A cybersafety expert yesterday said that more people could report problems with Internet addiction as a result of mobile games such as Pokemon Go.
Vivian Huang (黃葳威) chief executive officer of the nongovernmental organization Cyber Angel’s Pick said that while the game has actually encouraged some people out of their homes, it has caused problems on the roads, with some players not paying attention to traffic conditions.
The association has received telephone calls from parents wanting to know what they should do if their children are playing Pokemon Go, Huang said.
“Some parents said they were excited when they heard that their children were willing to go on a family trip with them, but they also said that all the children really cared about was whether they were able to catch monsters at travel destinations,” she said, adding that some bed-and-breakfast operators have been swift to address that need.
Huang said she is concerned that more people could become addicted to the Internet because of such games.
Parents who are fans of the game should not play it with children under six, she said.
“Parents should not play the game with their children. Children who are six or younger have other games that can help them integrate their senses and explore the world. Young children should learn about the world from real-life experiences,” she said.
Pokemon Go players should also be aware of the risks that they are exposed to when they play the game, including personal information leaks and phishing attacks, she said.
In related news, a foundation survey carried out between last year and this year showed that 76 percent of people between nine and 18 own mobile phones. Of the survey respondents, 87 percent own smartphones.
The survey found this demographic use their handsets to access the Internet for an average of 19.8 hours per week, while they spend 15.86 hours on their computers, watch TV for 14.53 hours or play sports for 12.58 hours.
The survey found that 60 percent of respondents are active social media users, with nearly 50 percent of them joining online groups on topics related to entertainment or fashion.
Huang also said that iWIN — a government-affiliated agency that accepts all kinds of complaints about online content — received 14,155 complaints related to content that negatively impacted children or teenagers, of which 76 percent were about pornographic content.
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