Children's Advocates: Pokémon Go May Invite Child Predators

The Pokémon Go app, created by Niantic Games, has been on a popular rise in the U.S. since its release on July 6th.

The game is popular with many age groups from young children, teenagers, and especially young adults. Even some parents are joining in the game. However, the main concern for the gameplay lies with the parents who want to keep their children safe while playing.

For those who might not know, Pokémon Go takes advantage of a smart phone’s camera, geo-location abilities and easy interface to entice gamers in an “augmented reality,” according to a press release provided by the Children's Advocacy Center of Texas,(CAC).

In this reality, virtual creatures, known as Pokémon, will appear on the gamers phone and can be caught using poké balls. These encounters will happen randomly when the user walks around outside.

According to a CAC press release, enthusiasts praise the game for getting kids off the couch and walking outdoors, though there are some troubling aspects of the game that parents should consider before turning their kids loose to “catch them all.”

The concern for most parents starts with their kids being distracted by looking at their phones while walking around outside. The lack of situational awareness has led to accounts of players walking into traffic and some accounts of children falling off of cliffs, as two young were reported to have done in California, according to the press release.  

Another concern for parents is with the games “lure modules”, that can be used to attract the Pokémon to any local Pokestop’s that are presented to players on app’s main screen. The lure will stay active in a desired location for thirty minutes, and are used to attract more Pokémon to a specific area. These can be bought using the games online shop, or as rewards for progressing in the game.   

The press mentioned, “Family oriented businesses like ice cream parlors are employing this tactic to draw customers, but so are criminals who have placed those lures in low-traffic areas then robbed and assaulted players drawn to their 'bait.'"

Additionally, another fear is what could happen if these behaviors were used by predators to attract children to their location?

“If a child predator were to create optimal opportunities to exploit children, it would likely involve all these behaviors,” The press release read. “With that in mind, we are encouraging parents to review the accompanying safety tips and share them with their children to guide their behavior when playing Pokémon Go and other augmented reality games.”

Leann Hubert, director of marketing services with the CAC of Tom Green County, provided these safety tips parents can use to prevent these outcomes from happening.

• Don’t leave the neighborhood without parental permission.
• Never go out alone. Take a friend or invite a parent to tag along. If you do go out alone, agree on a timeframe in advance and check in every 20 minutes or so.
• Be careful with Pokéstops and Pokégyms. They’re exciting finds, but they may be patronized by someone with questionable intentions. So only visit them during the day with a friend or two.
• Avoid isolated areas especially if you’re alone.
• Don’t risk your safety to get a Pokémon, no matter how rare it is. Not even a Pikachu is worth hopping a fence or wading in a pond.
• Respect others’ property. Just because there is a Pokémon on a neighbor’s porch doesn’t mean you should walk across his or her lawn.
• Watch out for tunnel vision. If your eyes are locked on the screen, you might trip, step off a curb, end up in a ditch or wander into traffic.
• Definitely don’t play the game on your bike, scooter or skateboard. It might speed up play, but it also multiplies your risk of a serious injury.
• Stay alert. If you want to listen to the game on earbuds, keep one ear open so you can hear what’s happening around you.

The goal of the CAC is to rally Texas communities in defense of children by working together to identify victims, apprehend predators and pursue justice.

The press release further encouraged that all involved need to be aware of their surrounding’s when having fun in the online world, without trading the safety of living in the real one.  

Click on this link to read CAC's full press release.