“While Pokémon GO has been highly successful, the game has raised concerns”, the Democrats wrote in a letter to John Hanke, chief executive of Niantic Inc., the company that built the software for the game. “We are writing to better understand what measures Niantic has undertaken to ensure consumers are informed of Pokemon Go’s effect on their mobile data usage”.
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The lawmakers specifically asked the company what practices it had in place “to minimize the amount of data consumers use when playing” the game and whether the company was working with wireless providers to make sure that customers aren’t running up huge data bills. So much so, that members of the U.S. House of Representatives’ energy and commerce committee have sent an official letter over to Pokemon Go developer Niantic to ask about the app’s data use.
Recent survey data shows the average players spends 43 minutes on Pokemon Go daily, compared to 30 minutes on WhatsApp, 25 minutes on Instagram, 22 minutes on Snapchat and 12 minutes on Facebook Messenger.
Does Niantic conspicuously warn customers before they start using the app about how much data the app consumes?
Representatives Frank Pallone of New Jersey, Diana DeGette of Colorado and Jan Schakowsky of IL signed the letter sent to Niantic. 9 to 5 Mac reported that some players observed using up their monthly usage plans within one week by constantly playing Pokemon Go.
However, the probe is not on the accidents and potential fatalities, or even addiction, but would focus on Pokemon Go eating up monthly data usage plans.
18 Pokemon Sun and Pokemon Moon, addicts of the global rage would have more reason to stay glued to their mobile phones and keep on walking in search of cartoon characters to capture. Mobile data, on the other hand, is not so easy to fix, and it might be a real problem if you don’t have a generous monthly allowance.
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The game’s quick rise to success has been lauded by many for its ability to get people out of their homes to explore where they live due to the structure of the game – the player must actually walk around and wander until they find new Pokemon or challenges.
