It is the biggest craze to hit your smartphone since Candy Crush and its impact has been felt worldwide.
The astronomical uptake of Pokemon GO since its release one week ago has led to concerns from psychologists over its addictive qualities and warnings from police about its potential to cause accidents and mayhem.
In America a teenager was hit by a car and two men fell off a cliff while trying to catch Pokemon. In Australia two P-plate drivers were fined for playing the game while driving.
There have also been many minor accidents and police call-outs to sacred sites and suburbs where Pokemon players have converged en masse at all times of the day and night.
The Pokemon GO app uses your GPS location on your phone to allow players to find PokeStops to collect PokeBalls and catch hidden Pokemon in that location.
Brad Rayner-Klein, 21, of Penrith, recently downloaded the app for fun and out of curiosity.
“I think the app is a fun app that you can enjoy not only on your own but with a group of friends,” he told The Newsroom.
“I downloaded it because all my friends had it and were telling me about how good it was and how much fun it was so I thought I’d give it a go and it turned out to be a pretty cool app.
“It’s a good way to get people out and about and getting exercise, because to search for Pokemon you have to walk around.” – Story and video presented by Madeleine Wilson, video produced by Ben Rochlin
Photo by James Mott.
About the author
Madeleine is an aspiring journalist hoping to pursue a career as a court reporter or foreign correspondent.
