Make plans with your friends using this new Google Maps feature

Plan your next adventure with buddies using Google Maps' innovative feature

Let's be honest, group chats can be a pandemonium, especially when you're coordinating plans. The barrage of notifications, diverted conversations, and missed messages make them more hassle than help. Yet, group texts remain the go-to for planning activities. Fear not, Google Maps has introduced a solution to this conundrum by enabling users to collaborate, make plans, and decide on activities without even leaving Maps. Read on to learn how to utilize this feature to your advantage.

How to collaborate on group plans using Google Maps

During a recent event, Google Maps Product Director Amanda Leicht Moore unveiled the potential of the platform by detailing various tips in a blog post. This post mainly emphasized current features like locating the cheapest petrol and avoiding toll roads. However, an updated list feature now gives users the opportunity to collaborate on shared lists, offering an alternative to the group text chaos.

To initiate a shared list in Google Maps:

1. Select a starting point in Google Maps and click Save to add it to your list.
2. Click (+) New List, provide a name for your list (e.g., "Saturday Getaway"), and tap Invite Collaborators to share it with your group.
3. Invited users will receive a collaboration link on their Google Maps page, which they can click to join.

Within the group, collaborators can suggest activities and points of interest by adding them to Google Maps. Each suggestion will be tagged with the person who added it, allowing others to understand why a particular location was chosen. Users can also share their thoughts on each location by voting via emojis, like indicating 'yes' or 'no' to a specific location.

Moore mentioned the rollout of this enhanced feature for global use on both iOS and Android platforms within the near future.

Google Maps' upgraded list feature now empowers multiple users to collaborate on shared lists, offering an alternative to the tedious group text messages. At the November 12 event, Google Maps Product Director Amanda Leicht Moore showcased this feature in her blog post, 15 Tips for the app.

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To use this feature, simply:

1. Open the Google Maps app on your device.
2. Tap on the "Saved" tab at the bottom of the screen. Add a new list if one isn't available.
3. Search for a place you want to add to the list, tap on it, and save it.
4. Share the list with others using their email, a link, or a messaging app.
5. Grant permissions for others to edit or view the list, and collaborate using emojis.

With this feature, coordinating plans with your group just got a whole lot easier.