Tired of swiping through dating apps to find The One?
FirstDate, a pilot initiative by the Government Technology Agency of Singapore (GovTech), wants to support eligible singles on their dating journey.
With one match at a time, it is designed to help users build “thoughtful connections”.
For now, the pilot is only open to public officers aged 21 to 35, with applications closing on Oct 5. It also requires Singpass for verification.
The initiative comes as the number of marriages in Singapore continues to decline.
So, how exactly does FirstDate work?
For starters, there will not be a large pool of potential matches to browse and pick from.
Instead, users complete a questionnaire covering their interests, habits, values and preferences.
FirstDate then works its magic using the Gale-Shapley Stable Marriage algorithm — an established mathematical approach that generates pairings based on participants’ preferences — to curate matches based on compatibility.
Users will receive one match per cycle, complete with a compatibility score, what the other person is like, and a personal note.
Once matched, users have three days to decide if they’d like to connect. Their profiles, alongside contact details, will only be unlocked once both sides say yes.
From there, users can reach out and start getting to know each other more.
For those who choose to meet up in person, FirstDate also has a date quest feature which suggests an activity designed to help break the ice.
If there’s no spark the first time round, don’t worry — another match will come along in the next cycle.
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Singapore plays matchmaker
This isn’t the first time the Singapore government has tried its hand at playing matchmaker.
In 1984, the Social Development Unit (SDU) was set up to encourage graduate singles to mingle at events such as dinners, parties and outings.
Over the next few years, similar initiatives were set up for non-graduate singles.
As dating apps gained popularity in recent years, SDU closed its website in 2023 and pivoted its efforts to support singles in other ways, such as skills to build stronger relationships.
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