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Indy doctor has warning for Pokemon Go players

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — An app that has only been available in the United States since Thursday has already become a viral phenomenon.

Pokemon Go has taken off across the country. Here in Indianapolis, people can be seen playing it all over town.

The game offers users an augmented reality which makes Pokemon seem as if they’re in your own backyard, along the canal or on Monument Circle.

But catching the cartoon creatures may come with some hidden dangers. Many officials are warning players to stay alert.

Rebecca Dixon with Riley Hospital for Children at IU Health says it’s easy for users to divert attention away from driving or walking, and the result can be dangerous.

“There’s risks to anything, especially with mobile media,” she said. “That is, if you’re not paying attention to where you’re going. It’s hard to pay attention to two things at once. We think we’re good at multitasking, but there’s lots of evidence that we’re not.”

She also pointed out the positive elements of the game, such as exercise and social interaction.