It has taken the world by storm, and now has more users than Twitter. That’s like a bazillion. The new Pokemon GO game app seems like a great idea. It seems like amazing fun. Basically, your favorite Pokemon buddies are roaming planet Earth and it’s up to you and your kids to find them. The game superimposes the image of a Pokemon onto the image of your real life surroundings via your smartphone or tablet screen. Users lace up their sneakers and hit the streets (yeah, you literally walk around your neighborhood) in search of Pokemon.
But that encourages exercise, you say? Yes, the idea behind the game is fantastic. But since its recent release, users, parents, and even police have begun warning of the dangers involved with Pokemon GO, and some are pretty darn scary. So if you or your children plan on playing Pokemon GO, make sure you know about these 5 reasons the game might actually send you running in the opposite direction.
5 Scary Reasons Pokemon GO Should Send You Running
1. It accesses very personal information.
In signing up for the game—parents beware, your kids may download this game without your knowledge—Pokemon GO now has full access to your Google account. This means the game can access your search history, personal information, photos, location, and everything in Google Drive.
This also means the app and its creators can read your email inbox and Google calendar and can even modify it. Yikes!
If you have signed up for the game, read this article on how to revoke access to your personal information.
2. Pokemon GO puts your kids at risk of pedophiles.
The game leads players to public places, and sometimes isolated places where Pokemon then appear. If children are playing the game, there is the potential of pedophiles using the “luring” feature of the game for sinister reasons.
One woman conducted an experiment where she posted a “lure” to see how many game players showed up at her designated spot. Within just a few moments, several children appeared, most sans adults.
The enticement of finding Pokemon causes kids to throw away their stranger danger sense.
3. Victims are lured to isolated areas.
Because anyone can post a lure, innocent gamers are being drawn to isolated areas and then robbed, or worse.
Just days ago, a teenaged girl was trying to find a “water Pokemon” near the river and nearly stumbled on a dead body. In St. Louis, four teens used the game to rob players by luring them to their location. The app “lures” people to certain areas to hunt down imaginary monsters and could be used to lead users to areas where they could become victims.
Basically, if you or your children are playing the game, police warn to be careful. Only go to places that are public, populated, and safe. Never go to isolated areas, never play in the dark, and never go by yourself.
4. The game causes physical injuries.
As dumb as it sounds, kids and adults alike are so enraptured in Pokemon GO that they are running into poles, benches, buildings and potholes. Injuries such as broken legs, bruised shins, and twisted ankles have already been reported because players are glued into their screens while chasing Pokemon. Seriously!
Pedestrians have reportedly been struck by vehicles while playing the game, and some gamers are taking big risks by using the app while driving. Tsk, tsk.
Be careful out there folks.
5. Judgement flies out the window.
While the game is tons of fun and wildly addicting, it is forming a dirty habit—all judgement flies out the window. When playing Pokemon GO, you’re so glued to your phone, you ignore stranger danger, wander into harm’s way, risk innocent lives if you play while driving, and look like an idiot running into a brick wall. Come on people…it’s not even real.
So to sum it up, if you plan on playing Pokemon GO, or letting your kids join the mass craze, just be careful. Use that old noggin and remember the common sense that has served you so well. Oh, and watch out for walls.
If you’ve got kiddos with a little extra energy, try these helpful tips on turning their hyperactivity into productivity!
Nicky says
You shouldn’t be warning people to not download the game as it does get people moving, and with obesity levels rising, this is a good motivator. What this *is* showing is that common sense and parental boundaries are necessary when playing this game. Have fun with it but be careful, that’s the overwhelming message.
Cori says
My understanding is that the app can access your google information only if you sign in though Google. You can also create an account without Google.
Kristin says
I love that PokemonGo gets kids moving, but parents need to be aware of the downsides. I’m so glad you brought up all these issues so families can be aware of the dangers. I know that the company is working on fixing the issues, but in the meantime, parents should be aware.
Nicolette says
Thanks for bringing it to my attention Kristin!
