Singapore ReadSG pays citizens to read books daily
Singapore's National Library Board launched ReadSG, a 5-year scheme paying citizens 1 SGD for reading 15 minutes a day over 50 days to combat screen time.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
- Singapore NLB launched the 5-year ReadSG reading initiative
- Readers earn 20 virtual coins per 15 minutes, redeemable for 1 SGD per 1,000 coins
- Aims to attract 150,000 participants by September 2027
- Features Read for Good charity donation reaching up to 150,000 SGD
The government of Singapore is testing a direct financial approach to address digital distraction by encouraging citizens to put down their phones and pick up books. The National Library Board (NLB) recently introduced ReadSG, a five-year national reading promotion campaign designed to convert reading time into virtual coins that can eventually be exchanged for cash, targeting 150,000 participants by September 2027.
Operating on the government crowdsourcing platform CrowdTaskSG managed by GovTech, users record reading sessions of at least 15 minutes to earn 20 virtual coins. This logging is limited to once per day, and participants must accumulate 1,000 coins to redeem 1 Singapore Dollar, equivalent to approximately 26 Thai Baht.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
This structure requires readers to log their habits across 50 days to claim a single dollar, meaning no participant will generate significant income from the scheme. Alongside the direct cash redemption, an alternative track named Read for Good converts participants' collective reading time into charitable donations. If total participation reaches 7.5 million minutes, up to 150,000 Singapore Dollars will be unlocked for organizations such as kidsREAD, MINDS, and Preschool Market, aiming to assist roughly 10,000 individuals.
The platform heavily incorporates gamification mechanics, including personal goal setting, daily reading streaks, and progressing experience points. Melissa Tam, Chief Executive Officer of NLB, explained that prolonged reading fosters concentration, critical thinking, and imagination, while the 15-minute daily target was intentionally set low enough for ordinary individuals to maintain consistently.
"Fosters concentration, critical thinking, and imagination"
Melissa Tam
Data from NLB's 2024 National Reading Habits Survey indicates that 89% of Singaporean adults read some form of content more than weekly, rising from 80% in 2016. However, when examining book reading specifically, the figure drops to 28% per week, while 76% read news and 65% read articles on social media or websites. Furthermore, PIRLS data shows that students and parents who report loving reading dropped from 60% in 2011 to around 50% in 2021, illustrating that deep book reading is being displaced by quick-scan digital content.
This initiative applies behavioral economics principles by using extrinsic rewards as a bridging mechanism to spark initial habits before intrinsic reading enjoyment takes over, demonstrating how public policy attempts to nudge citizen behavior against high-friction digital distractions.
Behavioral science experts like Ivo Vlaev from Warwick Business School noted that the nominal financial return acts as a behavioral cue rather than a traditional wage, giving users immediate feedback on their habits. Patrick Taylor from the Behavioural Insights Team highlighted the advantage of manageable 15-minute goals tied to daily routines. Meanwhile, psychologist Jonathan Haidt and economist Lory Barile raised questions regarding long-term habit persistence once monetary incentives conclude.
Source: Techsauce
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