New mobile app monitors daily whether the user is safe

A new app called Si Le Me, which translates to “You’re Dead,” is gaining popularity in China. The app automatically notifies emergency services if its user hasn’t checked in for 2 days, Business Insider reports.

The app is designed for people who live alone. To work, users must sign up and confirm their presence by clicking a button every day. If there’s no response, the app automatically notifies the appropriate services. The app costs 8 yuan (about $1.15). Despite launching in mid-2025, it only began to gain popularity in early January 2026, when it became the most popular paid app in China’s Apple App Store.

The app’s name has sparked a flurry of discussion on Chinese social media, with users discussing loneliness and its risks. It’s predicted that by 2030, there will be about 200 million single-person households in China. A 2021 study found that nearly 60% of people aged 60 and older live alone or with a partner, up 10% from 2010. The app’s creators stress the importance of discussing safety and isolation issues for those living alone.

The surge in potential users has sparked a wave of comments, with many saying the app accentuates feelings of loneliness in society. One user said it creates anxiety, turning life into a “functional task.” Others have criticized the app’s name, calling it inappropriate, even though some users are willing to pay for the assurance of safety.

The overwhelming majority of reactions have been negative. Some users see the app as a humorous way to cope with stress or as a means of psychological support in times of instability. One commenter jokingly wrote: “I’m registered, therefore I exist.”

Thus, the popularity of Si Le Me points to the growing problem of loneliness in China and prompts discussion of social isolation and the safety of single individuals.