It’s no secret that Pokemon Go is extremely popular with not only the generation that grew up with the show but with also today’s youth. It’s interactive nature may make super fun for most but many ignore the potential dangers as many flock to different locations just to catch their next Pokemon. Well New York’s Governor Andrew Cuomo, has recognized the dangers and is taking steps to eliminate starting with making the game off limits to sex offenders.
According to a statement he released Monday, Cuomo states that he believes there’s a potential risk for children and offenders to end up in the same proximity. This can be dangerous for not only the child but it also violates the terms that registers sex offenders have to abide by — which is staying away from children.
So now, the Department of Corrections and Community Supervision have been ordered to prohibit sex offenders from using the app.
“Protecting New York’s children is priority number one and, as technology evolves, we must ensure these advances don’t become new avenues for dangerous predators to prey on new victims.” Governor Cuomo said. “These actions will provide safeguards for the players of these augmented reality games and help take one more tool away from those seeking to do harm to our children.”
The governor continued his mission with a letter to John Hanke, the CEO of Niantic, the games creator asking that the company join them in their efforts to ban sex offenders from the game.
“Protecting our children and ensuring their safety is our top priority, and the State of New York is moving swiftly to respond to troubling news that young children using Pokemon GO are being steered to locations in close proximity to, or even at, sex offender residences,” the letter reads, “The State has taken action to prohibit sex offenders from using this game, but we need your assistance to make certain that sex offenders will not continue to use Pokemon GO by technologically barring their use. Working together, we can ensure that this danger today does not escalate into a tragedy tomorrow. ”
It makes sense that the governor is acting so swiftly following the informal study suggesting that 59 of 100 sex offender homes are within half a block of PokeGo hotspots.
Let’s chat below, do you think sex offenders should use the game?
Source: Complex, http://www.complex.com/pop-culture/2016/08/new-york-ban-sex-offenders-playing-pokemon-go
TSR STAFF: Chantel P.! @_popchanny on IG!
