In today's society, people are frequently found glued to their cell phone screens. Oftentimes you hear about how the advancement of technology is causing an increase in the concern that we are declining in social skills; however, it seems that Niantic's release of Pokémon Go is achieving just the opposite.

For those of you who do not yet know, Pokémon Go is an augmented reality application, for both Android and Apple users. The game forces players to physically get up and walk around in order to collect Pokémon, visit Pokéstops, and battle at gyms. In turn, the game has gotten people talking, not only online, but also in person. This is not to be confused with Geocaching, which allows a person to physically find an object; Pokémon characters and objects exist only virtually, and not physically in the real world.

Unlike other games, Pokémon Go has an appeal to a wide array of ages. Having downloaded the game myself, I have to say that the idea was ingenious. Whether it was intentional or not, in the week that I have had the game, I have been more active than I have been all summer (granted it is only July, but that's two months of practical inactivity), and I have talked to many people that I otherwise would not have. I was at the beach and overheard people discussing Pokémon, and somehow mustered up the courage to talk to them- we conversed for a while, exchanged tips, and even caught some Pokémon together. The next day, I found myself in the same situation, only this time at the zoo, it seems like the game has either given us the courage to socially interact, or has made others seem more approachable- either way, it seems to me like a miracle.It does not matter whether you are on Team Instinct, Team Mystic, or Team Valor (Go Instinct!), everyone can relate and everyone can find a reason to talk about the game. Now get out there, spark a conversation with a new friend, and go catch 'em all!

Here are some other stories that show just how powerful of an impact this game has had on socialization:

An Autistic Child Empowered to Make Friends

An Old Man With A Historical Site

General Interaction