Pokemon Go app sends kids to notorious Adelaide gay beat

THE Pokemon Go craze sweeping Adelaide — and the world — is sending children to a notorious gay beat in search of the video-game characters, an Adelaide mother has warned. ADVICE FOR PARENTS

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THE Pokemon Go craze sweeping Adelaide — and the world — is sending children to a notorious gay beat in search of the video-game characters, an Adelaide mother has warned.

Aldinga Beach mother-of-four Yvonne Wenham says she was distressed to discover the app had directed her 10-year-old son Callum to the Maslin Beach carpark “where there were five cars parked with men sitting in them doing what they do”.

The game has exploded in popularity, as players gather in cities around the world to capture, train and battle the virtual creatures, in a real-world hunt for virtual characters such as Pikachu using a phone camera and GPS.

“As soon as I saw the little arrow thing flashing for where I needed to go, I realised with horror I’d have to drive into the carpark,” Ms Wenham said.

“We were directed to drive right through the carpark and down to the far end where there five cars parked with men sitting in them doing what they do.”

The former Onkaparinga councillor said she was aware of the nature of the carpark from her days on council.

Smartphone game Pokemon Go is luring kids such as Callum, 10, to places that could be dangerous. Picture: Matt Loxton

“We didn’t get out of the car and Callum collected the Pokemon from within the car … but on the way out I thought: ‘What if he’d walked there by himself?’ I was distressed to know my kids could end up there alone.”

Pokemon characters can be collected from dozens of locations across Adelaide from special locations that appear on a map linked to Google.

Callum has previously collected Pokemon characters from a playground and park in Aldinga, at another beach carpark and a caravan park.

Destinations in the city include Victoria Square, Botanic Gardens and Adelaide Festival Centre.

Ms Wenham said she was frustrated there was nothing she could do to report the inappropriateness of the Maslins Beach location other than alert The Advertiser.

“I checked the app and there is no way to report that this is not a suitable place as destination for kids. They’ve clearly made a mistake and they need to fix it up,” she added.

“Some of Facebook community forums in Aldinga have been promoting how brilliant the game has been for kids during school holidays but this a danger they need to know about.”

Her warning comes just days after a string of armed robberies in Missouri in the US at the weekend perpetrated by suspects who targeted their victims using the Pokémon game.

Dr Justin Coulson, author of the best-selling book 21 Days to a Happier Family said that in all internet matters, parents needed to know “where your kids are, what they are doing and who are they with”.

“I would strongly encourage parents to install a location app on their child’s phone,” the father of six said.

“And you have to be honest with your kids and tell them you don’t mean to spy on them, but there are genuine concerns and this is about keeping them safe.

“That depends on your child and the situation as you must keep the messages relevant.

“If you share something that does not square with the child’s experience they are quite likely to be dismissive.”

Dr Coulson said parents should not be authoritarian and need to have “a conversation” with their children.

“Try to see the world through their eyes and don’t be authoritarian as that will just drive the behaviour underground,” he added.

With eyes firming on their phones, the new Pokemon app has seen players suffer injuries from walking in to each other and stationery objects, including telegraph posts and trees.

The craze has prompted serious safety warnings from authorities across the country with the greatest concern around road safety.

A SAPOL spokesman said all users should abide by the advice given on the Pokemon app to “Remember to be alert at all times. Stay aware of your surroundings.”

The spokesman said the SAPOL website offered a wide range of crime-prevention information, including the SA Police Personal Safety advice sheet.

Originally published as Pokemon Go app sends kids to notorious Adelaide gay beat