A new mobile application titled "Are You Dead?" (死了么) has unexpectedly gone viral, claiming the number one spot on the Apple App Store's paid rankings as of January 10, 2026.

Designed specifically for the growing "solo-living" population, the app serves as a digital safety net for those living alone.

The app operates on a simple, "dead man's switch" logic. Users must "check in" daily to confirm their well-being. If a user fails to sign in for a pre-set number of days, the system automatically triggers a notification to designated emergency contacts.

The project was conceived in mid-2025 by a small team of three. According to one of the team members, the app took less than a month to develop with an initial investment of only 1,000 yuan (approx. $140 USD).

The App's success has sparked a polarized debate online.

Some raise the app for addressing a genuine social need with a low-cost, practical solution.

But some argue the name "Are You Dead?" is too "ominous" or "disrespectful."

Many users have proposed renaming the app to "Are You Alive?" (活着么) or integrating SMS alerts.