After reading several Questions, and several Answers, about our privacy on Google Maps, I wanted to go a bit in Deep, trying to clarify the confusion about a so sensitive subject.
I am using the word “confusion” because actually the help pages in Google Maps about this subject are not completely updated. For this reason I am tagging @KlaudiyaG here, to escalate the issue to the team.
It is only a matter of graphic? No, absolutely no. There is a very specific moment, in the evolution of Google Maps, during which the Profile went from “Hidden” to “Restricted”. On that moment, a new function was added in Google Maps: Followers. The pilot was announced at Connect Live '19, on November 2019 (Discover new places with help from top Local Guides ) and extended to more Countries / Areas on January of this year (Discover even more places on Google Maps ).
This amazing function, the possibility to “follow”, and for many “to be followed” on Google Maps, changed completely the concept of privacy. Obviously, it does’n make any sense to follow a Local Guide who is hiding the profile but, what happen if you have already some follower, and you decide to change the privacy of your profile?
To clarify this point, I will divide the explanation in two part
Pre-Followers - The situation was very simple, clearly represented by the graphic that we still have on the Desktop (HTML) version of Google Maps, on the left on my image: “This user hasn’t uploaded any photos / written any reviews yet or has chosen not to display them” Clear and linear. “Has chosen not to display them”. On the help page on Google Maps (Manage your Maps profile ) the procedure is explained very clearly. This setting is possible only on Mobile, and the procedure is exactly the same on Android, iPhone or iPad
- On your -------- phone or tablet, open the Google Maps app
- Tap Contribute > View your profile > Profile settings
- Under “Profile settings,” turn on Show contributions on your profile.
The last step described above is no longer available, and Post-Followers, has been replaced by what you can see on the next screenshot
Post-Followers, if you want to protect your privacy (using what was called an hidden profile) you will have to put to ON the “Restricted Profile” switch.
When your profile is “Restricted”, “You will have to Approve new followers before they can see your reviews, photos, and public lists on your profile”
Once you accept the new follower, the follower will be able to see all your contributions in reviews, photos, and public lists.
This make sense, but you should be aware that, even if your setting is for a “Restricted Profile”, your followers will be able to see your contributions.
All the “Post-Followers” part in not actually on the help page. The missing content, in addition to two different graphics, can create a lot of confusion on the users.
I hope this will clear up many people’s doubts, and I hope, of course, that the help page will be fixed soon