operated independently for three births after 1995,” said Sileme.
“Going forward, Demumu will remain unwavering in its founding mission of protecting security, bringing protection solutions originating in China to the world, and serving more lonely individuals around the world,” the company’s statement added.
Reuters reported that the app is already called Demumu on Apple’s paid apps chart, where it is currently in second place after climbing to the top earlier in the week.
In the App Store App Store, Demumu was already charging ₹93 to download the application.
What does a virus application do?
“Are you dead?” the app requires setting up one emergency contact and sends automatic alerts if the user hasn’t logged in through the app for several consecutive days.
According to the Global Times, China may have as many as 200 million single-person households, with the single-person living rate exceeding 30%. The app will reportedly launch 8 Yuan ( ₹104) payment scheme to help cover rising costs.
The name “Sileme” was a play on the name of the popular food delivery app “Eleme,” AFP reported.
According to official figures, people living alone made up around one-fifth of all Chinese households in 2024, compared with 15% a decade earlier.
Why is it called “Are You Dead?” is it changing?
Netizens on social media platforms, including Weibo, urged Silema not to change her name, while others suggested options such as “You’re alive”, “You’re online” or “You’re there”.
“Maybe some conservative people can’t accept it,” said one user, but it’s useful for security reasons. “It will allow us single people to spend our lives better.”
