STATE COLLEGE — The Pokémon Go phenomenon has been sweeping the nation, including here in Centre County.
Pokémon GO is a smartphone game that uses a player’s location to catch Pokémon, or “pocket monsters,” and is based on the popular video game from the late 1990s. It’s not hard to go for a walk in the park or drive down the street and see players walking around with their smartphones in front of them.
With all of the screen-time limitations that parents are warned about, should you let your child play the game?
It’s hard to deny one overwhelming positive of the game — millions of players are spending more time being physically and socially active. Instead of sitting on the couch playing a video game, your child has the ability to be a part of the virtual reality as he or she hunts elusive Pokémon characters, loads up on supplies at Pokéstops or visits Pokémon gyms to challenge other players.
As a parent, the main cause of concern is the safety of your child. If your child plays Pokémon Go, remind him that it is very important to be aware of his surroundings. News outlets across the nation have reported on players getting hurt because they weren’t watching where they were walking. Additionally, if your child is submersed in his game, he may not be aware of other people around him. This can leave your child vulnerable. Your child also needs to be sure to stay on public property, such as a park, and not wander onto people’s private property.
Also, you should be aware that the app collects personal information from users. The initial version could access users’ Google accounts. While that issue has been fixed, the app still collects information on your child’s location, birthdate, email address, Internet history and more.
While I’m sure the Pokémon Go craze will die down at some point, take advantage of the opportunity to spend time together as a family and move more.
