Singapore is trying to convince people to put their phones aside and open a book. Authorities have launched a national campaign where citizens receive small financial rewards if they read at least 15 minutes a day.
The program will run for five years and aims to turn reading into a habit, through a system similar to those used by digital games, reports CNN.
Participants record their reading minutes on a government website. For a session of at least 15 minutes, they receive 20 virtual coins, and after collecting 1,000 coins, they can cash in one Singapore dollar, equivalent to about 0.8 U.S. dollars.
Therefore, it takes 50 days of reading to receive the reward. Only one session can be recorded per day.
The amount is rather symbolic. However, authorities hope that the game, the reward, and participation in a national campaign will help people form or regain the habit of reading.
„Short content helps us stay informed, but reading extensive texts strengthens our ability to concentrate, critical thinking, and imagination,” said Melissa Tam, director of the National Library Board in Singapore (NLB). „We want to see a nation of curious readers, with critical thinking, discernment, and ready to navigate an increasingly complex world,” she added.
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### A Battle with Phones and Algorithms
The initiative comes at a time when the ability to concentrate is decreasing, and reading is losing ground to Shorts content on social networks.
Teachers and researchers increasingly talk about „brain rot” – a term used to describe the alleged deterioration of concentration and thinking skills associated with excessive consumption of superficial online content. Another issue is „doomscrolling,” the habit of endlessly scrolling through streams and posts, especially with negative information.
– Source: [Spotmedia](https://spotmedia.ro/stiri/educatie/parintele-pisa-explica-rezultatele-dezastruoase-ale-elevilor-ai-le-poate-atrofia-capacitatea-de-a-gandi)
The latest international rankings show that reading results of students in countries like Singapore and China are very good. The study identified distraction by digital devices during class as one of the problems.
Loh Chin Ee, a researcher of reading habits at the National Institute of Education in Singapore, believes that the 15-minute threshold was well chosen. „For someone who reads a lot, 15 minutes may seem very little, but I think it’s a suitable duration,” she told CNN.
People still read words and text snippets on screens, the researcher explains, but deep reading – the one we dedicate time and attention to – is becoming increasingly rare.
– Source: [Spotmedia](https://spotmedia.ro/stiri/educatie/asumarea-si-literatura-pentru-copii-o-relatie-fundamentala)
### Can You Buy Love for Books?
Singapore remains one of the countries with the best reading results. However, there are concerns that students lose interest in books as they progress in school and start preparing for important exams.
The reading reward program is in the pilot phase until the end of the year. The National Library Board announces that new features and improvements will be introduced based on participants’ feedback.
Readers can also participate in a charity campaign. The goal is to accumulate 7.5 million reading minutes and raise up to 150,000 Singapore dollars, approximately 118,300 U.S. dollars, this year.
The initiative has sparked controversy. Critics wonder if money can cultivate a lifelong passion for reading. In their opinion, people should read for the pleasure of doing so, not for rewards.
Supporters of the program argue that in an era where attention is constantly fragmented, any method that gets people to read is welcome. „I prefer to see people reading and missing their stop than constantly hearing TikTok videos and AI-generated Chinese series at full blast on the train,” says Charmaine Lim, a content creator on books and lifestyle.
Ashley Chia, who leads a book club, believes that the success of the campaign should not be measured only in minutes. „If Singapore wants to build a reading culture, success may not just mean people reading 15 minutes a day. It also means becoming more curious readers. To read things that go beyond what is immediately accessible or immediately useful,” she explains.
However, some research suggests that financial rewards can reduce the natural motivation to continue an activity once the stimulus disappears.
According to clinical psychologist Charissa Ng, money can work for those who are already somewhat interested in reading. For people who have no interest at all, the reward may not be enough to create lasting internal motivation.
It remains to be seen if small financial rewards can compete with the allure of algorithm-recommended content. However, Singapore has experience with national campaigns that have changed behaviors, from keeping public spaces clean to promoting politeness. Authorities hope that a small push will be enough to make people turn the page.