Singapore has launched a new initiative offering financial incentives to encourage its citizens to read books for at least 15 minutes a day. The program, called ReadSG, aims to combat the rise of "doomscrolling"—the habit of endlessly scrolling through negative or superficial online content—and to promote improved concentration, critical thinking, and imagination among the population.

Under the scheme, readers who log their daily reading sessions on a government website or app will earn virtual coins that can be exchanged for cash. For every 50 sessions of at least 15 minutes each, participants receive one Singapore dollar (approximately 58 pence). Sessions are limited to one payable reading period per day. Over the course of a year, consistently reading 15 minutes daily could earn a participant around S$7.30 (£4.25).

Melissa Tam, chief executive of Singapore’s National Library Board (NLB), emphasized the importance of building sustainable reading habits through small, manageable steps. She noted the challenges posed by the abundance of digital content and the tendency toward consuming short-form, skimmable material, which she said weakens sustained focus and critical thinking. "Reading is like a muscle; used regularly, it strengthens our ability to focus, absorb information, think critically, imagine and make sense of the world," Tam explained.

The initiative reflects Singapore’s broader strategy to address concerns around social media use, particularly among young people. Recent studies have highlighted that doomscrolling and social media addiction disproportionately affect younger demographics, leading the government to consider further measures such as imposing daily social media time limits.

This financial incentive approach is consistent with past government efforts to influence public behavior through rewards, such as supermarket vouchers for increased physical activity and prizes for meeting daily step goals.

Despite concerns about declining attention spans and digital distractions, Singapore continues to show strong literacy performance by international standards. According to the 2025 Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA), Singapore’s 15-year-old students ranked first globally in reading ability, ahead of China and Taiwan. However, a survey by the NLB found that only 28 percent of adults in Singapore regularly read books, aligning with trends seen in other developed countries where reading habits have shown signs of decline.

The government hopes the combination of monetary incentives and digital engagement will help reverse these trends by fostering a culture of regular reading that benefits cognitive skills and overall well-being.