Hi, I’m Thivantha Harischandra. I’m in Level 10 and doing this for nearly 4 years.
I have more than 520,000 points. More than 247,000 Contributions.
I never receive any gift or any compliment from Google Maps or Local Guides Programme. I’m seeing everyday Google Local Guides Twitter account posts admiring people. But not once for me.
Recently I found out there is an option to follow. But I use Apple Devices and a PC it doesn’t have any follow option. No one can follow me. I’m pretty sure I’m the No 01 updater in our Country. Also, last month I have updated 30 days out of 31 days. I do this kinda sacrifice without any benefit. I never hope or ask.
But now I think, even I have already done this much, I’ve faced so many difficulties to update the map, even with military and the police, Google Maps / Local Guides Program doesn’t care. I don’t even know I am followable according to Google Local Guides Program.
I remember, Video Option came to Apple devices after months when comparing to Android.
Why is this injustice? I feel so disappointed.
And also I would really appreciate it if anyone tells me how to give the permission to follow the option, if knows.
You will not see the following feature on a PC. Nevertheless, the following feature is available on the iPhone also.
You may not have the update yet. The rollout of the new feature may happen progressively and you will have to wait and watch. Meanwhile, you can check whether the app version on your phone is updated.
BTW, I couldn’t refrain from having a look at your profile and appreciate a large number of contributions. Nevertheless, you have to take a look at the private content.
I find out of 5979 reviews 494 are private. Similarly out of 38838 photos + videos 1943 are private. The AI marks contributions as private on detection of objectionable content. You need examining that and take action to remove these non-conformities. I suggest going carefully through the Maps user-contributed content policies.
You call it injustice @ThivHari I think it’s not strange that it could take longer to be available on Iphone. Similar issues are there the other way round. Meaning things are available for Apple and not for PC/Android. It’s a ongoing battle between the platforms. Some functions available on the android app are not available on a desktop. I also do hope they will be available there too. The follow option is there but for me it doesn’t bring me anything. I have 2 followers atm no idea how and why they started following me.
This option was active for me starting from the first limited pilot. In one side is an acknowledgement of my contributions, on the other side is a big responsibility, because I know that my followers are notified of my contributions (photos and reviews). I consider this an impulse to try to keep the quality always high
Hello @ErmesT thank you for explaining. I think that keeping quality high is a very good impulse. Since I have been active here I have found out that many LG just seem to matter to reach Level 10 and making quantity more important than quality. I see this in reviews, photo’s video’s and also on postings here on Connect. For some it seems to be a race as to have the most points/contributions. An easy excuse is my camera isn’t as good as yours but what about a review with one word or just a few. Comments on a post that is being copied/pasted with the only difference is that they change the name to whom it’s for. Sad but true.
I agree with you 100%, and this is probably one of the reason why I do not post on achievement, @Erik_van_den_Ham , and because my post are frequently an invite to improve our way to contribute.
I don’t know why a lot of people want to be followed, BTW. Being followed is a big responsibility, and I honestly believe that I Local Guide should be aware that, once they are followed, if they contribute (like I see on many profiles) with duplicate or redundant (near duplicate) photos, or useless (and sometimes copied) reviews, the possibility to be reported is increasing on an exponential way. So I personally would check my contributions, before to complain about not having the following option on my profile
I think I know what makes people want this so much @ErmesT . People are looking for recognition, fame and attention. This is not all bad but it depends on how you want to achieve it. Are you prepared to invest time and effort or with a minimum of time by bending rules and use other peoples pictures to achieve your goal?
Thanx.
1 - I haven’t done anything private. I don’t know how those reviews became private.
2 - I always update to the latest one. So I have no idea why this discrimination for IPhone users or me.
I use a PC and Ipad and an iPhone to update the map, but not yet seen things.
@ThivHari you state: “So I have no idea why this discrimination for IPhone users or me.” I think you are wrong there. This is in no way discrimination related to Iphone and absolutely not on you. I must say that you feel mistreated and are exaggerating this whole thing.
When I first joined this program I had little idea really of the big picture however, as I had gained from the Maps reviews of others I welcomed the opportunity of being able to give back and help others through my own reviews. As time went by I learned about Connect and joined. I here learned a lot from fellow LGs and through this improved my contributions both on Maps and Connect and importantly came to realize that the points, levels, badges, likes, perks like ice cream, newspaper subscriptions, socks or whatever, while great motivators to some, are really not that important! Most if not all of these are points and hence quantity driven - more reviews leads to more points, more photos leads to more points, more likes more badges and so on. A what’s in it for me attitude rather than a contributing, helping and giving attitude to me is the wrong focus. We’ve all seen how when a Connect Live announcement is made the participation here on Connect goes off the Richter scale! Similarly, quality and not quantity should be the focus and I’ve expressed this view in a number of Connect posts. It’s a great feature of Connect that quality reviews, posts and photos are regularly featured here on Connect.
We do not post anything private. The automated checks aka AI do that job.
The program keeps on scanning the reviews and photos periodically.
A report from another user can also trigger that scan.
When the program detects even a single objectionable word, the review becomes private. Once that happens, others can’t view your contribution.
Though you continue to get credit in points from the private content, a large proportion may lead to a moratorium on that LG account.
Ideally, any private content should be zero. However, I strive to retain that within 1%.
We can edit the reviews to make that public again. However, for photos, deleting that remains the only action. Sadly, I had to delete three photos which had grabbed more than 10k views. But there is no other choice.
How to find that? The easiest way is to get hold of another device and compare the content in logged mode on one and in guest mode on the other.
Only a few can realise the benefits of voluntary contributions without expectation of any tangible returns. And then, the moment the fellows learn there are some fringe benefits, that starts a rush to grab that. Then that affects the quality.
Finally, out of frustration, some start finding how to leave the program and many others encounter a spontaneous exit through the quality checks.
The follow feature will come to you in time @ThivHari it takes a long time to reach 170 million Local Guides across the world, its likely more now as it was nearly two years ago this number was released. I don’t have it yet myself.