Google added a neat new feature to Maps on iPhone this week — then pulled it in under 24 hours following user outrage.
It was seemingly designed to encourage users to walk more frequently by showing how many calories they could burn on their route. But many feel the feature was shameful and judgmental, and a negative trigger for those who suffer from an eating disorder.
Google Maps has some wonderful features you won’t find in rival apps. The company is constantly working to make its service even greater. Occasionally that leads to new functionality that makes getting from A to B a little easier.
Not every function is a great idea, however. On Monday, Google updated Maps for iPhone to add a new feature that shows users how many calories they could burn by walking to their destination, as opposed to driving or jumping in a cab.
It then made those calorie counts easier to understand by telling you how they translate into desserts. For instance, a 4.5-mile walk that burns around 406 calories would be the equivalent of burning off almost four mini cupcakes.
But the feature is already dead
The feature, which only reached a small number of iPhone users, was supposed to be a test ahead of a wider rollout. But it lasted less than 24 hours. It caused so much outrage that Google was forced to issue a second update that removed it.
https://twitter.com/sosaysm/status/919743903707824128
Users felt that Google was forcing the feature upon them, and even shaming them for eating junk food. It “reinforces the idea that all exercise must be atonement for the sin of eating,” said one on Twitter, while others suggested that the feature could trigger eating disorders.
It didn’t help that Google made the feature active for everyone who received the update, and didn’t provide the option to disable. Had it been optional, and only enabled for those who specifically asked for it to be enabled, it might have been a different story.
https://twitter.com/anneoclock/status/919281584703975425
Perhaps Google will alter its approach and try the feature again. But we wouldn’t be too surprised if this one is scrapped altogether.
Via: BuzzFeed
Killian Bell is a freelance writer based in the U.K. He has an interest in all things tech and also covers Android over at CultofAndroid.com. You can follow him on Twitter via @killianbell.
27 responses to “Google forced to remove new iPhone feature following outrage”
Funny how people don’t want to know the things that actually matter.
LMAO….THIS is the world we live in people……SMH so sad
This is just sad beyond words.
wtf is wrong with this world…
eating isn’t a sin. Not exercising is the sin.
I love the idea. So remove the cup cake and just show the calories. I think if you were offended you have other problems to worry about. I would find it incentive to take the walk instead of a uber. Hoping it comes back but with a off switch for the offended liberals.
How is this a liberal issue? My heart bleeds and I think this is a great feature.
This is an apolitical issue. A stupid one, sure. But not a political one.
Seems like a good idea to me. Not letting fat people disable it is inconsiderate I suppose.
I wonder how these same people feel about nutrition labels.
ppl drive me nuts sometimes. You don’t want to be told eating cupcakes are bad but then you feel you deserve free medical treatment when you get diabetes.
Time to start an online petition demanding Google add the feature. Bring back the cupcake!
Could be an optional in the settings. That easy.
I would want a feature like that since A. I use maps alot and B. This feature would be useful for someone wanting to get in shape i.e. Me. What the heck smh
My only issue is that counting calories has been proven to be based on crap science and can only be accurate to small groups of people with similar body types and metabolic rates. Other than that, there’s no need for an outrage. I’m obese and at the least I appreciate the sentiment
iPhone owners do not care about calories burnt, but Android owners do. Hope they bring this feature to Android.
Poor social justice warriors. They cannot handle the guilt of taking Uber everywhere. Sometimes they should just STFU and add another session with their therapist.
I fat and would love this feature
Wow…some people need to grow a few layers of skin…geeez
Isn’t part of the problem that they might have too many layers of … skin? :P
Amazing, I think this was a cool add on, lets me know I’m doing something healthy. I just wish the people who are so offended by this would look up from their phone and find something that really matters to be offended by; oh I don’t know the fact you live in one of the wealthiest countries in the world but a lot of people can’t afford decent food (never mind cup cakes) and because of that a lot of decent food is thrown in the garbage. But no I’m going to use my righteous indignation against Google for showing me a fricken cup cake. Why does the Cult of Mac need to cover this?
An estimate as it may be, displaying a calorie count–and a real-world equivalent–is purely informational. For anyone to take that kind of thing as personally insulting is at least as dumb as Google’s decision to remove it entirely; it may have been cheaper to just provide a toggle.
Do they complain that Android code names are all sweets: Ice Cream Sandwich, jellybean, kit kat, nougat, Oreo, etc
Lmfao- my comment got deleted…
ironically, it’s those in middle america, the apparently non-snowflakes, that perhaps need this most. and even more ironically, if you re-read your own message, how do you interpret your very own tone as one that ‘doesn’t’ have feeling? just curious… and furthermore, if you’re a human without feeling, what are you really? isn’t that called a robot?
As someone who is overweight…this is so stupid. Why would anybody find that offensive?
This is why we can’t have nice things