“HOT GUY READING” GOES VIRAL — BUT SINGAPOREANS NOTICED SOMETHING ELSE
A photo of a man quietly reading a book on a Singapore public bus has caught the internet’s attention after being featured by the popular Instagram account @hotguysreading.
The account is known for posting photos of attractive men who are also seen reading. But this particular post sparked a different kind of excitement among Singaporeans — because eagle-eyed viewers quickly recognised the Singapore bus interior and Lucky Plaza in the background.
From “hot guy” to Singapore sighting
The photo, posted on Sept. 1, shows the unidentified man seated on a crowded bus with his attention focused on a book.
The account's playful caption joked about needing a priority seat — prompting plenty of reactions from followers.
But Singaporean commenters were more interested in identifying where the photo was taken.
Some recognised the distinctive bus interior and the Lucky Plaza building outside, while others joked that the unexpected appearance on the account was enough motivation to start taking public transport again.
Singapore's reading push
The viral photo also arrives at an interesting time for Singapore's reading culture.
In July, the National Library Board launched ReadSG, a five-year movement encouraging Singaporeans to build a regular reading habit.
The initiative encourages people to read for at least 15 minutes a day, with virtual coins available through the government-run platform that can be exchanged for cash. NLB said the campaign aims to counter the rise of short-form, easily skimmable content.
And this isn't Singapore's first appearance on @hotguysreading.
AsiaOne reported that a man dressed in office attire and reading on the MRT was featured by the account back in 2019.
The internet may have found Singapore's newest reading advertisement
What began as another “attractive man reading a book” post quickly became something distinctly Singaporean: a bus ride, Lucky Plaza, public transport — and plenty of comments from people trying to figure out the route.
Sometimes, apparently, all it takes to get people talking about reading is the right passenger on the right bus.
WWC ONE MEDIA J.M.D