Pokemon Go: More Harmful Than Helpful
Pokemon Go is a free-to-play app that allows players to track and capture different Pokemon, ranging from very common species to ultra-rare ones. The app also has a feature where players can battle each other at gyms near their location.
October 14, 2016
The augmented reality game Pokemon Go has consumed everyone’s free time with the new idea of utilizing the players’ phone’s GPS to track, battle and capture Pokemon in the area. Pokemon Go, launched by Niantic in July 2016, quickly became one of the most played apps with over 500 million downloads. However, the app was met with mixed reviews and controversy; on one hand, it promotes physical activity and helps small businesses, but it also creates hazards and continues to cause many accidents. So, many people ask- is it worth it? The answer is probably no. Why risk your safety for an app that will only stick around for a few months?
With the app came not only injuries, but also harsh criticism from concerned parents, public officials and even the government. As the days since the initial launch rolled by, players quickly figured out that driving and hunting is much faster than walking, but playing the game behind the wheel is basically the equivalent of texting and driving- it distracts the vehicle’s operator from the road and anyone or anything in front of them. Some even argue that the game is worse than texting and driving; it benefits the player to have the app running all the time, constantly watching their phone, waiting for a Pokemon to pop up or an egg to hatch.
The game has also led many children into dangerous areas such as bars, cemeteries and strip clubs and has been the blame for many injuries. In Japan, two women were hit crossing the road by a man playing Pokemon Go: one of the women was fatally injured and the other was seriously injured. One man found his home surrounded by strangers after it became a gym, another fell into a ditch within 30 minutes of the app’s release and broke his foot and a woman even uncovered a dead body while playing. Is burning an extra 100 calories really worth the risk of uncovering a dead body? I do not believe so.
The developers of the app have put in many precautions in the newest updates to the game, but nothing can prevent all accidents from happening. So whether you are the person crossing the road or the distracted driver, playing the game can put you into some very dangerous situations that can be avoided by not playing at all…or maybe just play with caution.
