Government dating platform FirstDate raises age limit from 35 to 45, opens second matchmaking cycle

Single public officers aged up to 45 can now seek love through GovTech’s FirstDate dating platform, which has expanded its eligible age range for its second matchmaking cycle.

The new age limit has been increased from 35 years old to 45 years old.

In an email sent to eligible officers on Tuesday (20 Oct) at about 10.30am, GovTech announced that applications for the second cycle were open, with sign-ups closing on 26 Oct at 11.59pm.

The Singpass-verified initiative aims to help singles find compatible partners through an algorithm, offering one match at a time instead of the endless swiping associated with conventional dating apps.

FirstDate opens to singles aged 21-45 for second cycle

The email titled “FirstDate cycle 2 starts today! (Now for eligible single officers 21-45 years old)”, as seen by MS News, invited both new and returning users to participate.

“Whether you’re joining us for the first time or returning for another cycle, we’ve used your feedback to improve the FirstDate experience,” the email read.

The expanded age range means eligible public officers aged 36 to 45 can now participate, compared with the initial 21-35 age group.

FirstDate remains a pilot initiative for public officers, rather than a dating service open to the general public.

FirstDate’s website now states that the initiative supports singles aged up to 45.

How does GovTech’s dating platform work?

FirstDate takes a different approach from dating apps that let users browse and swipe through multiple profiles.

According to its website, users complete a questionnaire covering their interests, habits, values and preferences.

Their responses are then used to recommend a compatible match. The platform uses the Gale-Shapley Stable Marriage algorithm, a mathematical approach to matching people based on their preferences.

Rather than receiving a long list of potential partners, users are introduced to one match per cycle.

Each match comes with a compatibility score, a description of the person and a personal note intended to help users get a sense of their potential date before deciding whether to connect.

Users can see their match’s profile name, interests and other profile information, but not their face, according to the process described by users familiar with the platform.

The approach is designed to encourage users to consider each introduction more carefully, rather than feeling overwhelmed by too many options.

Public officers will not be matched with colleagues from the same agency

When the pilot was first reported in early October, GovTech said participants would not be matched with colleagues from the same government agency.

The initial age range of 21 to 35 was chosen because the team expected this group to be more likely to be actively dating and interested in trying the service, The Straits Times reported.

A defined age group would also allow the team to test the platform with a more focused pool of participants.

The expansion to those aged up to 45 marks a change for the second cycle, although FirstDate remains a pilot being tested across the Public Service.

After each match, users are invited to provide feedback, including whether they exchanged contact details or met in person. GovTech can use the responses to improve the service as the trial progresses.

Applications for the second cycle close on 26 Oct at 11.59pm.