Now, Google Maps lets you manage public profile data, contributions
Continuing the effort to give users full control over their data, Google has added a new 'profile management' feature into Maps. The capability lets you manage your public profile and take control of all the information - from name to contributions - that other parties could access about you while using Maps. Here's all you need to know about the new feature.
First, you should know about information in Maps' profiles
Google Maps' core function is driven by user contributions - the reviews, ratings, photos, videos, and answers (among other things) that people provide to rate places. These public contributions, along with your name and bio, make up a part of your Google Maps profile, which can easily be accessed by clicking on usernames appearing with place reviews in Maps.
Now, Google is offering an option to manage this profile
To help users take a look and manage the contributions they have been making for years, Google has introduced a new "your profile" section in the side menu of Maps app. The option, as the name suggests, is used to access your Maps profile, letting you see all the reviews and ratings you have given to places and edit/delete them if needed.
You can change your profile image/bio, manage privacy settings
Along with letting you edit/delete existing contributions, the profile section will also let you change your profile name, image, bio and privacy controls. You could, for instance, turn off contributions, which will keep your future reviews, photos, and other public posts from showing up in your profile. Plus, there will also be an option to hide your profile from the businesses you follow.
You can also manage location data
Among other things, the settings of your profile section will let you turn location history on/off as well as provide the option to delete all location history permanently or on the basis of a select time period.
Android users can now access this feature
That said, it's a server side update, which means it may take some time to appear on your phone. Also, do note that there is no word on when the capability would be rolled out for Google Maps on iOS. Of late, Google has been making a lot of privacy-centric changes in Maps.
