Singapore Launches Dating App for Government Workers
Listen to the story
Singapore has launched a new dating platform for people who work for the government. The goal is to raise the country's very low birthrate.
Singapore is a city-state, which means it is a country made up of just one city. For years, its birthrate has been falling, worrying officials who fear a shrinking population.
The government is acting as a kind of matchmaker, a role usually played by a person who helps others find a partner. This time, the state itself is taking on that job.
The new platform is only open to government workers for now. Officials hope it will help them meet partners, get married, and eventually have children.
The announcement has caused a wide range of reactions. Some people are curious about how the platform will work. Others find the idea amusing, even calling it strange or unusual for a government to run a dating service.
However, not everyone is laughing. Some critics have reacted with scorn, arguing that the government should not get involved in people's private lives. They say low birthrates are caused by deeper problems, such as high living costs and long working hours.
Singapore is far from alone in facing this challenge. Many developed countries around the world are seeing falling birthrates, as more young people delay marriage and children because of financial pressure, career demands, or changing lifestyles.
Governments have tried many solutions, including cash payments, tax breaks, and extra parental leave. It is still unclear whether a dating platform will succeed where other policies have struggled.
Vocabulary10 words
- birthrate
- the number of babies born in a place over time
- dating platform
- an app or website that helps people find romantic partners
- city-state
- a country that consists of a single city and its area
- matchmaker
- someone who helps other people find a partner
- scorn
- a strong feeling that something does not deserve respect
- amusement
- a light feeling of fun or wanting to laugh
- curiosity
- a wish to learn more about something
- critics
- people who say something is wrong or has problems
- policies
- official plans or actions a government decides to take
- population
- all the people who live in a certain place
📚 Ready to use these words in a real conversation?
Practice live with a real tutor on Preply.
Quiz
Answer key
1. To raise the country's low birthrate 2. Government workers 3. With a mix of curiosity, amusement and scorn
✅ Nice work on the quiz!
Keep the momentum going — book a live English lesson with a Preply tutor.
Fill-in-the-blank listening
Play the audio again and fill in the missing words as you listen.
Singapore has launched a new _____ platform for government workers.
The goal is to raise the country's very low _____.
Singapore is a _____, meaning a country that is just one city.
The government is acting as a kind of _____.
The platform is currently only open to _____ workers.
Some people find the idea _____, even calling it strange.
Other critics have reacted with _____, saying government should not interfere.
Many developed countries are also facing falling _____.
Governments have tried cash payments, tax breaks, and parental _____.
Discussion questions
- Do you think governments should try to influence people's personal choices, like dating or having children? Why or why not?
- Why do you think birthrates are falling in many developed countries?
- Would a government-run dating platform work well in your country? Why or why not?
- What other solutions could governments use to address low birthrates?
🎓 Enjoyed this story?
Turn today's reading into real speaking practice with a live Preply tutor.
More Politics stories
Next story · Medium
Broncos Score Two-Point Conversion in Fourth Quarter