Google Maps Testing New Pop-Up Ad Feature
Google Maps is testing a new feature that could potentially be quite annoying for users. Anthony Higman, a Google Maps user, recently posted on X about his experience with a never-before-seen pop-up ad while driving near Atlantic City, New Jersey. The ad was for a nearby Royal Farms gas station and appeared with the option to “Add Stop” to the user’s route. Higman noted that he did not input any information related to gas or food into the app and questioned what kind of ad format this was.
This new pop-up ad feature seems to be an experiment by Google Maps. It launches a sponsored ad for a nearby business without being prompted and provides buttons to either “Cancel” or “Add Stop.” According to 9to5Google, this ad format is also used in Google’s Waze app. However, seeing these ads while driving can be seen as aggressive and intrusive.
Google Maps has already incorporated sponsored content into its platform, such as highlighting sponsored businesses on maps and search results when users search for nearby locations. However, the sudden appearance of sponsored ads while driving is a new concept that Google is testing. The ad disappears after a few seconds if users do not interact with it, but expands if tapped.
This new ad format may be based on a memo that Google sent to advertisers stating that they are launching ads on Google Maps to help advertisers get more leads. The initial launch is limited to the iOS version of the Google Maps app. It is still unclear whether this feature is being tested with a limited number of users or if it will be rolled out to a larger audience in the future.
In conclusion, Google Maps is testing a new pop-up ad feature that has sparked both curiosity and frustration among users. While it is not uncommon for Google Maps to display sponsored content, this new format of ads appearing while driving is a departure from the norm. Whether or not this feature becomes a permanent part of the app remains to be seen, but it is clear that Google is exploring new ways to monetize its popular navigation platform.