Singapore's ReadSG Campaign Turns Reading Into Real Rewards

It has been said through generations that knowledge and information are a form of currency,  socially and mentally. Now, a new national campaign in Singapore is looking to turn that metaphorical reward into reality.

ReadSG launched on September 6, just in time for National Reading Month, under Singapore's National Library Board (NLB) and its chief, Melissa Tam. A local book market with artist and reading activities helped kick off the program, bringing together creatives and book lovers to showcase the power and beauty of reading.

The program will run over a five-year span to help build the country's reading habits after a 2024 NLB study found that while "89% of adult respondents read more than once a week, only 28% read books." Tam believes that reading is similar to a muscle; it gives people the ability to increase their focus, mental capacity, and imagination if exercised regularly. 

The gamification aspect also helps keep readers engaged and eager to track their sessions, but it also makes others wonder if the trade-off is enough.

The program operates on a two-part system of digital coins that can eventually turn into real dollars. With just 15 minutes a day, a Singaporean citizen can earn twenty digital coins in their account. Once they reach 1,000 coins, they can cash out and turn them into one Singapore dollar, about 0.80 cents if converted into U.S. currency.

 This means the program requires about 50 reading sessions to reach that goal of one dollar. Coins are earned by tracking reading sessions, but users can only log one session per day, a safeguard against dishonesty and abuse of the system. 

Tam believes the program will serve as a model for young children, who are able to see those around them rewarded for reading daily, especially amid technological advancements that have become woven into more aspects of everyday life than ever before. It is designed to directly combat the "doomscrolling" trap that many have discovered can turn into hours on end. 

In a July NLB press release, Tam stated that “Through ReadSG, we hope that Singaporeans will embrace reading as a joyful lifelong habit, one that will nurture curious minds, deep thinkers and informed citizens.”

The NLB believes the way to build up a national reading culture is to move away from skimmable content and move back to the long-form, but also stays committed to change. If needed, through continuous research and development, the program could shift every year according to what is working and what other new studies may find. Proving that reading to them is not a linear activity and should remain flexible and loose to sustain citizens' interest.