Afterlife matters
It costs 8 Chinese yuan,
Just over one US dollar,
The “Are You Dead Yet” app.
In a country where even AI tools
Opted for the free model,
Millions still paid to download it.
The app stands out in its simplicity —
Users tap its button each day,
To prove they’re alive, not dead;
And if no tap is made for two days straight,
An email is sent to the emergency contact.
Though the concept is hardly new —
Many apps offer similar things,
The existential angst it sees and soothes
Resonates nonetheless.
It makes us think, deeply and uncomfortably —
Who would be on our emergency list?
Who would handle our afterlife matters?
Who would cherish our belongings, so rich with meaning?
Who would tend to our decaying body with care and love?
It costs 8 Chinese yuan,
Just over one US dollar,
The “Are You Dead Yet” app.
Yet it costs so much more,
In time and reflection needed,
To learn who we can truly trust,
And what we really value,
In life and beyond.
Data availability statement
Data are available upon reasonable request.
Acknowledgments
The author wishes to express her gratitude to the editors and reviewers for their constructive input and insightful feedback.
Author contributions
Z.S. conceived the work, reviewed the literature, drafted, and edited the manuscript.
Funding
The Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities (4025002306); Jiangsu Provincial Institute of Health Emergency, Research Centre for Medical and Health Emergency Rescue, Xuzhou Medical University Research Projects (JSWSYJ-20240102).
Competing interests
None.
Consent for publication
Not applicable.
Ethics approval
Not applicable.
Open access
