CON: An app that can kill

Written by Evelyn Dunn, Staff Writer

Pokémon Go has become the new fad of 2016. Popular worldwide, it generates active game play and creates nostalgia for fans of the show. The biggest aspect of the game is the amount of exercise it requires. Everyone must walk or run around and travel to different locations to capture Pokémon and to obtain supplies.

Well known landmarks surrounding the players have those supplies, as well as popular local sites like the VSU fountain. People are seen all over trying to catch Pokémon, usually distinguishable from non-players their phones glued to their faces and the spontaneous yelling of “I got one!” But what if this game is actually causing more harm than good?

Reports have been popping up from all over in the news stating players are trespassing, operating vehicles, and assaulting each other while playing Pokémon Go. One incident involved two teens breaking into a house to catch a rare Pokémon, they were shot and one was killed on site by the owner. This was the first reported case since the launch of the app that involved a fatality.

Another incident involved two grown men that completely ignored warning signs of danger and climbed over a fence, then falling over 50 feet down a cliff, all to catch a Pokémon. The two men were rescued sometime later by the San Diego fire department. This begs the question; what lengths will players go to catch a Pokémon?

Jeremy Everidge, 22, of the Mass Media Department suspects that the original show is such a big part of our childhood days that our generation of players cannot resist the nostalgia of being able to catch their own Pokémon. He also believes that the rarer the Pokémon, the more tempting it is to go through special lengths to obtain it. Even he admitted himself that he wouldn’t be able to resist if a Pikachu was nearby.

But what of the less violent results of the game, like the disconnection a player may have of social interaction. This generation is already branded as the one that doesn’t know when to disconnect from technology.

This game increases that stereotype drastically. Yes, people are going outside more and getting mild exercise, but at the same time they still have their phones somewhere in sight of their peripherals at all times. The phrase ‘disconnect to connect’ could not be more implied here.

Since these incidents have been arising, the app has established warnings once players logon to the game. They discourage people from trespassing and to stay aware of their surroundings while using the app. But is this enough?

Only time will tell if the insistent crime rate concerning this game will decrease. Certain precautions have been taken by the app producers and the players themselves, reminding everyone to stay aware of their surroundings and think before they act. Hopefully, this will help sustain this ongoing crisis.