Seto Kanna: “Are You Dead?” app designed for People Living Alone surges to Number 1 in China

Seto Kanna is confirmed alive and ready for more “Happy Ending” orders…

No kidding, the #1 App in China is one that snoop on your ass to see if you’re still breathing and alive…

“Are You Dead?” app designed for people living alone surges to number 1 in China

A new paid app called “Are You Dead?” or “Dead Yet?” has surged to the top of China’s charts, targeted at young people living alone in major cities, who fear dying without anyone realizing.

Launched in May 2025, the app requires users to check in every two days by tapping a large on-screen button to confirm they are alive. If they fail to do so, the app automatically alerts a chosen emergency contact that something may be wrong.

At the start of 2026, downloads have spiked, making it the most downloaded paid app in China.

The surge comes as solo living rises, with figures showing China could have up to 200 million one-person households by 2030. The app markets itself as a “safety companion” for people living alone, students away from home, and those choosing a solitary lifestyle.

“If I died alone, who would collect my body?”

On Chinese social media, one user wrote: “There is a fear that people living alone might die unnoticed, with no one to call for help. I sometimes wonder, if I died alone, who would collect my body?”

Another said the app could be useful for introverts, people with depression, and others in vulnerable situations.

Speaking to the BBC, Wilson Hou, a 38-year-old worker based in Beijing, said: “I worry that if something happened to me, I could die alone in the place I rent and no one would know.” He set his mother as his emergency contact.

Some users have criticized the name for being too grim, suggesting alternatives like “Are you ok?” The developer, Moonscape Technologies, has acknowledged the criticism and said it is considering a name change.

“Dude, Are You Dead?”

Internationally, the app is listed as Demumu and ranks among the top paid utility apps in the US, Singapore, Hong Kong, Australia, and Spain, potentially driven by Chinese users overseas. It costs 8 yuan or approximately $1.15.

The founders, three people born after 1995, say the app cost around 1,000 yuan, or less than $150, to create. One founder told Chinese media they plan to sell 10 percent of the company for one million yuan and are exploring a version aimed at elderly users, targeting China’s large over-60 population.