I was born January, 1996, one month before the release of Pokemon. 20 years later, here we are; PokemonGO is out and everyone is playing it. I have been playing Pokemon for as long as I can remember. My main goal was to evolve as many Pokemon as possible. I loved to watch them evolve and turn into something new, growing more powerful. That's why I joined team Mystic.
By now, you have probably been overloaded with articles about PokemonGO and how it's affecting society. News stations are even reporting on the game. Some reports are good and some are bad.
There have been stories of wrecks happening because people play it while driving (which I do not recommend). There have been reports of robberies and theft of Pokemon trainers. But there have been a lot of uplifting reports as well.
People are getting outside and being active.
This is a plus in many ways. People are walking more. Most phones have a step tracker app - the recommended number of steps per day is 10,000. That is a lot of steps. More steps than it takes me to walk all over campus during school.
Then there's the plus of helping mental illnesses. People have been reporting reduced depression and anxiety since using PokemonGO. Since you can't really play the game from the comfort of your home, you have to go outside. Depression causes people feel lack of motivation and enjoyment for life. The app motivates you to get out and enjoy what the world has to offer. Instead of staying inside and suffering in silence, you can talk a walk and catch some Pokemon with your friends.
It also helps reduce anxiety. When you're out walking, you may come across other trainers at the Pokestops or Gyms around town. The app automatically gives you common ground with another person. You are already connected with them and can feel comfortable talking to them about something you're both interested in.
While it's clear to see the positives and negatives, I have had my own experience with PokemonGO. It has made me simultaneously more aggressive and more friendly.
When you reach level five, you get to choose a team - red, blue, or yellow. I chose team Mystic because I love evolving Pokemon and the description fit me the best. When I joined my team, I didn't know that it would divide me from so many people.
A majority of people in my town are team Valor. They are all about strength so they really like to take over my gyms. When I see someone outside of a gym, I get really anxious and angry that they might be taking over my gym.
But when I see someone of the same team, we are instant friends.
So as you can see there are pros and cons to playing PokemonGO. It's up to you to decide for yourself. Pick a team and start playing! (But be sure to pick the right team #TeamMystic.)