Google To Discontinue Individual Follower Feature ...

Google has announced it will shut down the individual follower feature on Google Maps later this year. The change, set to take effect in September, marks the end of a social functionality that allowed users to follow other individuals to view their public activity, such as posted reviews, photos, and videos. This decision comes after Google had already phased out a related feature earlier in January—the ability to follow businesses for updates on events and promotions.

The individual follower system was introduced in 2020 as an extension of the 2018 “Follow” button feature (launched in 2019 on iOS), which initially allowed users to follow businesses. The goal was to make Google Maps a more community-driven platform, adding a social layer where users could engage with content shared by others. However, the follower feature never gained widespread adoption and, in some cases, led to unwanted interactions, such as spam requests from bots.

With the upcoming removal, Google stated that all follower-related data—both who users follow and who follows them—will be permanently deleted from its servers. The visibility settings of user profiles will remain intact, but there will no longer be a need to manage follower requests, especially for those with restricted accounts. For many users, this may come as a relief due to the limited engagement and occasional spam associated with the feature.

Google is encouraging users interested in community interaction to transition to Local Guides Connect, an official forum where participants can earn points for contributing to Maps by writing reviews, submitting photos, or editing place information. This platform is more focused on practical engagement rather than social connections and continues to support list creation and sharing.

In a separate development, Google recently expanded its partnership with electric vehicle maker Rivian. Rivian’s trucks and SUVs are now adopting a new navigation system powered by the Google Maps Auto SDK, replacing the former system that used Mapbox. This update provides drivers with access to real-time traffic data and enhanced search capabilities for points of interest, strengthening Google Maps’ role in the EV navigation space.

Filed in Cellphones >Computers. Read more about Google and Google Maps.