Google Maps gets a makeover and becomes more of a social network

Google Maps has released a new feature for the app that turns it into a sort of social network. Here's how it works

A small but significant revolution for Google Maps: the maps application is ready to change face with new features that will make it more and more like a social network. Compared to its early days, Google Maps is already a completely transformed app: directions and maps remain the main focus, but community messages and directions play an important role. And just to encourage interaction between people, Google has decided to add new features that are usually only present in social networks.

The announcement comes directly from the Mountain View company with a post published on the official blog: it is being released a new version of Google Maps that will allow users to follow the profiles of people who publish images and information on local or places of interest. After following a person, you will receive notifications on your profile every time they post something new, just like on Facebook, Instagram and any other social network.

Google Maps, how to use the new features

Google Maps is not a simple application to use to get directions, but in recent years has become more and more a community with millions of people who interact every day, publish images and information. Per rendere questa community ancora più unita, Google ha pensato bene di rilasciare un nuovo aggiornamento in grado di rivoluzionare l’app: su Google Maps è possibile seguire gli altri utenti, come se fosse una sorta di social network.

Quando un utente pubblica un’immagine di un ristorante o di un monumento, un’altra persona potrà iniziare a seguirlo per ricevere le notifiche sulle sue attività. Ogni volta che pubblicherà qualcosa di nuovo si verrà avvisati con una notifica sul proprio account.

Questa nuova funzione potrebbe creare dei problemi con la gestione della privacy e per questo motivo Google ha implementato delle nuove opzioni che permettono agli utenti di decidere quali informazioni condividere con le altre persone e se mostrare tutte le proprie attività. A smart solution to nip any stalkers in the bud.

How to update Google Maps with the new features

As said by Google itself, the Maps update is being released worldwide, but it will take a few days for it to be available. To check if you can already install it, just go into the Google Play Store or App Store, go to the updates section and check if the Google Maps update is there as well.