Date on the State's Tab: Singapore's Own Dating App Makes the First Meeting Free

TVS News AI, editorially supervised, presents Date on the State's Tab: Singapore's Own Dating App Makes the First Meeting Free.

Sounds like the plot of a satire show, but is apparently real: Singapore has launched its own dating app – directly from the government. And anyone living in the city-state gets the first meeting on the house.

What initially sounds like a bad joke is in fact an unusual measure: Instead of swiping through profiles on the usual suspects like Tinder, Bumble, or Hinge, singles in Singapore can now turn to an official government platform. Anyone living there saves themselves the bill on the first meeting – that's part of the concept.

What is known about the app so far

According to GameStar, the dating app was released directly by the government of Singapore. Residents of the country get the first meeting free, according to the report. Exactly which platform it is, what it's called, and when it becomes available – the reporting so far is silent on that.

What can already be said: The idea is unusual enough to attract international attention. Everyone knows privately-run dating apps by now – an official state app that subsidizes the first date is quite a new level.

What this reveals about dating in the 21st century

That a government launches its own dating platform at all is a remarkable step. In most countries, finding a partner is a private matter – the free market handles the business, and the state watches. Singapore breaks with that line and takes a particularly visible path with its own app. However, the reporting so far provides no evidence of a political program behind the app.

What you can take away from the report

If you live in Singapore: It's worth keeping an eye on the app – the first meeting is on the house. If not, the report remains above all a curious look beyond one's own backyard and an example of how far a state can go when it puts finding a partner for its citizens on the political agenda.

Whether the model will set a precedent remains to be seen. One thing is certain: A dating app has rarely received this much attention at launch.