Did you know that Google Maps can suggest that you add a stop along the way as an advertisement or sponsored route along the way? It pops up as you are driving and asks you if you want to "Add stop" or "Cancel."
Anthony Higman was driving using Google Maps and the "add stop" ad popped up as he was headed to his destination. He wrote on X, "Yo, check out this wild new ad format on the Google Maps app." He said he "put in directions down the shore and then when I passed this gas station this Royal Farms ad popped up with "add stop." He added that he "didn't type anything in about gas or food or anything."
Here is the ad format:
Have you seen this ad format before?
Forum discussion at X.
Update: Google's Ads Liaison responded on X saying, "Hi Anthony, Promoted pins in navigation are not new - they let people see relevant ads for businesses like gas stations, restaurants, and stores along their route. To avoid driver distraction, these ads do not pop up, expand only if they’re tapped on, and disappear quickly after a short time."
Sure, I've seen promoted pins before and this "add stop" feature in Waze but I have not seen it in Google Maps.
