This Google Maps feature is cooler (and creepier) than you think

There's one feature of Google Maps that I overlooked for a long time. Tucked away in my settings, I stumbled upon the Timeline almost by accident. Yet it had been there, quietly working away in the background, logging my every move, from the coffee shops and gas stations I visited the previous week, to the trip to Europe I took at Christmas; even the diversion that I took to gorge on fast food when my partner was away on a business trip.

Google Maps' Timeline is a digital diary of sorts that gathers information from your location history and recreates it with impressive precision. For the most part, this is remarkably convenient, as it provides access to a constantly updated archive of your life's journey, serving as a valuable source of trip data that's simply not offered by competitors like Waze. On the other hand, having all of your movements recorded is an uneasy reminder that Big Brother is always watching you and storing your information in this digital age.

The cool side of Google Maps Timeline

Reliving trips, memories, and milestones

The timeline is a truly remarkable tool when used as intended. I use it to resurrect memories I've long forgotten, like random guesthouses where I stayed on road trips, interesting places where my vehicle broke down, or scenic overlooks where I stopped to take photos. I can retrace motorcycle routes on fire roads, track hikes in the mountains, and even revisit what I did last week with surprising accuracy, as if I were flicking through a scrapbook of my life.

I like the user interface, accessible by clicking your Google account icon in the top right corner. There's a simple calendar to select a specific date, and from there you can view places, photos, and maps laid out in a way that feels intuitive and personal. I appreciate how it presents a visual, tangible representation of where I have been, providing me with deeper insights into how I live and the places I enjoy the most.

The creepy side of the Timeline

When your map knows more about you than you do

That very same precision that makes the Timeline so useful in practice also makes it a tad unnerving in principle. This feature remembers much more than just places; it also tracks your patterns. Through the Timeline, Google knows where you go to work, how long you stay there, the places you visit, where you vacation, and even your preferred dining spots. How much of this feature is designed for mapping convenience, and how much is it used for surveillance?

While Google insists that its data is privacy-focused and user-controlled, it is slightly unsettling that, for years, my devices have been compiling my movements. All of a sudden, I realized that the line between convenience and intrusion is blurred, and while I now know exactly where I've been, I've no idea of how much I unwittingly shared.

The bigger picture

Convenience, data, and the cost of being tracked

The Google Maps Timeline is a perfect metaphor for the tensions created by the digital age. We all love the convenience and instant connection that our devices afford us. However, it's hard to escape the Orwellian specter of constant observation hanging over us, whereby every swipe, tap, and text input contributes to the unseen databases that support a thriving data economy.

The stories that the Timeline tells us are as valuable to us as they are to the corporations and algorithms that feed off our data. There's no denying that digital navigation is a modern marvel that has revolutionized the way we travel, but perhaps this is enough. Maybe the additional services provided by Google are, on balance, simply not worth it?

Managing what your Timeline reveals

How to control your Timeline and potential compromises

As Google rightly states, users do have control over what data is shared with Maps, though many may not realize it. It's possible to pause location tracking, delete all or part of your history, or remove your data entirely from your account; however, this defeats the purpose of having a Timeline in the first place. There is even an option to automatically erase your data after 3, 18, or 36-month intervals by navigating to More > Location settings > Auto-delete Timeline.

Turning off location tracking also impacts other valuable services, including real-time traffic updates, photo tagging, and location-based recommendations. This is a typical trade-off between privacy and convenience that exists wherever data sharing occurs online, whether that's through subscriptions, social media, or apps like Google Maps. By understanding the settings, it's easier to strike a balance and regain control of your privacy while maintaining enough functionality.

The Google Maps Timeline: Is it really worth it?

I have long been a proponent of Google Maps, and some features unlock its true potential, including the Timeline. However, the app sits at an intersection where nostalgia, convenience, and surveillance collide. While I have no intention of stopping the use of location tracking services, I have set mine to delete my data after 18 months, as I figure this is a sufficient timeframe for the information to be beneficial.

As someone who travels often and enjoys revisiting my past, the Timeline is too valuable a service to give up just yet. However, I'm constantly aware that as long as I am tracking my location, I am compromising a large part of my privacy.