In the small town of Meningie, Australia, two residents decided to play a prank on the Google car operator. As a result of their antics, photos of their performance ended up on Google Maps, becoming a sensation.
One of the men, known as Smiley, inspired by his daughter, wanted to be featured on Google Maps Street View in a memorable way. When the Google car approached their area in September 2023, Smiley grabbed an axe and asked his neighbor for help in running away from the car.
Google was aware of the joke but chose not to censor the photos. As a result, the image shows two men, one holding an axe and the other making the popular shaka gesture.
This prank quickly became a hit on social media, generating millions of views since its publication in 2024. It set a record for the most interest in a single Street View photo.
This is not the first case of trolling Google Maps in Australia. Earlier, a teenager pretended to be dead upon seeing the Google car, which also became popular online. His TikTok video reached over 60 million views.
It is apparent that the trend of trolling Street View is thriving, and the residents of Australia are doing everything they can to have their pranks featured on the Google Maps platform.
FAQ:
Question: How did the photos of the two residents end up on Google Maps?
Answer: Two residents of Meningie, Australia, decided to play a prank on the Google car operator. One of the men grabbed an axe, and the other made the shaka gesture when the car approached their area. The photos of their performance were captured by the Google car and ended up on Google Maps.
Question: Did Google decide to censor the photos?
Answer: Despite being aware of the prank, Google chose not to censor the photos. As a result, we can see two men in the image, one holding an axe and the other making the shaka gesture.
Question: What was the response on social media to this image?
Answer: After the photo was published in 2024, this prank became a hit on social media, generating millions of views. It set a record for the most interest in a single Street View photo.
Question: Is this the first instance of trolling on Google Maps in Australia?
Answer: No, previously another teenager also attempted to prank the Google car by pretending to be dead upon its arrival. His TikTok video garnered over 60 million views.
Definitions:
– Google Maps: an online service by Google that provides maps and city plans, satellite navigation, satellite imagery, and street views.
– Google Maps Street View: a feature in Google Maps that allows for browsing panoramic views of streets and locations worldwide through spherical photo images.
Related Links:
– Google Maps: the official Google Maps website where you can access the service.
– Google Maps Help: the official Google Maps help center, containing information and tips on using the service.
The source of the article is from the blog scimag.news