For its Maps service, Google added a "Follow" button back in 2018 (or 2019 if you're on iOS). It operated in a straightforward manner: users could follow companies to receive event and special offer announcements in their "For You" page.
This paved the way for the social and community-focused feature that enabled users to follow specific people in 2020. Your feed would then display a person's public activity, such as reviews, images, and videos. Google has now said that, as of September, it would no longer be using the individual follower system.
According to the company, "all data" about your followers and the people you follow will be removed from its servers. Your profile's visibility settings won't be impacted, but you won't need to approve requests for your restricted profile anymore because there won't be any followers left. Given that the feature was frequently a magnet for spam bots, this is likely a relief to some.
The option that allowed users to follow businesses was removed in January. Since Google had previously significantly reduced the prominence of the "Follow" button on business listings, the warning signs had been there for some time.
Google is directing users to Local Guides Connect for those who enjoyed being able to follow people. By posting reviews, uploading images, or updating map data, a Local Guide can gain points on this online forum. In contrast to the follower function, this platform enables more direct communication among the community. Additionally, lists of locations can still be made and shared.
In connection with this, the business has extended its collaboration with Rivian for its SUVs and electric trucks. With the help of the Google Maps Auto SDK, Rivian is upgrading the outdated navigation system that was constructed on top of Mapbox. This allows drivers to access Google's excellent search for areas of interest and real-time traffic statistics.