A new app with a concerning name, Sileme, which translates to “Are you dead?”, is rapidly gaining popularity in China. Its functionality is quite simple: users need to confirm their existence every two days by pressing a large button. If a user fails to check in, the app will automatically notify a pre-designated emergency contact that something may have happened to them.
This information is a translation of a report by a BBC correspondent. The original text is available via the link.
The app was launched in May last year, but its popularity has surged only recently, as it has been actively downloaded by young people living alone in cities across China. It has already become the most downloaded paid app in the country.
According to research data, by 2030, the number of single-person households in China could reach 200 million, as reported by the Chinese publication Global Times.
The app is aimed at people in need of support, such as office workers, students living away from home, or those who choose a solitary lifestyle. The developers position it as a “safety companion.”
One user, commenting on the app's necessity in Chinese social networks, noted that it could be useful for introverts, people with depression, and those in vulnerable situations. Another user expressed fears about dying alone with no one to call for help.
Wilson Hou, a 38-year-old resident who works in Beijing and lives 100 km away from his family, shared that he downloaded the app for this very reason. He spends most of his time at work and is only home twice a week. “I worry that I might die in my single accommodation, and no one would know,” he said.
He installed the app shortly after its release, fearing it might be banned due to the negative connotation associated with the theme of death.
Some users criticize the app's name, considering it not very optimistic, and suggest changing it to something more positive, such as “Are you okay?” or “How are you?”. The developers of Moonscape Technologies, the company that created the app, acknowledged the criticism and are considering the possibility of changing the name.
The Chinese name Sileme is a play on words, referencing the popular food delivery service “Are you hungry?”. The names sound similar: “Si-le-ma” and “E-le-ma”.
On the international stage, the app is known as Demumu and is already ranked second in the USA, Singapore, and Hong Kong, as well as being in the top 4 paid apps in Australia and Spain, which may be related to the support from Chinese users abroad.
The development team consists of just three people, all born after 1995, who worked on the app in Zhengzhou, Henan Province. Initially, the app was free, but its cost is now 8 yuan (approximately $1.15).
The creation of the app cost 1,000 yuan ($140), and its price has significantly increased. One of the founders, known by the name Go, reported that they plan to attract investments by offering 10% of the company for one million yuan.
Additionally, the developers intend to expand their target audience by exploring the possibility of creating a new product for elderly people, which is particularly relevant in a country where over 20% of the population is over 60 years old.
To affirm their seriousness, the company released a statement: “We would like to call on the public to pay more attention to elderly people living alone and to care for them. They have dreams, they strive to live, and they deserve respect and protection.”
In response to inquiries from the BBC, the company did not reply.
