GovTech has yet to decide whether to expand FirstDate beyond pilot — Channel NewsAsia

In Singapore, the Government Technology Agency GovTech has not yet decided whether to launch or expand the FirstDate dating service beyond the pilot stage. The platform is currently available only to unmarried public-sector employees aged 21 to 35, Channel NewsAsia reports.

The pilot started on September 29. Its goal is to test whether a different approach to dating, with greater focus on shared values and preferences and fewer recommended matches at a time, can offer users a different experience.

How FirstDate works

To participate, users log into the system through Singpass and answer 30 questions about their interests, lifestyle, food and travel preferences. The questionnaire also includes questions about the preferred age of a partner, unacceptable conditions and the desire to have children. Applications can be submitted until October 5.

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The platform uses the Gale—Shapley stable marriage algorithm, which GovTech describes as an established mathematical approach to making recommendations based on participants' preferences and compatibility. Users receive one recommended match per cycle — approximately once a month.

Participant verification

After a match is formed, both users receive a notification and have three days to decide whether to accept the recommendation. Profiles are available only to people matched by the system, while contact details will be disclosed only with the consent of both parties.

Singpass is also used to verify a participant's age, marital status and the government agency where they work. GovTech said this is intended to confirm that users meet the pilot's eligibility requirements. The agency did not provide data on the number of participants, as the project has only just begun. According to the FirstDate website, the idea for the service was first considered during GovTech's annual hackathon.