A new app with the intriguing name Sileme, which translates to “Are you dead?” is rapidly gaining popularity in China. The app works quite simply: every two days, the user must press a large button, thereby confirming their existence. If the user fails to perform this action, the app automatically sends a notification to a chosen emergency contact, informing them of potential issues with the user.
This text is a translation of material prepared by a BBC correspondent. The original in English is available here.
Although the app was launched in May of last year, its popularity began to rise only in recent weeks, especially among young people living alone in major cities in China. As a result, Sileme has become the most downloaded paid app in the country.
According to research organizations, by 2030, there could be up to 200 million single-member households in China, as reported by the Chinese state publication Global Times.
The app is aimed at people who lead solitary lives, including office workers, students away from home, and those who have chosen a life of solitude.
Another user expressed their fears: “It’s scary that a person living alone could die and no one would notice. Sometimes I wonder who would take my body if I died alone?”
Wilson Hou, 38, shared that he downloaded the app because his family is 100 km away from him. He works in Beijing and only returns home twice a week, spending most of his time at work.
“I worry that I might die in one of my rented places and no one would know, so I listed my mom as an emergency contact,” he added, noting that he downloaded the app right after its release, fearing it might be banned due to negative associations with the theme of death.
Some users criticize the app's name as too grim and believe that registering for it could bring bad luck.
Some suggest changing the name to something more optimistic, like “Are you okay?” or “How are you?”
Despite some criticism, the developers from Moonscape Technologies stated that they are considering changing the app's name to soften its perception.
The Chinese name Sileme is a play on words that refers to a popular food delivery service called “Are you hungry?” Phonetically, Sileme sounds like E-le-ma, which may have contributed to its popularity.
On the international market, the app is presented under the name Demumu, where it ranked second in the USA, Singapore, and Hong Kong, and made it to the top 4 paid apps in Australia and Spain, likely due to Chinese users living abroad.
Little is known about the app's creators. The team consists of three individuals born after 1995 and worked on the project in the city of Zhengzhou in Henan province.
The app was initially free, but now costs 8 yuan ($1.15). The developers spent about 1,000 yuan ($140) to create it. One of the founders, known as Go, reported that they plan to attract investment by offering 10% of the company for one million yuan.
In addition to this, they want to expand their target audience and are exploring the possibility of creating a new product for elderly people, which is especially relevant in a country where over 20% of the population is over 60 years old.
The development team published a message urging society to pay more attention to elderly people living alone and to care for them. “They have dreams, they strive for life, and they deserve respect and protection,” they stated.
The company did not respond to BBC inquiries.
