With a strange and simple idea, this new app is achieving insane download rates
Among all the phenomena that spread like wildfire in early 2026, one of the most sinister apps in history stood out. In China, the app garnered tens of thousands of downloads and topped the download charts for iPhones and Android devices for several days—a success that began to spread to the West, prompting its developers to release it outside of China. The app's name is Sile Me, two words that mean "Are you dead?" in Chinese.
It's no coincidence; the app's primary purpose is to determine if you're dead. It's known in the rest of the world as Demumu, though the name is the only difference. Its incredibly simple, though somewhat bizarre, mechanism is the same: tap a button every two days to let the app know you're still alive.
We're not kidding; that's all you have to do if you buy and download the app. Every 48 hours, you'll be prompted to tap the single button on its home screen. However, that's not the only reason it's currently the most popular app: there's an extra step.
If you don't press the button within 48 hours, a notification system will be activated for your family members and emergency services. This feature was recently added, but initially, the app only sent an email to the family member you had previously designated as a contact. That's all.
That's all it does. Nothing more. Yet it's a button thousands of people in China press every day, with the simple goal of confirming they are alive and going about their lives. No more WhatsApp messages saying "I'm fine" or "Hello"; families in China now hope they won't receive that ominous email from the Sile Me app informing them of a loved one's death.
Why has this app become so popular in China?
For several years now, China has been undergoing a radical demographic shift. Millions of people are moving from rural areas to major cities and emerging regions that the Chinese government is developing as technology hubs. Dongguan, known as "New Shenzhen," is a prime example.
This phenomenon, coupled with the 35-year-long one-child policy, is leading to a surge in single-family homes across China's vast rural areas. It is estimated that there are over 200 million homes occupied by only one person, often an elderly individual.
The Sile Me (or Demumu) app has become a lifeline for the families of these elderly people, who press the green button in the app every few hours to reassure their families of their safety.