Google blocks some of my reviews/photos... why ?

Google Maps tips & tricks
1

It’s not obvious, because You can still see those reviews/photos. But it seems no one else can because the number of views are a fraction of my other photos.
This can be easily verified with another google account. About 10% of my reviews are not visible to others.

iirc, I asked the google bot why it was blocked – AFAIK, I did not violate any of their terms – and did not get a satisfactory answer.

This was so demoralizing, that I pretty much stopped stopped reviews at Google :worried:

Anyone else have/noticed this issue ?

Did you ever get a satisfactory answer from Google?

10 Likes
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Hey!!!

@DaveChia

Don’t worry…

I think google don’t block your reviews, and photos… ( if your given contribution is genuine and true) …

Due to Covid-19 effect, it affects lots of business, so google decided to close some business temporary closed…

And It’s also affect to the contribution… Many local guides reviews, and photos disappear and sudden loss in contribution… But after that slowly contribution back and I hope may be your given contribution will be back.

see this…

(1) Covid-19 Update

(2)And also check where your content may appear…Check This…

(3) Must follow Content Contribute Policy… (Google Maps)

Contributions must be based on real experiences and information. Deliberately fake content, copied or stolen photos, off-topic reviews, defamatory language, personal attacks, and unnecessary or incorrect content are all in violation of our policy.

Google Maps reserve the right to disable user generated contributions. …

You also see that your contribution delayed…in google Maps… (Effect of covid-19)

So,don’t worry…

Keep Contributing!!!

After that your review, photos and contributions automatically Back up and become normal…

And your actual contributions also

Appear…

Keep patience for sometime…

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Hello @DaveChia

Out of 40 reviews posted by you, three are private. Thus, even though you are right in saying 10%, the quantum is minuscule.

Nevertheless, a review can become private if it is not conforming to the Maps user-contributed content policy as here

https://support.google.com/contributionpolicy/answer/7422880?hl=en

The check is automated and that searches for objectionable words.

Further, the review can become private if some user raises an objection.

Nevertheless, you can always edit a private review by removing the objectionable content.

One user has reported that the use of routine colloquial words which are slangs as per the dictionary definition can also make a review private.

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Hi @DaveChia

In addition to @C_T 's fine reply I would like to add that your reviews of businesses that stop existing could also explain why some of your reviews (and pictures) are no longer publicly available. So we can’t expect 100 pct of our reviews to last forever.

Cheers

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I spend time making sure my reviews are accurate and easily understandable. I don’t appreciated it when they are blocked with NO reason given. NO idea which objectionable words I was supposed to remove.

Same with the pix I upload. iirc, A couple of pix blocked were screenshots of Speed Test results to show how regularly and horribly slow the WiFi was at a location. To prove that my review is true and without exaggeration.

Google should Automatically tell us if Any of our content/reviews/pix are blocked, WHY, and what needs to be done to make it acceptable.

PS - This post about my blocked reviews has nothing to do with the virus.

1 Like