There’s a free app on the iOS and Android markets that’s slowly getting more and more millennials to go outside and walk or bike around. It’s teaching them about their towns. It’s taking people to churches, cemeteries, and post offices. It keeps track of how far you walk and offers achievements for milestones in the app. I’m talking, of course, about "Pokémon Go."
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"Pokémon Go" is an app that was developed by Niantic, Inc and published by the Pokémon Company as an official part of the Pokémon franchise. The app was released July 6, 2016 in the US and Australia, and July 13, 2016 in Europe. It has since swept the nation (and the Internet) with Pokémon-related hype. Silly and heartwarming stories and complaints of "the servers are down again" are the most prevalent posts on the Internet at this point in time.
What’s so special about "Pokémon Go"? Just how has it gotten millennials out of the house? "Pokémon Go" uses an Augmented Reality (AR) feature via smartphone to place Pokémon in the real world. They could be in your cup of water.
They could be ready to party with you.
They could even be there to witness the miracle of birth.
Pokémon are everywhere. I found a Meowth in my kitchen (sadly, my phone doesn’t have an internal gyroscope so it’s not compatible with the AR mode) and a Pidgey on my bed. I found a Growlithe in the back parking lot of my work. And, of course, I’ve encountered more Rattata than you can shake a stick at. What’s more, when I go on walks, there’s even more Pokémon that show up! I found a Poliwag in my driveway. I spent a good 20 minutes chasing down (but sadly, never finding) a Ghastly after visiting my local PokéStop.
Wait. What’s a PokéStop?
A PokéStop is a place or landmark that’s usually old or historically significant that is marked on the screen of the user by a blue pole with a square at the top.
The one closest to my house, that I’ve circled, is a cemetery. Many PokéStops are historical landmarks, often churches and cemeteries but sometimes post offices or police stations. But, as with where you can find Pokémon, what constitutes as a “landmark” is different for everyone. There have been lists made detailing odd PokéStops, from the odd, to the outlandish, to the ones that are... not suitable for children.
Obviously my local PokéStop, the Gardens of Eternal Hope, is child-friendly.
Not only is "Pokémon Go" getting millennials out of the house and get fresh air, this app is helping some of them with their depression, social anxiety, and agoraphobia. As one user said on the tumblr blog pokemongostories: “[the app does a] great job helping people like me [with agoraphobia and social anxiety] to socialise more and do things [they] couldn’t do before.” It’s been proven time and time again that going outside, exercising, and having something to be motivated about does wonders for depression. "Pokémon Go" wraps all of those elements up in a nice, user-friendly package.
But, as with all things, there are dangers. There have been reports of people being robbed at gunpoint at PokéStops. People try to drive and catch Pokémon and end up getting into accidents. The best way to avoid these dangers are to, firstly, not "Pokémon Go" and drive. Ever.
Secondly, travel in groups if possible. Even Ash from the original Pokémon anime traveled in a group of at least three. Three is a good number for traveling and exploring, but there’s safety in numbers. Organize a travel day with some friends and maybe hit up iHop or Denny’s afterwards to reward yourselves for catching all those Pokémon.
All in all, I believe that the benefits of "Pokémon Go" outweigh the dangers. I’ve taken more walks in the past week than I have in the past few months. I’ve re-bonded with friends that were in the process of drifting away. I’ve bonded with my coworkers as we’ve all groaned in disappointment at being unable to catch the nearby Pokémon due to being on shift.
But, most importantly, I’m living out a long-lost childhood dream to explore the world around me and become a Pokémon trainer. Knowing that there are millions of people living the same childhood dream, celebrating with friends when they catch a new Pokémon, going outside and exploring their towns, never fails to put a smile on my face and motivate me to grab my tennis shoes and some water and go out to catch ‘em all.
