Some people who live alone don’t always stay in daily contact with family and friends. That’s the rationale for an app created by Chinese company Moonscape Technologies, which requires users to check in regularly to reassure their emergency contact that everything is okay. Now the company has changed the app’s original name, Sileme, which bluntly translates to “Are You Dead?” » According to the Global Times, the company announced its new name, Demumu, on the Weibu app on Tuesday. The new name is still partially derived from a Chinese word meaning death.
The original name was a pun on the name of a popular Chinese food delivery app, Ele.me, which translates to “Are you hungry?” But when the app gained worldwide attention on Monday, the company announced a name change.
Not everyone was a fan of the new name. The Global Times quotes an online commenter who said: “The reason you went viral was your original name. »
Whatever its name, the personal safety app, launching in 2025, is designed to serve as a safety net for people living alone, especially those who are less mobile or have health issues.
Don’t miss any of our unbiased technical content and lab reviews. Add CNET as your preferred Google source.
“We wanted to build something that works invisibly in people’s lives – not intrusive or complicated, just a simple click every day that says ‘I’m OK’ to the people who care,” a Demumu spokesperson said in a statement.
Demumu currently ranks first among the most popular paid apps in China and is equally sought after in Spain, Singapore, Hong Kong, the United States and Australia. Demumu is available for iOS and costs 99 cents as a one-time purchase.
Of course, you can just contact your loved one daily by phone or text, but the app offers a sort of forced reminder in case you forget.
