TheSugarBook promotes ‘a hook-up culture’, leads to ‘wounded souls’

In 2013, access to extramarital dating website Ashley Madison was blocked by the Media Development Authority (MDA) after it ruled that the website has content that shows flagrant disregard of our family values and public morality.

Mr Chan Chun Sing, then Minister for Social and Family Development, said that such a website is not welcome in Singapore as it promotes infidelity that undermines trust and commitment between a husband and wife, which are core to marriage.

For The SugarBook mobile application, users are able to select an option indicating their relationship status, including “Married But Looking” when setting up their profiles. It does not verify if users are singles, just like the Ashley Madison website.

The Members of Parliament have rightly voiced their concerns over this dating platform that targets young women in their late teens and early 20s. It is a platform that reinforces the lie that beauty, money and youth are the only essentials in a relationship.

I agree with Minister for Social and Family Development Desmond Lee that the more enduring way to protect young Singaporeans from being exploited is to inculcate in them good values from young, so that “they can exercise discretion and good judgement” when navigating the online world (“Police will keep a ‘close eye’ on TheSugarBook: Demond Lee”; Feb 5)

However, it should be noted that not all young Singaporeans come from families with highly involved or highly educated parents. It is increasingly challenging to teach our young to build sound character.

The SugarBook reinforces the message that money can buy one’s integrity and that money is almighty power. It promotes a hook-up culture that breaks our society apart and leads to wounded souls who are disillusioned with marriage. After all, marriage is hard work and calls for sacrificial love, not just a glamorous life indulging in the luxuries that life has to offer.

If the blocking of the Ashley Madison website sends a message that our nation values stable marriages, then the blocking of The SugarBook app is all the more critical to steer our young to pursue a meaningful relationship that is not built on exploiting another person’s vulnerability. This is public morality.

https://www.todayonline.com/voices/thesugarbook-promotes-hook-culture-leads-wounded-souls