Gaming
Is the Pokémon GO App Safe? A Pokémon Go App Review for Parents
Overview
When the Pokémon GO app launched in 2016, it took the world by storm with its groundbreaking augmented reality technology. While it may not be quite as popular as was at its height, the Pokémon GO app still boasts a surprising number of users — millions in fact!
Augmented reality (AR), in simple terms, is using technology (like a smartphone) to introduce digital elements like images, figures, and sound into your actual surroundings or even onto your own body. For Pokémon GO, this means that digital Pokémon appear in your living room, on a walk, or in a public park. You can play by yourself or join up with friends, too. Pokémon can be a fairly safe app, but there are definitely a few things parents need to know about to help keep their kids safe.
Harmful Content 😲
The primary danger of Pokémon GO is the public chat function. It’s not directly embedded into the app itself, but through another website that links with Discord. Discord is a chat and messaging platform that can be incredibly dangerous for children, exposing them to hate speech, adult content, violence, and more.
The secondary danger of Pokémon GO is the potential distraction that may take place while playing out in the world. Because the game combines digital interaction with real-life locales, it can be easy for kids to get immersed and lose track of reality. This could lead to walking into busy streets, falling down hills, and bumping into objects inadvertently.
Predation 🚨
Even though Pokémon GO is popular among children, it’s also popular with adults, too. This, combined with the fact that there’s an optional chat app called GoChat, can spell trouble. Any time an app has a public chat feature, there’s always the chance for predatory adults to take advantage of and manipulate kids.
Positive Value 💙
One great result of playing Pokémon GO is that it encourages physical activity — even though it’s technically a video game, it really inspires kids to get out and discover new Pokémon in different locations. The game also incentivizes movement with Pokémon GO walking rewards. The more you walk, the more Poké Balls you get, which increases the number of Pokémon you can catch.
Privacy 🔒
The primary privacy concern is that, based on the nature of the game, it tracks a user’s location. This can also be a concern at spots that are called Gyms, which are local points of interest (like a statue in a park), where strangers can battle each other. At these Gyms, you can also chat with players in the chat and in real life.
Parental Controls ✅
With the Niantic Kids Parent Portal, you can help make your child’s experience with Pokémon GO a little safer. You can opt into social features like Friends, Gifting, Trading, and sponsored PokéStops for your kid. You can also revoke your child’s access to these features at any time.
Bark can also help if your family uses Pokémon GO. We’re here to help you keep your kid safe by allowing you to:
- Block Pokémon GO entirely, if needed.
- Block GoChat, the chat platform that connects to Discord.
- Manage when your child can use Pokémon GO throughout the day.
So, should my kid download it?
Maybe. For younger kids, the parental control options for the Pokémon GO app provide a fair amount of peace of mind for parents. For older kids, the chat options present the danger of talking to strangers and even possibly predators. We recommend having a serious conversation about the dangers of Pokémon GO, and encourage your kid to stick to chatting with friends they know in real life.
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