An app called “Are You Dead?” surged to the top of China’s Apple App Store paid rankings, sparking debate online over its blunt name. Screenshot by The Epoch Times

A newly released Chinese app called “Are You Dead?” has gone viral in China in recent days. Earlier this week, it climbed to No. 1 on Apple’s top paid utilities chart in China, before falling to No. 2 on Wednesday.

The app’s functionality is starkly simple. Users designate an emergency contact and check in periodically. If they fail to do so for two consecutive days, the system automatically sends an email alert to that contact. This app is targeted toward people living alone.

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