The personal safety application Demumu, also known as "Are You Dead?" or "sileme," has expanded from an iOS-exclusive platform to a fully functional web platform accessible on any browser. This expansion breaks what the company calls the "device barrier," making safety tools available to everyone regardless of their operating system. The app, which notifies a user's contacts if they fail to check in regularly, was driven to develop a web version by user feedback highlighting the need for safety verification during the workday, particularly for those who spend significant time on desktop computers.
The web platform maintains the minimalist aesthetic of the mobile app while introducing features optimized for desktop use. These include cross-platform sync, allowing users to check in on an iPhone and verify safety from a laptop browser, and universal accessibility for Android, Windows, Mac, and Linux users via browsers like Chrome, Safari, or Edge. The system runs discreetly in a browser tab and triggers automatic emergency email alerts to designated contacts after missed consecutive check-ins. The app's approach, requiring check-ins every 48 hours, addresses what has been described as the "quiet anxiety" of modern solitary living.
Demumu's cultural significance and growth have been documented by major media outlets. Wired explored the app's blunt approach to mortality in a feature titled "China's 'Are You Dead Yet?' App," while Reuters highlighted its explosive global growth in "Viral App for Single Living Goes Global." Additionally, BBC News discussed its role in the "loneliness economy." With over 100,000 downloads and a 4.3-star rating, the app has demonstrated that a simple safety check can serve as a critical lifeline.
The expansion to the web platform at https://demumu.co is significant because it directly responds to the evolving needs of digital nomads, remote workers, and others whose safety routines were previously interrupted by device limitations. By making the tool platform-agnostic, Demumu ensures that a dead phone battery or device switch does not compromise personal safety monitoring. This development reflects a broader shift toward universal accessibility in digital safety tools, potentially setting a new standard for how technology addresses isolation and risk in an increasingly remote and solitary world.
