‘Are you lifeless?’ Chinese language app for single residing goes viral

The app, known as Sileme in Chinese language or Demumu globally, is ‘a light-weight security software created for solo dwellers’

HONG KONG – An app known as “Are you lifeless” focused at folks residing alone has gone viral in China, with surging downloads and widespread commentary on social media, prompting the corporate to introduce a subscription charge and alter its identify for a worldwide viewers.

The app known as Sileme in Chinese language, which interprets to “Are you lifeless?” in English, is “a light-weight security software created for solo dwellers” from college students, to solo officer staff or “anybody selecting a solitary way of life”, says its growth staff.

The app requires organising one emergency contact and sends computerized notifications if the consumer has not checked in through the app for consecutive days.

China might have as much as 200 million one-person households, with a solo residing charge exceeding 30%, state newspaper the World Occasions stated.

Sileme stated on its official Weibo on Tuesday, January 13, that the corporate will launch the worldwide model identify Demumu in its new model to be launched quickly.

It’s already known as Demumu on Apple’s paid app chart the place it’s presently sitting at quantity two, after surging to the highest earlier within the week.

“Due to all netizens for his or her enthusiastic assist. We had been initially simply an unknown small staff, co-founded and operated independently by three born after 1995,” Sileme stated.

It stated on Sunday that it might launch an eight yuan ($1.15) fee scheme to assist cowl rising prices.

Netizens on social media platforms, together with Weibo, known as on Sileme to not change its identify, whereas others instructed choices like “Are you alive”, “Are you on-line” or “Are you there.”

“Perhaps some conservative folks can’t settle for it,” stated one consumer, however it’s useful for security functions. “It’s going to make us single folks really feel extra relaxed to spend our lives.” – Rappler.com