As I am sure all of you have noticed, the streets are full of people (mostly millennials) glued to their phones-- I am one of them. Similarly, the streets are also full of angered adults and even police officers, as the Pokémon trainers mill around like zombies, walking blindly into traffic, loiter at stores and monuments, and even try to "catch 'em all" while driving. With all this stumbling around causing chaos, many people are arguing that Pokémon Go is a force that is driving most of the developed world into chaos, and giving young people less and less motivation to take on responsibility. I would have to disagree.
Since I began playing Pokémon Go, I have noticed a lot of positive changes. First of all, most of the people who might normally be shut-ins--staying home, playing video games, and getting zero exercise-- are now out walking every day. This is because the Pokémon Go app has a feature which requires you to walk either 2, 5, or 10 kilometers to hatch Pokémon eggs, and users can also gain XP (experience points) and achievements from walking certain distances. This app-- a game-- has gotten young people who really need more exercise to get up and go outside far more than any Get Up And Play campaign, and that's because it's speaking their language, rather than trying to make them sacrifice time doing things they enjoy.
Moving on, another great thing about the Pokémon Go app is that it is creating a community-- not online, but in real life. Since downloading the app, I have met and had a conversation with at least 20 people I would've never met otherwise, and even made a few friends. In fact, having the Pokémon GO app has even strengthened a few of my existing friendships because we have been spending so much time together that we would usually spend apart-- and I know I'm not a singular case because all the new people I have met share similar experiences.
So, let's recap. Pokémon Go has gotten "lazy kids" (usually so-named by adults) to get up, go outside, and have human interactions. Isn't this every parent's dream for their video game-obsessed child? And as if that's not enough, it has also encouraged young people to explore their communities because whenever they visit monuments, parks, banks, libraries, or other public locations, they're rewarded by the app with free in-game merchandise.
That said, I still have to make a point of saying that playing Pokémon Go while driving, working, or crossing the street is not advisable, but I couldn't disagree more with those who say they hope the app's popularity dies out quickly. Pokémon Go, as strange as it sounds, may just be the Harry Potter or Hamilton of apps-- that is to say, there's just something about it that drives people crazy, and even if not everyone understands it, those who do are certainly gaining something from it
