The Singaporean government has rolled out a new dating service for people under 40, and they’ll even pay for your first meal together. The program is called Firstdate, and it is aimed at single people between the ages of 21 and 35 who use the country’s Singpass system.
Here is how it works, step by step.
Signing Up Through Singpass
To join Firstdate, eligible singles sign up, answer a questionnaire, and receive a compatibility score with their match. The website’s tagline reads: “We’ve got your first date covered.”
The government will pay for the bill if you decide to go on a date with your match. That is the whole pitch.
Matching Limits and Feedback
Unlike the Hang the DJ episode of Black Mirror, matching with someone on Firstdate does not force you into a relationship. You can play the field a little bit and look for other matches, but you are limited to one a day. Newly matched users do have some time to chat things over before they decide to do anything.
Once you have decided to go on a date, you are able to leave feedback on Firstdate. The idea is that the program can tweak its algorithms next time around based on what worked and what did not.
Social Media Reactions
The program has drawn some amused responses online. One social media user said, “Ngl probably gonna try this.” Another added, “This might be the first app that aims to be as effective as possible.” Another joked, “Finally, state-assigned spouse.”
Those reactions capture the tone of the announcement: this is a government trying to boost the birth rate by making dating easier, and it is doing so with a dating app that pays for the first date.
The Pilot Ends October 5
Applicants have until October 5 to sign up to the pilot programme. After that, they will have to use other apps that are on the market.
The program is running as a pilot, which means it is a test run. Whether it becomes permanent depends on how well it works.
Related Efforts Around the World
This is not the first time a government has tried to boost its birth rate by helping people find partners. Over in Korea, PUBG publisher Krafton has even paid employees to start families in a bid to help the nation’s birth rate. Japan has also paid single residents to use dating apps.
The Singaporean approach is different. Instead of giving cash directly, the government is building a matchmaking platform and covering the cost of the first date. It is a creative solution to a demographic problem.
What We Make of It
This is a novel approach to boosting the birth rate. A questionnaire, a compatibility score, and a limited daily matching limit — it is a government app built for romance, and it comes with the state footing the bill for the first meal.
The reactions online suggest people are taking it seriously, even if they are laughing about it. The joke about state-assigned spouses captures the absurdity of the situation: a government that wants you to date is offering you a partner, a score, and a free dinner.
The program is a pilot, and it will end soon. After October 5, applicants will have to return to the open market of dating apps.
The question is whether the Singaporean government can move the needle on the birth rate by treating dating as a public service. The answer will come after the pilot ends. For now, the experiment is live, and the government is paying for the first date.
“We’ve got your first date covered”
That is the promise, and it is a bold one.
Source material: “Singapore government releases a dating app and will pay for citizens’ first date,” Dexerto.
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