Google is turning its Maps into a social network. The company has long had a reviews feature, called “Local Guides,” where users were encouraged to post photos and share comments about places they visited.
Additionally, Google lets you follow “Local Guides” that you find interesting, so you can see their recommendations for other places they’ve been. If you like what person X said, then it makes sense that you’d want to see what they think of other local restaurants, bars, parks, hotels, etc. It’s a FourSquare/Yelp of sorts. Google has the data, it has the users, and chances are you already use Maps from those two apps.
According to a statement from Google, “People in Bangkok, Delhi, London, Mexico City, New York, Osaka, San Francisco, São Paulo, and Tokyo will soon see “top Local Guides” appear in the “For You” tab in the Maps mobile app. When you follow one of these Local Guides, their recommendations will appear on Google Maps, just for you, so you can get inspired by ideas for things to do and places to go.”
The new feature isn't live yet, at least on our device, but Google says it will be rolling out soon.
