- Apple is apparently considering inserting ads in its Apple Maps -App
- This would mirror a step that Google Maps has taken and similar rivals
- It may result in a much worse user experience
Apple Maps was a buggy mess when it was first launched, but in the years since it has become a real rival to Google Maps, and without a doubt it surpasses in some areas. But there is mumbling that it could soon adopt one of Google Maps’ worst features, and it has made me worried about its future.
That’s because Bloomberg journalist Mark Gurman believes Apple is considering inserting ads into the Apple Maps app. This may mean that some places are pushed to the top of the search results in the app, where an example is a local wendys that topped the list when searching for ‘fries’ simply because it paid to be announced in this way .
Apple Maps wouldn’t be the first Apple app to come with built-in ads. The shares, news and the App Store apps already contain ads, and the company is pushing further into the advertising company with its expanding sports coverage.
This is also not the first time Apple has been looking to insert ads into Apple Maps. Gurman reported back in 2022 that the company looked at ways to integrate advertising into its navigation app, even though there was little out of this. Now it seems that Apple is returning to the idea in a more serious way.
Degrading your search results
A trait like this adheres to craw for a series of reasons. As an Apple user, I already pay a prize for hardware, so it feels to be served ads on top of it feels like I’m nickel-and-dimeed. In addition to that, Apple is one of the most valuable and profitable businesses in the world – does it really need to detract from the user experience to push even more money into its boxes?
I take a little comfort knowing that Apple is far more engaged in users’ privacy than Google is. Apple takes certain steps to protect the information about people using the Maps app, such as assigning you a random identifier that lasts only in the duration of your session, making it impossible for Apple or a hacker to get a complete image of someone’s travel. It makes me feel that Apple would at least deal with users’ privacy stricter if it should bring ads to Apple Maps.
But it doesn’t overcome my biggest problem with seeing ads in a mapping app. Apps like this are not only used for route planning – they are used to find attractions and restaurants in your nearby area. You may want to find the best eatery near you, but if certain locations are promoted to the top of the pile because they paid for the privilege, you could be pushed towards a subordinate place and miss a few shiny greenbacks. In other words, the rules of the game are skewed away from the really best results and against them with the deepest pockets.
If I use an app like Apple Maps to find local attractions, I don’t want my screen to be crowded with questionable options when something better can end up being pushed out of sight. And while I assume Apple will respect users’ privacy based on its past behavior, it is not a guarantee that the company will be quite so careful when serious money is on the field.
I assume that the good news is that I have become so used to ignoring ads that I have already conditioned myself to roll right past them in search results. But if Apple handles this step badly, I may need to start looking for an alternative app.
