Why Are Millennials So Obsessed With Virtual Pets

People can be divided into two groups, ones who love kittens and others who love puppies. The feeling to care about something is embossed in our core. That is the reason why we consider adopting or purchasing our first pet from a young age.

To see how obsessed with animals millennials are, there is a statistic that says that over seventy percent of them have or are currently owning a pet. Some say that they practice being a future parent, while others just love the companionship of their pets.

However, not everyone is in a position to care for a real animal. That is why many people are now considering virtual animals. In this article, we’ll explain what virtual pets are, and why are the millennials so obsessed with them. Keep reading and find out more.

Explanation of virtual pets

As their name suggests, virtual pets are digital companions that you can keep on various devices. They are given similar characteristics to regular pets and are cared for by regularly opening the app and fulfilling their needs.

Most virtual pets are oriented towards accomplishing goals. This means that you have to do certain tasks to keep the animal alive as long as possible. This is accomplished by regular feeding, cleaning, and playing with it. Basically, it serves as a video game with an obligation to care for the animal.

It is easy to understand why people are enjoying virtual pet games. Since millennials as a group of people that are leading the charts of being pet owners, there are a couple of reasons why are they obsessed with such games.

Nostalgia

The biggest reason why are millennials obsessed with virtual pets is because of nostalgia. As a generation, they have passed their childhood in revolutionary digital changes. There, they have been presented with a device called Tamagotchi that was surely one of the things every kid from the 90s wanted to possess.

The Tamagotchi was a device that displayed a pet that you had to regularly take care of and make happy. In case you are inconsistent and forget to feed it, they would die and you cannot play anymore.

With such a device that every kid wanted to have, you can see why virtual pets are now popular among the 90s kids. The ability to play the game you always wanted without any problems makes the experience much better. You are relieving your childhood, which always feels nice.

Mental health

Keeping a pet is surely one of the things that make us feel great. The rewarding mechanism in our body secretes hormones that make us feel good whenever we accomplish a task. That is why as soon as we finish our daily obligations, we feel great.

As feedback, whenever we are feeling down or depressed, playing a simple game with the virtual pet will surely improve our mood. When the solution to feeling better is that simple, you can easily understand why are people playing these games.

Finances

Another reason why virtual pets are a favorite among millennials is that they do not require money to be played. For example, Puppy Playtime at apkoll.com is totally free.

Keeping a regular pet means purchasing toys, food, and leashes. Purchasing the kitty or pup is the first initial expense, however, you can get around that with adoption. The first year of being an owner is the most expensive, all the vet visits and products you have to buy while they grow can be overwhelming.

Depending on where you live, there might be licenses you have to acquire to be eligible to keep a pet. They do not cost a lot, but when all the expenses are combined, it results in a serious financial sum.

Some of the millennials are still students or are relatively young to comprehend all the financial expenses of keeping a pet. For that reason, they opt out for a virtual option where they can get similar satisfaction, while not needing to spend anything.

Being free

While being young, we are constantly on the move. Sometimes, we simply cannot find time to spend with our pets which can lead to their dissatisfaction and sadness. Sure, you can leave them at home, but if you are constantly outside you are just doing a bad thing.  Traveling often is another reason why millennials cannot settle to keep a kitty or a pup.

There are options to consider pet sitting, but that can be expensive if it happens regularly. This brings us back to the previous heading where finances might become a problem.

This is the reason why most millennials are opting for virtual pets. While you can play whenever you go since everything is on your phone, you will have no trouble being consistent. There is an alerting system that pops up whenever you are about to forget to do simple tasks, which can lead you to become a more responsible person in the future.

Practicing parenthood

Lastly, millennials are around the age of becoming parents, however, nobody feels ready for that. It is believed that people who had pets during their young adult life are better parents because of their patience, as well as being a more responsible person. The time put into raising an animal can surely help in upbringing a child in the future.

Although you don’t have obligations to walk the pet, there are still things you have to do. Being consistent and responsible is one of the biggest characteristics that have to be adopted as a future parent. That is how a simple game can have a great impact on your future life.

Conclusion

When selecting a virtual pet application, be sure to have various games and mechanisms for you to enjoy. It will surely bring the nostalgia of keeping a Tamagotchi as a kid, and the good memories of childhood will arise.

Virtual pets can surely make your days filled with joy. You are taking care, and that makes you feel like you have accomplished something. Besides the good feelings of keeping a virtual character, you are gathering life skills that will surely be helpful in the future.