Like many others around the world I’ve given my feedback on regarding areas and shops on google maps. From time to time I receive notifications that I am now a certain level of local guide, that I need a some additional points to achieve a new level, that I will get some points if I add new reviews, that I can get badges etc. I searched around forums and google help pages to understand what it is for me and for all the others that contribute to their apps. Apparently there is nothing other than useless community recognition. Google however is using my data and my input to produce more profit through the map app. One could say that we benefit from the app but guess what; I can use the app without giving any feedback whatsoever. So, what’s the point?

Conclusion

It is obvious that there is some kind of community service. We provide information that the company might have to pay for. Moreover we control things that the company cannot control or that does not care to show. Nevertheless, the company makes money as a result of our reviews, our photos, our input in general. It is ridiculous that they are getting all this valuable information for free and somebody has to do something about it.