Kristin says
I love seeing families enjoying this active app together. Having said that, I’m glad How Does She covered the downsides early in “the game”, even when it’s hard to hear. And I’m glad other companies, like Norton, are warning of dangers, too.
https://community.norton.com/en/blogs/norton-protection-blog/pok%C3%A9mon-go-cyber-security-and-privacy-guidelines?om_em_cid
Rachel says
1. Niantic is a spin off company of Google. Google of course has full access to your Google account.
2. It’s called common sense. Don’t send your kids to strange areas of a park alone. Tell them what can happen if they do. If you catch them after you told them not to, take the game away.
3. Accidents happen. Are there stats for how many people walk into poles or traffic while texting? We all learned to look both ways before crossing the street. There is a warning as soon as you turn it on to be aware of your surroundings.
4. Be happy it’s a game where people are physical! When we were little we had to sit down to play our games.
Snredd says
Should we never get in a car because we might die in a car accident? Should we never ride a bike because we might fall off? maybe we should lock ourselves in our houses because who knows what kind of people are out there. This article is paranoia at its finest. Live life with common sense and teach your kids to do the same.
Ruth says
I usually love your articles but I think you leaned too much towards scaremongering here. Judgement CAN fly out of the window for a few people but most will use it in moderation. You’ve used the headlines like facts, but these are extreme situations. The game doesn’t cause injuries, anymore than texting as you walk does. I understand the need to warn of the dangers, but I think your language here is misleading and could apply to all phone use in general, not just this game.
Nicolette says
Thanks for your feedback Ruth. I just wanted readers to be aware of potential dangers as this is a fairly new phenomenon. Any dramatic language on my part is coming from my mom’s POV with “precious cargo” to protect. Love, best regards, and thanks for reading my articles!
Marty says
The app almost immediately had an update addressing the security issue. It no longer has access to all your google information if you log on through Google.
Robin says
Nicolette, thank you for this article. It’s insanely time and completely appropriate. I can’t tell you how many people that I know, who wouldn’t normally allow their children to run around the neighborhoods, etc. without knowledge of their whereabouts, are now encouraging their kids to find their Pokemons.
Your article simply instructed on the pit falls using factual data. I don’t recall your stating that kids shouldn’t play it. Readers shouldn’t jump to conclusions. I wasn’t ware of the google access and am grateful. I will now look into it more closely regardless of any updates.
Keep up the great work!
RP says
#1 – glitch has been fixed and addressed.
#2-5 – use common sense
#4 – blatant hyperbole & just plain false.
The game doesn’t “cause” injuries.
This entire article is so fear-mongering, I’m seriously disappointed. It screams of click bait headlines and blames an app for poor choices instead of personal responsibility.
I am disappointed to even have read this on How Does She.
Kelly says
Here is a great alternative and even more fun because the hunt is for something real! Geocaching. Me and my 4 kids love doing this! And there is actually something there when you get to the location. Not just a virtual Pokemon.
Kay says
How about instead of blaming a game, you blame the people playing it, if you can’t be bothered to look up from your phone and trip, fall, run into something, fall off of something, don’t look both ways before you cross the damn street, decide that catching a Pokemon is more important than your safety (playing and driving, or going to a secluded location that has a lure set) that is the players problem or worse the parents problem, if your child cannot handle being safe you shouldn’t have let them play it unsupervised. Sorry that’s the truth.
And btw every app you download has access to all your information
Adrean says
All that running into things and not watching where they are going can be avoided if they turn of the ar button. That way all they have is thier avatar and the google map. They do not have to look around with the phone to find the pokemon. It shows up beside or around the avatar. Hence less looking at phone..less running into things..less hurting themselves..commin sense.
Yari says
This doesn’t access your full information any longer they’ve did quite a few updates. I think you should stay in tune with updates rather than just making it seem so scary to people.
JV says
We go out together as a family to find Pokemon, our 5 year old has my phone and the 13 year old has their Dad’s phone. With the youngest, I walk alongside him while he has the phone so I can be his eyes away from the phone.
Our children know not to trespass and to respect other people while searching for Pokemon.
The best thing about the game is that as well as exploring other places, we also spend time together as a family.
Although we don’t encourage talking to strangers, we do liaise with their Uncle and Aunty to compare notes on the best places to go and find them.