Woman surprised by match with 21-year-old man on GovTech dating platform
A 35-year-old woman trying GovTech’s FirstDate dating platform was amused after receiving a match with a 21-year-old man, but the introduction did not proceed before she could decide whether to accept him.
Source: @yvelyn_xiaoyi on Instagram
Yvelyn, who posts on Instagram and TikTok as @yvelyn_xiaoyi, shared her experience in a video, joking about the age gap and analysing her potential match’s profile.
Speaking to MS News, she said she had planned to ask her followers whether she should accept the match.
However, she later received a message saying it would not proceed.
21-year-old man might not match her energy
In her video, Yvelyn said she received an SMS directing her to view her first recommended match on FirstDate.
The platform is a GovTech pilot for unmarried public officers aged 21 to 35.
Users verify their identities through Singpass and complete a questionnaire about their interests, habits, values and preferences.
Yvelyn had selected an acceptable dating age range of 21 to 35, making the younger man eligible based on her preferences.
She noted that his profile indicated he wanted children.
Meanwhile, the opening line of his biography read, “Life is tiring, life is boring”.
Source: @yvelyn_xiaoyi on Instagram
She joked that the algorithm seemed to “know my taste so accurately”, but said his outlook on life did not match her energy.
Yvelyn also felt that the man’s profile suggested he enjoyed staying at home and found life and work tiring.
“No positive attitude, you know?” she said in her Instagram video.
As a mother to a 13-year-old son, she wondered whether she would end up providing emotional support to a younger partner as well.
She said she was looking for a serious, long-term relationship and wanted a partner who could share the responsibilities of marriage, having children and building a family.
However, she also stressed that she was open to dating someone younger if he was mature, had life experience and shared her values.
Match did not proceed before she could accept or reject it
Yvelyn told MS News that FirstDate uses a two-way matching process, meaning both parties must agree before they can connect.
She had not clicked “Accept match” because she was planning to make a video and ask her followers whether she should accept him.
Picture courtesy of Yvelyn
Before the deadline, however, she received a message saying the match would not proceed.
“I’m not sure what happened on his side. He may have skipped the match,” she told MS News.
Yvelyn added that she had been automatically included in the next matching cycle, which begins on 20 Oct.
She admitted feeling a little disappointed because the introduction felt like a missed opportunity, and she would now have to wait for the next cycle.
Nevertheless, she said she would continue reading future profiles carefully rather than accepting a match simply because one was recommended.
“For me, compatibility is more important than simply getting matched,” she said.
Still feels that FirstDate could bring ‘healthy and meaningful relationships’
Yvelyn said she decided to try FirstDate because she appreciated the Government taking an interest in people’s personal lives and relationships, alongside their careers.
Source: @yvelyn_xiaoyi on Instagram
She also wanted to experience the platform first-hand and understand its advantages and drawbacks before she potentially became ineligible due to its age limit.
The registration process was straightforward, she said.
She logged in through Singpass and answered more than 40 questions before receiving an SMS confirming the matching schedule.
She was also intrigued that users could learn about each other through written profiles without seeing photographs.
“As a woman, I appreciate the idea of being understood for my personality, values and life experiences, rather than just how I look,” she said.
Picture courtesy of MS News reader, for illustrative purposes only
She added that Singpass verification made her feel more secure about users’ identities and less concerned about scams.
Despite the first match not progressing, Yvelyn remains open to trying again.
“I’d love to stay involved in First Date, either by continuing to participate in the programme or by contributing feedback and ideas to its future development,” she told MS News.
“I truly believe that healthy and meaningful relationships can bring positive changes to people’s lives, and I’d be happy to contribute to an initiative that supports this.”
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Featured image adapted from @yvelyn_xiaoyi on Instagram and @yvelyn_xiaoyi on Instagram.
