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Singapore Pays Citizens to Read for 15 Minutes a Day
By Drooid · · How we work
Launch of a Government-Funded Reading Incentive
The Singapore government introduced a new scheme this month that rewards residents for reading a book for at least 15 minutes each day. Participants must log a single reading session per day on an online portal; after 50 logged sessions they receive a monetary credit of S$1 (approximately 80 cents). Each qualifying session earns 20 virtual coins, and 1,000 coins are required to redeem the S$1 payment. The program is framed as a gamified effort to counter “doomscrolling” and to nurture concentration, critical thinking, and imagination among Singaporeans.
How the Scheme Operates
Reading sessions are limited to one per day, and users accumulate points that can be exchanged for a few cents per 1,000-coin threshold. The incentive structure mirrors earlier health-related initiatives, such as supermarket vouchers for walking and prizes for meeting daily step goals. By making the reward modest and the target modest—just 15 minutes of reading—the program aims to build sustainable habits through repeated small actions.
Official Rationale and Prior Context
Melissa Tam, chief of the National Library Board, explained that the initiative builds on the belief that habits form through consistent, achievable steps. She noted the abundance of digital content that encourages rapid scrolling and highlighted the government’s broader interest in reducing the harmful effects of social-media use among young people. A recent study cited by officials identified doomscrolling and digital addiction as major sources of harm for Singapore’s youth.
Anticipated Impact and Related Achievements
The incentive arrives amid strong performance in literacy metrics: Singapore’s 15-year-old students topped the 2025 Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) reading rankings, surpassing peers in China and Taiwan. Policymakers hope the cash-back scheme will reinforce these gains by encouraging daily reading practice across the population, complementing existing efforts to promote healthier digital habits.