Communication

Singapore Pays Readers to Log 15 Minutes a Day

Is this an embarrassing bribe that exposes a culture problem or smart policy that builds a habit screens have stolen?

Published SEP 16

Singapore Pays Readers to Log 15 Minutes a Day

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Above: A man reads a book at Marina Bay on Nov. 23, 2021, in Singapore. Image credit: Suhaimi Abdullah/NurPhoto/Getty Images

The Spin

Government-critical narrative

Paying citizens to read is embarrassing, treating a basic joy like a transaction that only counts when dollars are attached. A nation that needs a fine or a payout to do anything worthwhile has a culture problem, not a literacy problem.

The Independent SG

Pro-government narrative

Gamifying reading is a smart policy, because doomscrolling won't be beaten by lectures about the love of literature. Small rewards and a public tracking platform build the habit, and once those first 15 minutes stick, real enjoyment takes over from the credits. Add comics and a way to share recommendations, and a shared reading culture grows out of it.

The Straits Times

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