Hello, so I’ve been a Local Reviewer a short time, I dabble. It’s not a priority but I do it from time to time when I think I can help, or I saw something that was cool, or good. It was a practice in not only reviewing things when they were bad, really. I enjoy that practice, though sometimes a bad review is still needed. I hope my average review is positive, though.
That said, I can not for the life of me find (or google, or read, or uncover) any reason to FOLLOW Local Guides.
Recently a few people have started following me and frankly, I am trying to find out if there is some reason to do that, or If I should just quietly remove them. I didnt even know you COULD Follow people anymore, I thought that died with Google Plus, or whatever it was called. I have zero intention of attending any Local Guide events, or meetups, or etc. I might use some of the discounts from time to time, but that’s really all I intend out of the program.
Is there a REASON to keep followers? is there a reason to follow people I’m not getting?
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Your privacy should be respected.Your privacy should be respected.
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Hi @MaxwellsDeamon
Thanks for asking.
I think the following feature on Maps was introduced because a lot of Local Guides over several years requested Google Maps to be more like a social media. So this solution was probably a compromise respecting the privacy of Local Guides. Note it is still not possible to contact fellow Maps users on Google Maps.
I use it as an inspiration to see what other Local Guides are sharing on Google Maps. I think I look at Updates / Following at least once a day.
If you prefer not to have followers you can set your profile to restricted. Then you get to approve it if someone wants to follow you.
The restricted profile settings are explained here.
Cheers
Morten
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Hi @MortenCopenhagen ,
Your suggestion in the last paragraph is an excellent piece of advice to ensure personal privacy.
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Hello @MaxwellsDeamon
Please use “@” followed by the username here on connect when replying to a person or persons in particular. They get a personal notification when you do that.Notice how we tagged your username above in blue? Please do the same when replying.
It’s great to participate leisurely as you like. It’s a nice hobby for me and I contribute just for fun as well.
Maybe I should also say a warm and friendly welcome to local guides connect forum.
Seeing you are new,this reply will help you get familiar with the ropes on connect. On this forum we discuss topics like Travel, Photography, Food and Drinks, and many other topics. We also organise Meet-ups with other fellow local guides nearest to us in our geographical location.
Please endeavour to look up this posts Your Guide to Connect for more information on what topics are discussed here. Like to formally introduce yourself here? Please do so 
here on this link.
Happy guiding
Cheers
@MortenCopenhagen
That’s definitely helpful information.
I was largely surprised when I started getting follow notifications because I thought I WAS private, and had set no follow requests allowed, but maybe it didn’t save, so I’ll need to go back through.
I admit that it seems weird to me to connect with people on maps and more honestly feels like a way to stalk or find where someone lives (based on their most concentrated reviews) which is kinda unsettling.
But there absolutely are foodies and nature nuts and etc, so I guess there is a good way to find cool places following people. Will have to decide how I feel about it.
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@SholaIB I appreciate all the information and links, but if I’m being honest I only came here to get an answer to the question because nowhere else online had one, which made me think there was no good answer. I thought “maybe there is an in-community reason” , so when I found connect on accident while looking for the answer, I figured I’d ask here. I… Don’t need a pseudo-social media account for a place that’s about… Reviewing things… I don’t think… But if I change my mind I’ll have all your links ready for me!
Hello @MaxwellsDeamon
That’s OK thank you. I found connect by accident too,and I can hardly believe it,3 years ago !!! A good number of local guides came here by chance.
OK farewell then and feel free to return if you change your mind. You are welcome always.
Happy guiding
Cheers