A program that pays people for reading books has launched in Singapore.

A program that pays people for reading books has launched in Singapore.

The Singaporean government has launched a new program aimed at fostering a reading habit among the population and reducing social media usage. The Guardian reported on this initiative.
Under the program, citizens receive 20 virtual coins for reading for at least 15 minutes a day. Once 1,000 coins are accumulated, they can be exchanged for 1 Singapore dollar (approximately 9,200 soums). Only one reading session per day counts toward the total.
The program was launched in September. The government views this initiative as an alternative to the constant scrolling through news feeds and social media.
Melissa Tham, head of Singapore’s National Library Board, stated that beneficial habits are formed through small but consistent actions; hence, the program begins with a 15-minute reading requirement.
The initiative is part of broader measures aimed at mitigating the impact of social media on the country's population, particularly the youth.