A mobile application named “Are You Dead Yet” has surged to the top of China’s Apple App Store paid rankings due to its bold name, sparking controversy and becoming the hottest topic in social media circles. The app allows solitary users to simply check in daily to indicate their “survival” status, and if they fail to check in for multiple days, the system will automatically send an email reminder to their emergency contacts. Many internet users find the name “Are You Dead Yet” inauspicious and suggest renaming it to “Are You Alive”, while some argue that the name accurately addresses the social issue of “lonely deaths”.
According to reports from media outlets such as Cover News, “Are You Dead Yet” was developed by Yuejing (Zhengzhou) Technology Service Co., Ltd. as a lightweight security tool designed for the solitary population. It is currently only available on China’s Apple App Store and has not been released for Android systems. The pricing has been adjusted from its initial free status to 8 Chinese Yuan.
The core feature of “Are You Dead Yet” does not require registration; users only need to input the email addresses of their emergency contacts and complete a daily check-in. If they miss multiple check-ins, the system will automatically send an email reminder to the emergency contacts the following day. Some functions also support connecting with smart bracelets to monitor physical signs and trigger emergency alerts.
Since its launch, this application has gained immense popularity primarily due to its controversial name, propelling it to the top spot on China’s Apple paid app download rankings, sparking widespread discussions.
Most internet users believe the name “Are You Dead Yet” brings bad luck and is inappropriate to share with family and friends, leading some to abandon its use altogether. Suggestions have been made to rename it to a more affectionate term like “Are You Alive”. However, supporters argue that the straightforward name accurately addresses the social issue of “lonely deaths” among solitary individuals, showing a unique form of humanistic care.
In response to the naming controversy, Apple’s official customer service stated that if users are dissatisfied with the app’s name, they can provide basic information about the app, which will be forwarded to relevant departments for communication with the developers.
One of the members of the development team of “Are You Dead Yet”, Mr. Lu, explained that the team consists of three individuals, all born in the 1990s. They all have their own jobs and collaborate remotely.
Mr. Lu mentioned that they have not yet received any requests from the relevant department to change the app’s name.