Khaberni - A new app with a shocking name is gaining popularity among youngsters in China, especially those living alone away from their families. The app, named "Are You Dead?", offers a simple way to check on the users' safety amid the widespread phenomenon of solitary living in the country.
The app is based on a straightforward idea; it asks the user to press a large green button on their phone to send a signal confirming they are still alive to a friend or relative, for a nominal fee of about one dollar.
Despite its simplicity, the app topped the list of most downloaded paid apps in China in recent days and has seen notable spread in other countries like the UK, the United States, and India, indicating that feelings of loneliness and safety concerns are not unique to the Chinese society.
The developers of the app, three young individuals in their twenties, say that the idea was born from personal experiences with living alone in major cities, where daily communication with family or friends can be exhausting or impractical.
This spread comes at a time when China is experiencing profound social transformations, as official data indicates there are more than 100 million one-person households, resulting from extensive internal migration towards major cities.
Despite the app's sarcastic name, some users, especially women, have expressed concerns about data security and privacy, warning of serious consequences in case sensitive information is leaked.
Observers believe that the app's success reflects a deeper psychological state among the youth, where users seek not just a safety feature, but a sense of care and acknowledgment of their existence in a fast-paced world.
Although death is a sensitive topic in Chinese culture, the developers of the app affirm that the shocking name carries an existential message, suggesting that thinking about death might be a motivation to reevaluate life and its meaning.
