General · 16 September 2026
Singapore pays people to read 15 minutes daily
Photo: rawpixel (CC0 (public domain))
Singapore has introduced a new scheme this month, offering payment to citizens who read daily for a minimum of 15 minutes, aiming to counter "doomscrolling" and enhance concentration. Readers earn virtual coins for each session, with 1,000 coins converting to S$1 (80c). The National Library Board hopes this gamification will build sustainable reading habits and strengthen critical thinking.
Reported by Guardian · How we write briefs