FirstDate dating app age gap concerns

As she was deciding whether to accept the match and preparing to record a video about it, she said the man “unmatched” her.

“Originally, I also thought this was a bit too inappropriate,” she said.

Felt he was too young for her

Based on his profile, Xiaoyi described the man as “just a kid”, noting that his favourite thing to do was stay at home.

“I already have a 13-year-old son,” she said. “If I’m with this little brother, I’m also responsible for providing him with emotional value.”

While she said she had the energy to do so, she added that she could not provide it to others “for free”.

“This is definitely not suitable for me,” she stressed.

In response, one netizen commented that it was “quite common” for a 21-year-old man to be bored.

“It takes many more years when you start loving and appreciating life. Guys also take longer to mature in general,” he wrote.

Xiaoyi also said she would have to wait another month for her next match, with the next cycle reopening on Oct 20.

While she felt her match was “inappropriate”, Xiaoyi said she was reassured that all applicants were civil servants whose identities had been reviewed by the Government.

“So if you want to lie, it’s hard,” she said.

She encouraged other applicants to think carefully before accepting a match, saying it could be “embarrassing” when it came time to meet in person.

Xiaoyi added that one advantage of FirstDate was that it allowed applicants to take dating seriously, as users could report any issues they encountered.

“Two people, as long as one person disagrees, the meeting will not go ahead,” she said.

She selected the entire 21 to 35 age range

In a second video, Xiaoyi said she had selected the entire 21 to 35 age range when applying.

She noted that a younger man could still be mature and a good person, while an older man might have more life experience and topics to talk about.

“I have no limit on this,” she said, adding that she understood why the algorithm matched her with a 21-year-old man.

She added that she was concerned about potential matches recognising her name and coming across her videos on social media.

“But it’s okay, just try,” she said.

Xiaoyi also pointed out that she was probably in a “better frame of mind” than most applicants, as she had been married before and her child was already in school.

“I have nothing to say and look for a man to change my life,” she said.

She said she decided to apply to find out more about the advantages and downsides of FirstDate.

Based on her first match, Xiaoyi said she felt the platform was more about getting to know someone as a friend, rather than pursuing bigger goals such as marriage and buying a house.

Stomp has reached out to Xiaoyi and GovTech for comment.

Netizens intrigued

Since FirstDate launched, many netizens have been intrigued by how the matchmaking process works and the matches applicants have received.

A Reddit post on Oct 6 asked: “FirstDate GovTech – How’s it going?”

The post, which has garnered more than 110 comments, drew varied reactions to the matchmaking service.

Some users who said they had applied also shared their experiences, with some saying they had successfully received matches while others said their applications were rejected.

Others responded with jokes, with one quipping: “Our first kid on the way already. Singaporean efficiency.”

Another described FirstDate as a “cute initiative”, adding that they hoped it would work out for applicants as it can be difficult for adults to meet people outside of work.

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