In Pokémon GO there is the possibility to earn rewards through scans. However, in some locations, players find this problematic.
These are scan tasks: These tasks are a special form of field research, which has been available since autumn 2020. They are called “AR mapping” research and ask you to scan a specific PokéStop near you.
For this purpose, one has to circle the “real” PokéStop and film it with their mobile phone camera. The corresponding video is then to be submitted.
For this, there are various reward items, from Pokéballs to Knursps. In addition, in 2021, the option was introduced to “level up” a stop through scans.
What’s the point? According to the explanation in the game, trainers are supposed to help with “creating 3D maps of their preferred PokéStops and gyms”. The AR features of Pokémon GO are to be “further developed and refined” with the material.
However, discussions about the feature keep arising. Currently, in the Pokémon GO subreddit, players are discussing places they would prefer not to scan – yet are still being suggested.
Players do not want to scan playgrounds or hospitals
What is the problem? In a post labeled “complaint” in the Pokémon GO subreddit, a player explains: “Dear Pokémon GO, I (35m) would appreciate it if you stop asking me to scan playgrounds.” As of now, the post has over 3,900 upvotes and over 300 comments.
The user “National_Edges” explains in the post: “It just doesn’t look good to walk around and film when children are playing on a playground” (via reddit).
He has received suggestions to simply film the ground, but does not see this as a solution: “But it is problematic when asked to film a playground where minors are supposed to play. That is the real issue.” Especially as an individual, male person, this is difficult.
This is what players say: Many comments agree with the user but also mention other locations that they find difficult to scan.
- “Also banks. It keeps prompting me to scan a bank. That doesn’t look suspicious at all,” comments user “Ravenclaw79.”
- “Schools, playgrounds, banks, airports, industrial areas, loading ramps, etc.,” adds user “simmeh024” (via reddit).
- “I often get asked about a hospital… no.” (via reddit).
- “I delete the ones with playgrounds. Even as a woman with my son present, it feels overly creepy.” (via reddit).
Additionally, users write that they have experienced that conflicts can arise when people think they are being filmed (via reddit).
As recently as winter 2021, there was a situation where a player reported scanning PokéStops in a park. However, this appeared suspicious to other park visitors, who reported the incident to the police, who promptly arrived.
Is there a solution? Some trainers suggest “workarounds” like filming the ground or covering the camera with a finger. However, the problem here is that players do not want to be suggested such quests at all.
Basically, however, it is possible to simply delete new scan quests that one does not like and pick up a new one. For example, it is conceivable to delete a playground task and instead get a less problematic location.
Alternatively, one can also completely refrain from scanning PokéStops – there is no compulsion to do so in the game.
What do you think of the feature? Do you find the scans problematic, have you experienced similar situations? Tell us in the comments!
While the scans are viewed critically, the current event in Pokémon GO is received positively.
