When hanging out gets expensive, do our social spaces still work for youths?
Use a youth speaker’s comparison of karaoke prices and reflections on costly hangouts to discuss whether social spaces in Singapore are drifting too far toward commercial activity.
At Pulse of Tomorrow’s 5th Junior Council Meeting on 8 May 2026, a member argued that social spaces in Singapore should prioritise meaningful connection over commercial activity. To make the point concrete, he described comparing karaoke venues before an outing and finding a large price difference between options. He framed this as part of a broader concern: young people use these spaces to socialise, but rising costs can make that harder.
He also acknowledged that some support exists for selected cultural experiences, while arguing that many everyday hangout spaces still feel commercialised. That distinction matters. Youth connection is not built only through large events or formal programmes. It also happens in the ordinary places where friends gather after school or on weekends.
This makes the issue worth discussing. If the price of spending time together keeps rising, then social life can become less accessible. Pulse of Tomorrow can turn this into a grounded conversation about what youths actually need from shared spaces: affordability, comfort, and room for real connection.
