One thing I think Google has going for is it "Guides" program. Where user get "points" for correcting mistakes, adding new places, and publishing pictures. I have been in it for a few months and it feels good to contribute.
Google then sends you a summary of how your contributions were doing. Recently they send me some E-Mail to the effect of "Awesome! Your image on <business name> has been viewed 100 thousand times!" or something like that.
It entirely turned me off the whole thing and I haven't contributed since. I thought "why am I contributing to this ad-powered product that they're monetizing for millions, for free?".
It's kind of hilarious really. If you look at their landing page the benefits you can gain include things like "...and you can also moderate our forums, for us, for free!": https://www.google.com/local/guides/benefits/
Yay!
> I thought "why am I contributing to this ad-powered product that they're monetizing for millions, for free?"
You already knew Google Maps was monetized by ads, before making an edit.
I don't think it's fair to see this as free labor for Google. Your edits to Google Maps could be related to your own business. Or you might be helping your favorite local business to get more visibility and customers.
Perhaps it can also be seen as a contribution to your neighborhood.
(disclaimer: work on maps, nothing to do with guides tho)
They never mentioned it in any of their emails, or the "newsletters" you get "access" to once you hit level 1.
Now, the grand reward (once you hit more than 500 points) is being a "trusted Google tester".
This is a joke and free work for Google. I will be contributing to OSM from now on.
Can you show me a single ad on Google Maps?
Since then I've gotten a little obsessive about specific goals, so I'm less compelled by it, but I don't think that's an inevitable aspect of aging, it's just how my personality turned out.
I don't understand. Why does working for free for multi billion dollar corporation feel good?