New Delhi: In a bid to salvage what it calls ‘ the gravest crisis’ of a falling birth rate, Japan has started a dating app, operated by a private contractor.
According to online reports, Japan has allocated close to 500 million yen for the dating app and some other “marriage promotion” projects for the government-backed dating app.
The app will have a strict registration process, as per reports. Users will have to give an income certificate alongside proof of being single through documents. Furthermore, 15 more personal data, including educational background, height, occupation among other will have to be shared. The app operators will then conduct an interview before anyone is allowed to register on the app, MoneyControl reported.
That’s not all, users will have to sign a pledge stating that they have signed up to find a marriage partner and not just for casual dating.
“If there are many individuals interested in marriage but unable to find a partner, we want to provide support,” a Tokyo was quoted as saying. “We hope that this app, with its association with the government, will provide a sense of security and encourage those who have been hesitant to use traditional apps to take the first step in their search for a partner.”
Japan has been conducting trials of the app since December 2023 with a select few government employees and volunteers. The app is available in both mobile and web versions for users in Tokyo as of now.
Guess who is happy with this app? None other than Elon Musk. The Tesla CEO has been hammering away for years now about the falling birth rate across the world a big challenge before mankind. In February 2024, he posted on X “Japan will disappear if something doesn’t change,” when Japan’s low birth rate numbers were published.
Musk once again has posted after the news of the Japanese dating app came out. “I’m glad the government of Japan recognises the importance of this matter. If radical action isn’t taken, Japan (and many other countries) will disappear!” he said on the social media platform.
