Hello everybody!
Let me say a few words about me first: I like to share my pictures on Google Maps the most, partially from a bit selfish reason I guess 
It’s because I really enjoy taking pictures when I am at nice places. I love photography and visual arts in general (although I humbly admit I am no photographer). Since I am no longer on social media like Instagram or Facebook (as I find them a waste of time among other) it is rewarding for me to be able to share my pictures on Google Maps because there is a PURPOSE. Usually, I accompany my pictures with reviews of the places and ideally, with some practical tips and hints, too. The fact it can help others to decide where to go or not go gives me a satisfaction. I don’t find it a waste of time. And by the way, Google Maps emails are one of the few emails I always open and read and usually click, too. I think the Google Maps platform is great and it shows the generosity and goodness of people who dedicate their time to share their content & experiences with others for free.
Personally, I mainly use Google Maps to decide where to go and where to eat (I prefer vegan food so I find Google reviews particularly helpful). Photos, reviews and tips from fellow travelers or Local Guides have helped me tremendously many times and so this is a way for me to give back to the community. I prefer to look up photos and reviews from real people rather than relying on promotional stories from travel industry.
To elaborate on my stand on social media, I am a big fan of “social media” which have an actual purpose (just like all kinds of review sites, petition sites and so on…), but I am no longer a fan of all the major social media sites where there is a lot of irrelevant content without any purpose or any possibility to take action. You may say (and I have believed that myself until recently, too) that Twitter and LinkedIn do have a purpose but Twitter reduces everything to “short shouts” (too superficial messages which can generate a lot of “opinion” based on insufficient information…) while LinkedIn has never helped me in my professional life for over the 10 years I have been there (so, it mainly serves as a “spying tool” or “killing time” for others to see where you work or worked)… Also, you might say that Facebook or Instagram help you stay in touch with your friends but that’s just an illusion. If you want to be in touch, go meet them! Call them! Write them a personal email or send them a postcard or a letter. There are so many ways to stay in touch that are more social than those on online social media. When I was a child people just used to come for a visit without any heads up, they just rang your door bell. This is no longer our reality because we think we are connected on social media while in fact being alone, staring into a computer/mobile/tablet screen. Don’t get me wrong, the ability to socialize over the internet has overall brought a lot of good into our world, I do not deny that (!) but there are also some bad side effects (such as creating a culture of narcissism where people take hundreds of selfies and share them with the sole purpose of being “liked”). I do not appreciate many of the so called social media icons either (such as the Kardashians) who did nothing of merit and get huge following for exactly nothing. There is a certain dumbing-down effect on people that social media have brought…, creating a culture of people who follow anyone with good looks or with “likable posts” (and oftentimes dubious) that create a false idea of an idyllic lifestyles or role models. On contrary, Google Maps is a social media community with a valid (practical, useful) purpose and I like it.
Thanks for reading my story and for your content, fellow Googlers!
Greetings from Prague!
PS: If you are undecided where to go, consider my city (PRAHA in my language). I have visited many beautiful cities (and I have really enjoyed & appreciated them), among other Berlin, Wien, Rome, London, San Francisco, Brighton, Budapest, Paris, Nice, Monaco but P R A G U E is still my favorite city (and I am not that of a patriot, I promise) :-))) What I like about Prague is the fact that the center is not so big, so you can see many beautiful places in a short time, oftentimes in walkable distances. Prague is really picturesque, most buildings in the wider center are old beautiful buildings even though they are not considered being (or “listed” as) “special” (although they are protected for their historical value). Prague has also been lucky to have not been destroyed too much during the WWII. unlike, for instance, my beloved Berlin or Warsaw. Another thing worth of mentioning about Prague is the great public transport system unlike for instance in London (sorry, my beloved London) or Rome (with its many strikes; sorry my dear Rome) I was not born in Prague, I grew up in Mladá Boleslav, the city of Škoda cars but I have been living in Prague for 15 years now and I consider it my home (when visiting my hometown I feel more like a tourist, haha). And to fellow vegetarians and vegans: Although Berlin still rules the Vegan World with its number of veggie food places (and overall veggie friendliness), followed by many other wonderful cities, Prague is VERY VEGAN FRIENDLY, too! If Prague doesn’t make into the top 10 than I bet it is on 11th place. And I bet it will get into the top 10 sooner or later!
PS 2: The Czechs hate the word “Czechia”. It sounds very ugly to us and trust me, if there was a national vote, we would vote against it. Nobody uses it here, not even official authorities! It is only used abroad. Not only it sounds ugly but it creates a lot of confusion (both abroad and here) on how to pronounce it and last but not least it confuses our country with Chechnya (nothing against Chechnya but it is sad when people don’t know the “new word” and are confused what country they hearing/reading about)… I admit, “Czech Republic” is annoying because it is too formal and long but I prefer it to Czechia and I always will. In my view, the Czechlands would have been so much better (similarly to the Netherlands)… To sum it up, if you want to upset Czechs, use the word Czechia a lot :-)))