Singapore to Reward Readers With Tiny Payouts

Singapore is literally putting money on the table to get people off their phones and into books. The city-state has rolled out a program that gives residents one Singapore dollar, the equivalent of almost 80 cents US, after they log 50 reading sessions of at least 15 minutes each, with just one session counting per day, via a government website. They receive virtual coins that can be converted to cash or donated to charities.

• Melissa Tam, chief executive of Singapore's National Library Board, says the 15 minutes campaign is inspired by Japan's campaign to get people to walk 10,000 steps per day. "It's not necessarily a specific number that we're after," she tells the Straits Times. "It can be different for different people, and that is completely okay, but the reason we are suggesting 15 minutes daily is really to get it started."

• The payout is relatively tiny, but behavioral scientists say that may not matter. They see the cash, streaks, and progress tracking as a low-stakes nudge that could help lapsed or reluctant readers turn intention into routine—if the pleasure of reading eventually takes over from the promise of payment, the Guardian reports. Researchers are now eyeing the scheme as a test bed: Does small money beat badges, certificates, or simple gamification in building a reading habit that lasts once rewards end?
• Some critics doubt whether the program, which relies on people to log their reading sessions honestly, will change long-term reading habits. Supporters say anything that gets people to read more is worthwhile. "I would rather see people reading and miss their train stop or their bus stop than hear the constant sounds of TikTok and AI-generated Chinese dramas being blasted on the train," Charmaine Lim, a book-focused social media content creator, tells CNN.

• The program might be an effective way to encourage lapsed readers to pick up books again, the Guardian reports. "If people are already intrinsically motivated to read, this may be enough to tip them over the edge to read a bit more," says Wharton Business School professor Katy Milkman.
• "All it takes is 15 minutes a day to build a reading habit," the initiative's website says. "That's about the time between three MRT stops, waiting for your bus, or enjoying your morning coffee."