Pokémon Go Fever is Sweeping the Nation
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But for the most part, people are enjoying their entry into the world of Pokémon. In fact, 24 hours after its release in the US, Pokémon Go had been installed on more Android phones than the dating app Tinder, according to analysts at SimilarWeb. Users spent an average of 43 minutes a day playing — much longer than the average time spent using Twitter, for instance. So this craze isn’t going away anytime soon.
Parents, here are the benefits and the dangers of your kids playing Pokémon Go.
Benefits:
- Gets kids active. Children will love taking walks searching for new Pokémons to catch.
- Car rides aren't so boring. Kids in the backseat will be distracted by the game, which makes it easier for parents to get around town or take longer car trips.
- There is some learning involved. Usually the Poke Stops are at important landmarks, so why not teach your kids a thing or two while they're there.
Dangers:
- Look where you are going. Make sure that your kid is still aware of his surroundings and not too distracted that he forgets to look both ways before crossing the street.
- Kids who are engaged in the game may also be easy targets for getting robbed or lured into another dangerous situation. Please be careful.
- Parents, watch your wallet. If you're not on an unlimited data plan, you may want to reconsider how often you let your kids play the game. Also, beware of in-app purchases, they can cost you a pretty penny.
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