Chinese app highlights loneliness among young peopleCEFR B2
30 Jan 2026
Adapted from Oiwan Lam, Global Voices • CC BY 3.0
Photo by Sixteen Miles Out, Unsplash
The app originally called “Are You Dead Yet?” unexpectedly rose to the top of China’s Apple App Store in January 2026. Built by a three-person team in less than a month, its technology is simple and its blunt name drew wide attention. Users must provide at least one emergency contact, set a check-in alarm and check in regularly; missing two check-ins triggers an alert to the contacts. The app entered the top ten on January 10, developers reported rapid new registrations that pushed its value to RMB 100 million while development cost was about RMB 1,000. Users pay RMB 8 to download. On January 13 the name was changed to “Demumu” to sound less negative and reduce regulatory risk.
The app’s rise ties into larger demographic shifts. In 2021 there were 125 million solitary-living households, about one-quarter of 494 million total households, and solitary-living young singles were estimated at up to 92 million. Many young people relocate for work or study and live alone in small apartments under heavy pressure. Marriage and birth statistics also show change: registered marriages in 2024 fell 20 percent to 6.1 million, with an 8.5 percent rebound in 2025 but a longer decline may continue; the 2025 birth rate fell to 5.63 per 1,000 while the death rate rose to 8.04 per 1,000.
Experts describe a growing “loneliness economy.” Psychiatrist Shi Yuxin said young people value autonomy and may avoid commitment. A 2022 study found 42.9 percent of young women living alone felt insecure at night and 17.8 percent lacked support when ill or in accidents. The loneliness economy was estimated to have contributed RMB 7.92 trillion (USD 1.13 trillion) to GDP in 2025. Critics argue the trend results from long working hours, reduced public space and superficial online connections rather than stronger social ties.
Difficult words
- demographic — relating to population size and structure
- autonomy — ability to make independent personal choices
- trigger — cause something to start or happentriggers
- regulatory — connected with official rules or controls
- loneliness economy — market activities serving people who feel lonely
- solitary-living — living alone in a household or flat
Tip: hover, focus or tap highlighted words in the article to see quick definitions while you read or listen.
Discussion questions
- Do you think apps like this reduce risks for people living alone? Give reasons.
- What other services or products might grow because of a loneliness economy? Give examples.
- What concerns might regulators have about apps that check users' safety, and how could developers address them?
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