Have your kids been talking about Pokémon GO or begging to “gotta catch’em all” lately?
If you have, you are not alone. Many of our sons and daughters are obsessed with this trending app and it is taking the world by storm. In fact, by recent estimates, this game has been downloaded more than 21 million times and that number is continuing to grow as more users join the platform. Recent surveys and statistics are showing that this augmented reality app is about to surpass the number of Twitter’s daily active users. However, as parents we don’t need to see these surveys to understand how popular this game is among our kids, we just need to look outside.
We can witness this game’s popularity by watching people meander on the streets and sit in clusters near landmarks. At first it appears that a majority of these people are just loitering, but in reality they are attempting to hatch eggs, catch new Pokémon, visit Poké stops for gear, or battle for supremacy at a local gym. Surprisingly, this game actually requires users to walk kilometers everyday to build up their Pokémon legacy, which has been leading to some interesting side effects.
Users are becoming more mobile, which is leading to an increase in interactions with other Pokémon trainers in our communities. This simple app, is being credited with improving a sense of community and camaraderie among players. With benefits being especially visible in people who are suffering from health issues like depression, anxiety, PTSD, and special needs like autism. In the same breath, however, this app has also been associated with some very real dangers.
The distractibility of the Pokémon GO has been credited with causing many accidents. While people are preoccupied with their devices and tracking Pokémon, they are causing vehicle accidents, tripping down stairs, running into signs, and even wandering into isolated areas. To add further concern, authorities are now warning players that criminals and pedophiles are taking advantage of the app to target new victims.
As our children clamor to play or hit the neighborhood streets in search of elusive digital Pokémon, it is essential for us to be aware of the ins and outs of this app to help them safely participate. For more information about Pokemon GO, please check out the following infographic from TeenSafe:
