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Viral Chinese Safety App Rebrands as Demumu After Global Surge

The new name aims to defuse backlash over death references to support overseas growth.

A woman looks at her smartphone outside a restaurant in Beijing, China, Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)
A man reacts while holding his smartphone in Beijing, China, Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)
A woman looks at her smartphone in a cafe in Beijing, China, Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)
A man looks down near his smartphone in Beijing, China, Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)

Overview

  • The developers confirmed the rebrand from Are You Dead to Demumu after criticism of the original title’s direct reference to death.
  • Last week the app topped China’s paid App Store rankings, and this week it placed third among paid utilities in Australia, with strong interest in the US, UK and Canada.
  • The paid app prompts users to check in on a schedule and emails nominated emergency contacts if a check-in is missed for a set period.
  • Co‑founder Guo Mengchu told Chinese media the company’s valuation rose from about 1 million yuan to more than 10 million yuan within days following the surge in attention.
  • A three‑person team built the app as a side project in about a month, and its rise has already spawned copycats such as Are You Alive?, U Dead? and Still Alive?