Chinese app highlights loneliness among young peopleCEFR A1
30 Jan 2026
Adapted from Oiwan Lam, Global Voices • CC BY 3.0
Photo by Sixteen Miles Out, Unsplash
- An app helps people who live alone.
- The app asks for an emergency contact.
- Users set a daily check-in alarm.
- They must check in regularly each day.
- If they miss two check-ins, contacts are alerted.
- The app became popular on social media.
- Developers later changed the app's name.
- Experts say the app shows young people’s worries.
Difficult words
- emergency contact — A person to call in urgent situations.
- check-in — A short daily message to say you are safe.check-ins
- alert — To tell someone about a problem or danger.alerted
- developer — A person or company that makes an app.Developers
- social media — Websites and apps for sharing information.
- worry — A feeling of being nervous or concerned.worries
Tip: hover, focus or tap highlighted words in the article to see quick definitions while you read or listen.
Discussion questions
- Do you have an emergency contact?
- Do you set a daily alarm to check in?
- Do you follow apps on social media?
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