It's easy to look at something like Pokemon GO and scoff at it.

After all, it's based in the imaginary and yes, some people have been acting like dumbasses since the app was released. However, there's more upsides to Pokemon GO than there are negatives. The game relies on people being sociable, interacting with others, exercising, getting fresh air and exploring the world around them.

To us, that's a decent trade-off for being slightly annoying.

Anyway, one mother has found that the app has had a significant impact on her autistic son. In a Facebook post, she described how the app helped her son become more sociable as a result of interacting both with the app and people around her.

Here's her post, transcribed from below.

Thanks to the suggestion of my fellow ASD-mama friend and fellow body painter (name obscured) I finally introduced Ralphie to Pokemon Go tonight. She was right. This thing is AMAZING. After he caught his first one at the bakery, he was shrieking with excitement. He ran outside to catch more. A little boy saw him and recognized what he was doing.

They immediately had something in common. He asked Ralphie how many he had caught. Ralph didn't really answer him, other than to shriek "POKEMON!!!!" and jump up and down with excitement while flapping his arms. The little boy showed him how many HE had caught (over 100!) and Ralph said "WOWWWW!" and they high-fived. I almost cried.

Then he saw his second Pokemon, sitting on [name removed]'s front step. He caught that one and was so excited he shrieked again and began to jump up and down. Then she came out and he chatted to her about it, too! Then she pointed out to him that there was a lot of Pokemon activity at the playground.

He begged to go.

He NEVER wants to go to the playground at night, because it's out of his usual routine. He is normally SO RIGID about his routine. But tonight he was happy to change things up, and do it! We were in shock! And when we got there, other kids ran up to him to hunt for Pokemon together. He was interacting with other kids. Holy crap!!!! I didn't know if I should laugh, or cry.

Then he wanted to go find more, and we walked down 30th ave. Adults were also hunting Pokemon, and these total strangers were giving him advice like "there's one right, round the corner, buddy! Go get it!" and he would run off laughing to get it. He would even look up at them and say "THANK YOU!" and run off! WOW!!!!!

MY AUTISTIC CHILD IS SOCIALIZING. Talking to people. Smiling at people. Verbalizing. Participating in pragmatic speech. With total strangers. Looking up at them. Sometimes even in the eye. Laughing with them. Sharing something in common. This is AMAZING.

Thank you (name obscured) for suggesting this. You were right. And thank you Nintendo!!! ASD mama's DREAM!!!!!! I love you! #PokemonGO #gottacatchemall

Here's her post, as it appeared on Facebook. As we reported yesterday, the app is now available on iTunes App Store and Google Play in Ireland.