A 35-year-old divorced single mother revealed that she was matched with a man 14 years younger than her on the Government\u2019s dating service, FirstDate.<\/p>\n
In an Instagram video uploaded on Oct 7, user @yvelyn_xiaoyi shared her experience of being matched with a 21-year-old man, saying it was \u201ca bit too inappropriate\u201d.<\/p>\n
FirstDate is the Government\u2019s pilot matchmaking service for public officers aged 21 to 35<\/a>, using an algorithm to match participants based on their preferences.<\/p>\n To get a match, users must sign in with Singpass and complete a questionnaire covering their interests, habits, values and preferences, including factors such as religion, age and deal-breakers.<\/p>\n Applications closed on Oct 5, with the platform open to singles as well as those who are widowed or divorced.<\/p>\n These public officers will also not be matched with colleagues from the same government agency<\/a>.<\/p>\n The video has since amassed over 79,000 views and over 350 likes.<\/p>\n Yvelyn_xiaoyi, who goes by Xiaoyi, recounted in Mandarin that she received a message from the Government with a link that directed her to the information of the first male she matched with on the platform.<\/p>\n The man she was matched<\/a> with was 21 years old, she said.<\/p>\n According to a screenshot included in the video, he is from the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA).<\/p>\n His profile description read: \u201cWork is tiring, life is boring and I\u2019m not thinking. Just want to teleport onto my bed RN.\u201d<\/p>\n The screenshot also showed that the pair had an 87 per cent match, with Xiaoyi given the option to accept or skip the match.<\/p>\n The screenshot also showed that the pair had an 87 per cent match.<\/p>\n PHOTO: YVELYN_XIAOYI\/INSTAGRAM<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n Xiaoyi, a divorced<\/a> single mother, quipped that the Government had matched her with a \u201c21-year-old little brother\u201d.<\/p>\n She also pointed out that the man\u2019s profile stated, in \u201cbig words\u201d, that he wanted children<\/a>.<\/p>\n However, she said his profile description made her feel uncomfortable, as she felt it reflected a negative attitude.<\/p>\n An \u201cobvious mismatch,\u201d said Xiaoyi.<\/p>\n As she was deciding whether to accept the match and preparing to record a video about it, she said the man \u201cunmatched\u201d her.<\/p>\n \u201cOriginally, I also thought this was a bit too inappropriate,\u201d<\/a> she said.<\/p>\n Based on his profile, Xiaoyi described the man as \u201cjust a kid\u201d, noting that his favourite thing to do was stay at home.<\/p>\n \u201cI already have a 13-year-old son,\u201d she said. \u201cIf I\u2019m with this little brother, I\u2019m also responsible for providing him with emotional value.\u201d<\/p>\n While she said she had the energy to do so, she added that she could not provide it to others \u201cfor free\u201d.<\/p>\n \u201cThis is definitely not suitable for me,\u201d she stressed.<\/p>\n In response, one netizen commented that it was \u201cquite common\u201d for a 21-year-old man to be bored.<\/p>\n \u201cIt takes many more years when you start loving and appreciating life. Guys also take longer to mature in general,\u201d he wrote.<\/p>\n Xiaoyi also said she would have to wait another month for her next match, with the next cycle reopening on Oct 20.<\/p>\n The next cycle reopens on Oct 20.<\/p>\n PHOTO: FIRSTDATE<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n While she felt her match was \u201cinappropriate\u201d, Xiaoyi said she was reassured that all applicants were civil servants<\/a> whose identities had been reviewed by the Government.<\/p>\n \u201cSo if you want to lie, it\u2019s hard,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n She encouraged other applicants to think carefully before accepting a match, saying it could be \u201cembarrassing\u201d when it came time to meet in person.<\/p>\n Xiaoyi added that one advantage of FirstDate<\/a> was that it allowed applicants to take dating seriously, as users could report any issues they encountered.<\/p>\n \u201cTwo people, as long as one person disagrees, the meeting will not go ahead,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n In a second video, Xiaoyi said she had selected the entire 21 to 35 age range when applying.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n \u201cI have no limit on this,\u201d she said, adding that she understood why the algorithm matched her with a 21-year-old man.<\/p>\n She added that she was concerned about potential matches recognising her name and coming across her videos on social media.<\/p>\n \u201cBut it\u2019s okay, just try,<\/a>\u201d she said.<\/p>\n Xiaoyi also pointed out that she was probably in a \u201cbetter frame of mind\u201d than most applicants, as she had been married<\/a> before and her child was already in school.<\/p>\n \u201cI have nothing to say and look for a man to change my life,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n She said she decided to apply to find out more about the advantages and downsides of FirstDate.<\/p>\n 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.<\/a><\/p>\n Stomp has reached out to Xiaoyi and GovTech for comment.<\/p>\n Since FirstDate launched, many netizens have been intrigued by how the matchmaking process works and the matches applicants have received.<\/p>\n
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<\/div>\n<\/div>\nThey had an 87 per cent match<\/h2>\n
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Felt he was too young for her<\/h2>\n
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She selected the entire 21 to 35 age range<\/h2>\n
Netizens intrigued<\/h2>\n
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