The Hook
We’ve all been there: you’re starving, you open Google Maps to check out a new pizza place, and instead of seeing a crispy crust, you’re greeted by a close-up of a stranger’s tonsils or a blurry family reunion at table five.
We love your smile, truly—but does it belong on a business listing? Today, I want to talk about why “putting a face” to your review might actually be doing more harm than good for the community. Let’s dive into the world of selfies on Maps: why they happen, why they shouldn’t, and what the rules actually say.
“I was here, and I want to prove it!”
“I was here, and I want to show you.” What better way than to show my face, my kids’ faces, my family, or my friends, to prove that yes, I was really there!
I was at that restaurant, that museum, that beach, in front of a monument, or that breathtaking view. In short: I was there. We all agree on this, don’t we? You go on vacation, you take a ton of photos - fantastic memories, indelible moments that you want to share with everyone. So, what’s better than posting them?
- On Instagram? Absolutely!
- On Facebook? Of course, why not, maybe with a few words added.
- On Google Maps? No! Please, just don’t do it.
Put yourself in the user’s shoes
Try for a moment to imagine being a Google Maps user instead of the author of the photos. You want to go to a restaurant or visit a museum, and you search for the place on Google Maps to see what the dishes look like or what the atmosphere is like. You do this thanks to the content published by Local Guides like you and I.
But instead of seeing the food, you see my face, maybe with a glass in my hand. You see my wife smiling, my friends making faces, or kids playing. You don’t know me, you don’t know who I am, and frankly, tonight you just want to have dinner and you’re trying to decide where to go.
Do you like what you see? Or do you find yourself thinking: “Google Maps is not a vacation album!”
Don’t get me wrong, I take selfies too. Not as well as my friend Luigi, but I do it. I simply don’t publish them on Google Maps. If I want to share them with my friends, I create an album on Google Photos and share it with them there.
Below you can see two photos of (and the) Puccini statue in Lucca. On the left, a selfie with @JaneBurunina in front of the statue. On the right, a photo of the Puccini statue. “He didn’t ask for a selfie either, he just wanted to be admired!”
A Note on Privacy (The Pro Tip)
Beyond the “usefulness” factor, there is a much more serious side to this: Privacy. Google Maps is a public, indexed platform. When you upload photos of your children, your friends, or even strangers in the background, you are putting their faces out there forever. Even if they are your own kids, Maps isn’t a secure family album. Protecting the privacy of minors and respecting the personal space of others is what separates a casual user from a true Local Guide.
Refreshing our memory: The Policies
Some might argue: “I understand it might not be ideal to post selfies or group photos on Maps, but who says it’s against the rules?”
Well, it’s time to refresh our memory. If you read the official policies at https://support.google.com/maps/answer/10357321, you will find:
“Keep it useful: Make sure the photo is at the correct location, is not a selfie, and may help someone understand what the place you’re reviewing. Avoid submitting similar or duplicate photos.”
So, on Google Maps, to say “I was here,” please publish high-quality images of the places you visit and write reviews that share your personal and original experience. This will be much more useful for you and everyone else than just “showing your face.”
Of course, there are also “faces” that deserve to be on Google Maps. Below you’ll find some of the ones I’ve added.
Some are famous, others less so, so I’ve listed them below.
- Fearless Girl by Kristen Visbal, facing the New York Stock Exchange
- “The Eternal City” (1934–37) by American artist Peter Blume. MoMA museum - NY
- Street Art by Alice Pasquini (also known as AliCè), Mural Project
- “Echo of a Scream” by Mexican muralist David Alfaro Siqueiros. MoMA museum - NY
- Jeannette (IV), a bronze sculpture created by artist Henri Matisse. MoMA museum - NY
- MamaRay (2020) by artist Wangechi Mutu. Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Sculpture Garden - NY
The Mic Drop
At the end of the day, Google Maps is a tool for discovery, not a gallery for vanity. When we strip away the selfies, we leave room for what really matters: the atmosphere, the food, and the authentic soul of the places we visit.
Next time you’re about to hit “upload” on that celebratory group shot, ask yourself: Is this helping a stranger decide where to eat, or am I just showing off my tan? Keep your memories for your friends, and your best photography for the world.
Selfies? No thanks!
Special thanks to those who put their faces on this post: @KarenVChin , @JaneBurunina , @Stella2
This post is part of the “Local Guide Tips” series. Previous post: Is Two Always Better Than One? The Most Common Photo Violation on Google Maps
accessibility features.
. I’ve been taking the same approach, helping our community understand the ‘why’ behind the rules. I’ve realized that simply asking people not to do something doesn’t move the needle; they need to see the practical impact. 
! I’ve started explaining that while we love seeing our friends’ smiles, someone looking for a wheelchair 
