A government survey shows that dating apps are now the most common way for young people in Japan to find a spouse. This has officials considering how to tap social networks as a way to encourage more people to get married. The Children and Families Agency last month polled 20,000 people aged from 15 to 39 about marriage. It was the first such survey by the agency. One of the questions for married people was how they met their spouse. Roughly a quarter said they found their partner through dating apps, which are known as matching apps in Japan. Just over 20 percent said they met their spouse through work and almost 10 percent at school. The government sees the survey results as a sign that social media is playing a bigger role in bringing young couples together. Promoting safe matchmaking through social media is just one of the measures officials plan to discuss. They also aim to expand support for marriage counseling conducted by the private sector and local governments.
◆spouse 配偶者、結婚相手 a husband or wife
◆tap 利用する、活用する
◆poll 聞き取り調査をする、世論調査をする the process of finding out what people think about something by asking many people the same question, or the record of the result