Pokémon GO new game sees flirty propositions being sent between strangers

Gaming is often seen as an unsociable and solitary pursuit. But fans of Pokémon GO claim the augmented reality craze - which since its launch last week has had users chasing around their neighborhoods in pursuit of fictional creatures - has given rise to so many chance meetings between strangers that people have started using it as a dating app. Numerous users have shared their stories of romance spurred by the app - claiming that they were either asked out while playing the game or invited on a Pokémon GO date with their potential love interest. It has also proved a hit as a dating activity among existing couples and as a new way of making friends. Such is the popularity of the game - which has already been installed on more Android devices than dating app Tinder - that some fans are using it to replace movie nights, giving rise to the phrase'Pokémon GO and chill', adapted from'Netflix and chill'.