Singapore's authorities have found an unconventional way to boost the birth rate: a state-run matchmaking service, already dubbed the "government's Tinder," has begun operating in the country. The service is called FirstDate and was developed by the government technology company GovTech Singapore, according to infohub.kz.
The platform is currently in test mode, open to civil servants aged 21 to 35. Registration is via Singpass, Singapore's equivalent of Kazakhstan's Egov. Participants fill out a questionnaire about their interests, habits, values, and relationship preferences.
Unlike conventional dating apps, there will be no endless swiping through millions of profiles. An algorithm that takes user preferences into account matches each person with one potential partner. After a match, both participants receive an SMS and have 72 hours to decide whether they want to continue the acquaintance.
According to the Economic Times, the state may even cover part of the costs. FirstDate includes a feature called Date Quest: couples are offered a joint task, such as trying a dish they have never eaten before. In return, participants can receive a voucher from a third-party partner.
"However, its value and quantity are limited by the terms of the promotion, so the service does not guarantee a completely free dinner," the publication notes.
GovTech also states that user data is not monetized or shared with third parties.
Earlier, Kursiv LifeStyle reported that, amid a record decline in the birth rate, the country's authorities increased state support for parents. For each child under 17, the state plans to allocate about 70,000 Singapore dollars (approximately 25.4 million tenge).