Commenting on FirstDate, a pilot programme introduced by the Government Technology Agency (GovTech), SMU Professor of Psychology Norman Li said limiting the choice set resets the dating environment to one that is more manageable by human brains. He noted that people can feel overwhelmed by too many perceived choices, making it harder to find a partner or commit. Prof Li sees identity verification of the programme as one potential advantage of a government-run service. However, he noted that getting people to participate could nonetheless be a challenge, and some might be concerned about the government being involved in their intimate life. Prof Li sees promise in FirstDate, but says matchmaking alone cannot resolve every obstacle to a relationship. He pointed to financial pressures, job and economic uncertainty, chronic stress, social isolation, and a lack of family support as factors that can complicate dating, marriage, and parenthood.
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