If you see people wandering around your neighbourhood holding their phones in front of them and staring blanking out into nowhere, they're not zombies--chances are they're just playing the new video-game rage, Pokémon Go.
I remember the first time I witnessed this phenomenon at the park by my house--it was the strangest thing: here were grown men and women wandering around the same patch of grass, then leaving, only for the next cluster of people to arrive moments later.
Last week, I was sitting on a park bench reading the news on my phone when a man stood beside me holding his phone to his nose. Being suspicious of anyone who saddles next to me, I looked up at him.
"Playing Go too?" he asked. Mystery solved.
"No," I replied, "just reading the news."
"Oh, that's probably just as well," he said, "this game is pretty addictive--and it could even get you killed!"
"Really--" I was stunned. "How so?"
"Well," he began, "I read about one guy who was playing while in his car, and he drove into a train. Another was hit by a car while crossing the street. And another walked right off a cliff..."
Madness, I thought.
The way the game works is the app uses the GPS in your phone. You wander around your neighbourhood looking to catch characters that show up on your screen--a way of the virtual and 'real' world to merge together into an experience.
For those of you who are playing, or considering downloading the app and joining your friends, here are some dangers you'll need to avoid:
1. Car accidents: I mentioned it above, but it's a serious risk. If you're playing the game, don't drive--simple as that. A friend of mine was recently fined for talking hands-free on her cellphone while driving. Imagine what playing Pokémon Go will look like to a police officer. This is a serious offence, and something you should avoid at all costs.
2. Mugging: There are stories of people being robbed at gunpoint for their phones. When you're wandering through parks, completely engrossed by the little characters on your screen, you are oblivious to those around you. In short, you're a target! I don't know how you play the game while bring alert to those around you, but if you're wandering through a park with your $800 iPhone 6, maybe the game isn't for you.
3. Predators: There was a story about boys in Missouri being lured into a park by criminals who had sent a beacon to a remote area using the coordinates in the game. As well, for those whose children are playing the game, it is a tool used by pedophiles to lure children to remote locations for assault and even abduction.
4. Land Mines and other dangers: Yes--land mines. The government of Bosnia issued a warning to players of Pokémon Go that the game could inadvertently lead people to undetonated land mines left over from the 1992 Bosnian War. While land mines aren't an issue for people in North America, players are reporting walking into dangerous neighbourhoods, through spooky cemeteries at night, and lurid places of 'entertainment'. Apparently the game takes over one's attention, and people walk into walls, into oncoming cars, and even over cliffs.
5. Sun exposure: Both the government of France and Israel issued warnings to Pokémon Go players about the risk of over-exposure to the sun while playing. If you're going out to play, be sure to wear a hat, and bring some sunscreen and a bottle of water.
6. Big data leak: The game hooks into your phone, tracking your every step. This information is stored into the makers of the game's servers, and then sent to third parties everywhere. This is powerful information for Nintendo and its 'clients'; it's also very valuable for criminals. Imagine if this information were leaked. I know that many people don't consider privacy all that important, but it should be a concern that your steps are being tracked while you're playing a seemingly harmless 'game'.
Pokémon Go is a global craze. It could be fun; it could get you and your friends outside enjoying your city and nature; it could bring you and your family closer together as you catch strange digital characters in the parks and neighbourhoods around you--but do take precautions, and play safe.
No comments:
Post a Comment