A Chinese phone app called “Sileme”, or “Dead or Alive” in English, has surged to the top of China’s paid app charts, reflecting the growing trend of solo living among young people.
The app, launched by a small development team in June 2025, allows users to check in daily by tapping a large green button to confirm they are “alive.” Failing to check in for two consecutive days triggers an email alert to the user’s emergency contact. Originally priced at 1 yuan (≈ MYR 0.70), the cost was recently raised to 8 yuan (≈ MYR 5.60) due to operational expenses.
Developed by three 30-year-olds based in Henan province — all of whom have full-time jobs — the iOS-only app reportedly cost just 1,000 yuan (≈ MYR 700) to create and took about a month to develop. Guo Mengchu, one of the developers, said the app targets young people living alone who “have dreams, work hard, and need to be respected and looked after.”
The app quickly went viral, with downloads increasing 200-fold. Guo revealed that the developers plan to sell 10% of the company for one million yuan (≈ MYR 700,000), valuing the company at roughly 10 million yuan (≈ MYR 7 million).
The app’s name, Sileme, translates literally as “Are you dead?” and has been described as ominous in traditional Chinese belief. Some users expressed discomfort with the name, while the developers defended it, saying that confronting the concept of death can help people appreciate life more fully. They also have no plans to change the name, as no government notice has been issued.
Despite its dark name, many users view the app as entertaining rather than functional. Social media comments suggest that it is more of a humorous “meme come true” than a serious safety tool. One user joked, “The app is not for saving my life during an emergency, but for notifying people when my body rots.” Others said the app captures the true needs of people living alone and could even be useful for the elderly.
China has seen a sharp rise in solo living, with 123 million people living alone in 2024 — a 5.2% increase from the previous year. Among them, 110 million were aged between 20 and 50. Meanwhile, China’s population aged 60 and above exceeded 310 million by the end of 2024, accounting for more than a fifth of the total population.
The developers have said they plan to create another version of the app aimed at middle-aged and elderly users, featuring a “milder” name while retaining the daily check-in function.
