Pokémon Go has infiltrated Philly’s impact community and we’re all doomed

So here we are, reading about Pokémon Go on a local social impact news site.

Let’s get this over with.

The virtual reality app has virtually overtaken every reality, and by now, you’ve undoubtedly either played it, are playing it, downloaded it and played it for a second before deleting it, have read about it in the news, have seen your friends post about it on social media or have watched people walk into walls because they’re too busy being logged on to their mobile phones. (Related: Check out this Technical.ly Brooklyn story about an app/”participatory art project” that reminds people to take their eyes off their screens.)

At any rate, everybody’s talking about Pokémon Go and everybody has been exposed to it. Philadelphia’s impact community is no exception. Just ask GreenLight Fund Executive Director Omar Woodard.

https://twitter.com/OmarWoodard/status/752620306603339776

Yet, as bothersome as Pokémon Go-ers might be in real life, social impact site ATTN: reports the game is actually doing wonders for gamers’ mental health by getting people out and about. And despite the fact that Go-ers are passing up on real life to dwell inside a virtual reality app is definitely concerning, public health aficionado Briana Morgan isn’t convinced the phenomenon is drastic enough to call it a public health crisis.

Actual #publichealth crises: Overdoses. Obesity. HIV. Funding cuts. Gun violence.
Not #publichealth crises: Pokemon Go. Llamas. Porn.

— Briana Morgan (@babefromtoyland) July 12, 2016

Philadelphia Public Health thinks otherwise.

Top #publichealth innovations of 2016: Zika vaccine? Soda tax? Or #PokemonGO? pic.twitter.com/uhJ1Al9Qbg

— Philadelphia Public Health (@PHLPublicHealth) July 11, 2016

Some (like this reporter) are concerned the trend will impact their profession. Here’s Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia communications manager Randy LoBasso:

Does this mean I have to learn what the Pokemon app is? pic.twitter.com/vN12LdYB5M

— Randy LoBasso (@RandyLoBasso) July 11, 2016

Others, like the Center for Resuscitation Science‘s director of innovation research Marion Leary, see the trend as an opportunity to launch a for-profit social venture.

I have so many ideas right now for how to incorporate #PokemonGO into a lifesaving app for #cardiacarrest #AEDs. pic.twitter.com/KRphmNTmAW

— Marion Leary, PhD, MPH, RN (she/they) 🏳️‍🌈 (@marionleary) July 11, 2016

Even Young Involved Philadelphia President Nick Marzano has been sucked into the Pokémon Go craze.

PokemonCode: master all the zoning ordinances in a given area before Councilmanic Prerogazar catches up and makes them irrelevant.

— Nick Marzano (@nmarzano) July 12, 2016

Though, and perhaps unsurprisingly, Marzano remains focused on boosting Millennial votes.

If this trend keeps up let's hide some Pokemon at voting booths this November.

— Nick Marzano (@nmarzano) July 11, 2016

And then there’s Mayor Jim Kenney, who looks like he’d rather be doing literally anything other than posing for a picture with a virtual monster.

Enjoying #PokémonGo? The @PhillyPolice have safety tips before you catch 'em all https://t.co/QzIc1a2jQ5 #PHLpokémon pic.twitter.com/TerHaaZinR

— City of Philadelphia (@PhiladelphiaGov) July 11, 2016

Regardless, the community asked, and the community has received.

We need a community impact report about #pokemonGO in Philly! #gooutside #meetyourneighbors @MoManklang @juliezeglen @TonyAbraham

— Nicole Koedyker, MPA (@nkoedyker) July 12, 2016

Now, let’s all get back to discussing important things like impact investing and evidence-based models for reducing recidivism rates.