To access extended pro and con arguments, sources, and discussion questions about whether Pokémon Go is good for society, go to ProCon.org.
Pokémon Go had more than 21 million daily active users in the United States in its debut week in July 2016, becoming the most popular US mobile game ever. It has surpassed social media apps such as WhatsApp, Instagram, and Twitter for daily use on Android devices. The basic premise of the game is that players try to capture Pokémon in a kind of scavenger hunt that uses the GPS on their mobile phones while walking around in the real world. The game’s slogan is “Gotta catch ’em all.”
As of July 8, 2020, Pokémon Go was still the most popular location-based game with 576.7 million unique downloads globally in the game’s first four years. The game is estimated to have earned $3.6 billion worldwide since 2016, with $445.3 million in the first half of 2020 during COVID-19 (coronavirus) lockdowns, via micro-transactions within the game.
Pro
- There are mental and physical health benefits from playing the game.
- The game is bringing people together and creating a sense of community.
- The game is a boon to local businesses.
Con
- Playing the game can lead to injury.
- People are playing the game in inappropriate places.
- Criminals are targeting distracted users, leaving players susceptible to crime.
This article was published on August 17, 2020, at Britannica’s ProCon.org, a nonpartisan issue-information source.