Google 1950 — Local services in Mountain View

From Millions to Margins: A Panoramic Photographer’s Disillusionment with Google Maps

For years, I poured my passion into panoramic photography, contributing nearly 40,000 images to Google Maps. My work—especially 360-degree shots of commercial locations—once graced the top of business listings and attracted between 1.4 to 2 million views weekly. It was more than a hobby; it was a form of immersive storytelling, a way to map the world through my lens.

But everything changed after a recent trip to China.

While abroad, I continued uploading photos and videos using a foreign IP. Upon returning to the U.S., I noticed a dramatic drop in view counts—down to just 300,000 weekly. It felt as if my entire portfolio had been fragmented, scattered across the platform like dismembered limbs. Whether this was the result of AI algorithms or manual moderation, the effect was clear: my work had been diluted, its visibility dismantled.

This shift seems to reflect Google Maps’ evolving philosophy. The term “Local Guide” now feels literal to a fault—favoring content from within a narrow geographic radius and penalizing contributions from outside that zone. The platform’s once-global spirit has shrunk into a hyper-local shell.

🧊 The Chilling of Creative Momentum

Several systemic changes have further eroded the enthusiasm of contributors:

Street View App Termination: Once a promising avenue for immersive mapping, the Street View app was quietly discontinued—much like Google Plus before it. What began as a visionary tool ended as vaporware. Follower Removal: In 2025, Google Maps eliminated the follower feature, severing the social thread that once motivated photographers to share and engage. Upload Restrictions: Contributors are now limited to uploading just 10 photos at a time. The interface redirects users to Google Photos, subtly nudging them toward paid Google One storage. Community Disillusionment: The Local Guide forums, dominated by moderators from certain regions, often feel like echo chambers of mediocrity. Original work—like my panoramic images—gets met with skepticism, even accusations of forgery.

In contrast, platforms like Facebook continue to reward engagement. Gaining followers there fuels creative momentum and validates the effort behind each shared image. Google’s recent changes, however, seem designed to suppress rather than support.

🎞️ A Passion at Risk

I’m now questioning whether panoramic photography is worth pursuing on Google Maps. What was once a vibrant, rewarding ecosystem has become fragmented and opaque. The platform’s shift from community-driven exploration to monetization and control has left many contributors—myself...

My old email id is not working and forgot password email id in same...

Good...