Scroll down your Facebook timeline and I'm sure you'll see the same things: discussions on race, discussions on death, discussions on sexuality, discussions about the election, and then discussion about Pokemon Go. One of these things doesn't belong, but despite it not "belonging" the necessity of Pokemon Go can't be ignored.
These days no matter where you go to get your news, it's riddled with negative things because unfortunately we live in a negative world. Now that Pokemon Go is out and is becoming popular, it is important to note why its popularity is so important to our current culture.
Millennials have faced a negative world; we were kids when 9/11 happened, and while personally I didn't understand what was happening, I remember that day very clearly. From then on out, we were shaped by terrorism and all of the collapsing things in the world. When the 2008 financial crash occurred, we watched as people we cared about lost their homes (and sometimes experienced the devastation ourselves), and watched our family relationships struggle to deal with the downfall.
While I know it seems like Pokemon Go and all of these struggles have nothing in common, they actually do. Pokemon Go has been a positive things for so many Millennials. It's getting them out of the house, socializing, and serving as a way to get away from all of the negativity in the world.
Personally, I've been exercising more, talking to different people, and just enjoying the game itself. I see nothing wrong with Millennials getting out and playing Pokemon Go when it brings them happiness. And realistically how is it any different from older generations playing things like Candy Crush? Instead they're just sitting on their phones with the only human interaction being requests for more lives.
So the next time you make a negative comment about Pokemon Go or how Millennials are obsessed with the game, I want you to remember a couple of things. First of all, its a trend, the game brings great things for Millennials, but it won't be long before a new game or app comes out that catches our attention.
Secondly, if it makes people happy and gets them out and about, you should be excited! Older generations always complain about Millennials not getting out and talking. Hello, Pokemon Go has lead to so many new friendships. Lastly, why don't you just take your nose, take it out of other people's business, and put it where Millennials have their noses a lot, worrying about real world problems.
Millennials have had a lot of things taken from them and face a world landscape that is ever changing, and without any promises of safety, let us have this one thing. I promise that we won't judge you for your Candy Crush addiction anymore.
