The other day I was at work, standing at the counter, when a group of teenage boys walked in. One of them was on his phone. He approached me and said "There's a Pokemon on you. I'm going to catch it." I was incredibly confused and mildly uncomfortable as this kid points his phone at me and then calls out "I GOT IT! I GOT IT!"
It's not until later that I hear about "Pokemon Go" and the actions of this random stranger seem a heck of a lot less creepy. "Pokemon Go" is a virtual reality game in which the objective is to be the very best, like no one ever was. To catch them is your real test, to train them is your cause. You will travel across the land, searching far and wide, each Pokemon to understand the power that's inside. The game works by using GPS to figure out your location, and Pokemon appear on your phone screen, waiting for you to catch it.
What's really amazing about this game, however, is it's impact. Not only has it encouraged people to get outside and exercise by searching for Pokemon, but also it has fostered a little community. Carly Gardenier, a full-time employee and "Pokemon" enthusiast has said:
"The biggest thing that "Pokemon GO" has done for me is bring together such a giant community that has been quietly in the shadows. We were walking around Armory Square yesterday and came across 3 young ladies, one pacing back and forth to hatch her 5 km egg that was at 4.9. We talked for a few minutes, and then went on our way, bidding each other good luck and a good night. As we rounded the corner, we heard that lady shout as her egg was hatching, only to hear a loud growl of disappointment as a Weedle had hatched and not what she wanted. We walked more and walked pass a group of people dressed in red plaid and red bandannas, signifying Team Valor. We smiled at the group and they did back. There was no hate. We ended up at a pokestop with a lure around it and a hand full of trainers sitting around reaping the benefits of a helpful trainer. Needless to say, I'm proud to be a Pokemon Trainer and I'm proud of Nintendo. I congratulate them on being able to do what no other console or group could do: get people out of the house and move, and bring together one of the world's most largest group of individuals ever."
Not only has this app had an effect on the development of a community, but also it can reap health benefits. People report to be choosing to walk home or to other places to try and catch Pokemon, taking detours and walking farther than they usually would. Cardiogram, an app developed by Apple that deals with data on heart rate and exercise, also exhibits a spike in physical activity due to the release of "Pokemon Go."
But "Pokemon Go" doesn't stop there. It has already seeped into advertising and pop culture. Take for example this advertisement on Instagram by Soleil Cafe, a local coffee shop in my hometown. 
As for pop culture, there are tons of memes out there already.
It's even in political campaigning!
OK, we get it, this has turned into a big deal. There have been unexpected problems that are much larger than just using too much data. Two men in California fell off a cliff while playing the game. Someone playing "Pokemon Go" was stabbed in a park. A man in Auburn crashed his car into a tree while playing "Pokemon go." The list doesn't stop there.
Many people are also claiming that the popularity of "Pokemon Go" is just another example of the evils of this generation, claiming that people are not truly enjoying the outdoors since they are on their phones. People also judge "Pokemon Go" players to be unproductive members of society as their time spent on this app does not earn money.
"Pokemon Go" players counter that this app is motivating them to get fit, be in a community, and be proud of their interests.
Do you think that "Pokemon Go" is a fun pastime that brings people together, or a waste of time that isolates people on their phones?
