The new Google Maps location update is similar to the company's past venture Latitude, and allows users to share their location to simplify social interactions.
The update comes as location-sharing continues in popularity online, with more and more consumers and social media users being likely to publicly declare their location histories on a variety of different platforms. With this decreased focus on location privacy, the Google Maps location update comes at an opportune time for the company. The update lets Google Maps tell users' friends where they are, and gives them directions to their location. It also allows users to pick a particular friend to share their location with long-term.
This new Google Maps update has a practical function that allows users to socialize, without having to take the small extra step of inputting directional instructions.
Location-Sharing Directional Apps
The Google Maps Location Update Aims to Ease Social Interactions
Trend Themes
1. Increased Location Sharing - The popularity of location sharing online is leading to an increase in users publicly declaring their location histories on various platforms.
2. Convenient Social Interactions - The new Google Maps location update simplifies social interactions by allowing users to share their location with friends and providing directions to their current location.
3. Selective Long-term Location Sharing - The update enables users to choose specific friends for long-term location sharing, offering a more personalized and controlled sharing experience.
Industry Implications
1. Social Media - The increased popularity of location sharing online presents disruptive innovation opportunities for social media platforms to develop new features that integrate location-based interactions.
2. Navigation Technology - The new Google Maps location update highlights the need for navigation technology companies to explore ways of enhancing social and personalized location-based services.
3. Personal Safety Apps - The trend of increased location sharing creates opportunities for personal safety app developers to create innovative solutions that help individuals share their location with trusted contacts or emergency services.