Is iSpoofer Pokemon Go Safe in 2023?

As an avid Pokémon GO player and content creator, this is a question I get asked constantly in my community. The short answer? No – using unauthorized third party apps like iSpoofer to spoof your location or GPS is still clearly against Niantic‘s Terms of Service in 2023 and risks getting your account permanently banned.

Why Players Use Apps Like iSpoofer

I totally get the appeal. Believe me, I wish I could catch region exclusive Pokémon from my couch or teleport to that 100% IV dragon spawn across the country. But violating the ToS, even with good intentions, threatens the integrity of gameplay and community.

Here‘s why some resort to spoofing:

• Limited mobility – For disabled players or those in remote areas, spoofing seems to level the playing field for catching and raiding.

• Saver time/effort – Spoofing to skip traveling to actual locations for gameplay perks.

• Social competition – Applying spoofing advantages to dominate gyms or rare catches.

The Reality of Spoofing Risks

While motives vary, the reality is spoofing violates rules clearly prohibiting falsifying your location. Here‘s what players risk by using iSpoofer:

• Account termination – Permanent loss of account, no appeals. This is devastating for dedicated players.

• Game detection is advanced – Niantic‘s systems and machine learning algorithms successfully flag most spoofing.

• Ban waves hit hard – Spoofing apps often get heavily targeted in ban waves, terminating thousands of accounts at once.

• Strikes add up – Even initial soft bans come with gameplay restrictions, leading to permanent bans.

• Can‘t be fully "safe" – No spoofing method grants complete protection against detection and bans.

Spoofing By the Numbers

• Over 11 million Pokémon GO accounts banned for Terms of Service violations as of late 2022, per estimates.

• At least 2-3 million estimated Terminations directly related to spoofing and location falsification.

• Hundreds of thousands of accounts banned in 2022 alone per spoofing detection improvements.

• spoofers report an estimated 20%-30% permanent Terminations rate if actively and repeatedly spoofing.

What Players Should Do Instead

I get why some feel spoofing is needed to level the playing field. But it‘s just too risky long-term and goes against the spirit of community and fair play that makes GO special.

Here are some legit ways to enhance your experience:

• Explore IRL – Safely get out and walk, drive or roll to PokéStops and spawns. This is the intended gameplay.

• Connect locally – Find your local Discord or Facebook group to raid and trade together.

• Submit PokéStop nominations – Utilize Niantic‘s options to request and add new stops.

• Use authorized accessories – Leverage GO Plus wearables for passive play.

• Appeal denied PokéStop nominations – Sometimes nominations wrongly get rejected, but can be successfully appealed.

• Provide accessibility feedback – Constructively share your limitations and ideas with Niantic to improve inclusiveness.

• Play other Pokémon titles – Supplement GO with Nintendo Switch games that may better suit your needs.

At the end of the day, violating terms and spoofing locations breaks trust with developers, risks accounts people have poured hours into, and damages the community‘s spirit. I choose to advocate responsible play to uphold the integrity of a game I am so passionate about.

What do you think – have you ever been tempted to spoof or use iSpoofer? I‘m curious to have thoughtful discussions in my community about maintaining principles even when gameplay seems limited. There are always constructive ways to shape the future of Pokémon GO for the better.