A recent survey from The Manifest showed that Most Pokémon Go users encounter strangers while playing the mobile game.
Nearly 90% of users surveyed have met new people while “catching” Pokémon in different locations, and 54% responded that they either “always” or “often” meet new people while playing.
Pokémon Go has a highly social aspect even though most people associate mobile gaming as a more isolated activity. Still, players have to be careful to stay alert while using the location-tracking app.
The study also showed that nearly a third of players (31%) feel unsafe at some point while playing Pokémon Go and yet continue to use the app. Users can risk possible harm or danger as they attempt to find exotic Pokémon.
“As I live in a major city, I am just more cautious if I am out at night,” said Marcion Albert, a daily Pokémon Go player in Phoenix. “During the day, I’ll battle in a park or deserted parking lot, but at night, I don’t even consider it.”
Distracted players can cause hazards to other pedestrians and themselves as they search for these digitally animated creatures. Most people value the augmented reality experience over the potential mishaps and continue to play, even if they are not entirely comfortable.
Pokémon Go remains largely played across the world. Almost half of millennials ages 18 to 34 continue to use the app, while a surprising 32% of Generation Xers ages 35 to 54 have also played in the past year.
Pokémon Go appeals to players of all ages, as the app encourages users to exercise and explore their surroundings. The gamification of walking adds a level of fun and competition to a more mundane activity.
Overall, The Manifest survey explains the customer-targeting potential with location-tracking apps such as Pokémon Go but also the privacy risk of hosting such a large database of user behavior.
The Manifest’s 2018 Location-Tracking Apps Survey included 727 people who use location-tracking apps from across the U.S.
Read the full report here: https://themanifest.com/app-development/how-location-tracking-affects-mobile-apps-pokemon-go-game