According to Bloomberg, Apple is considering implementing an advertising model in Apple Maps, allowing restaurants, stores and businesses to pay to stand out in search results. This method is similar to the advertising model on Google Maps.
The move is seen as part of Apple's strategy to expand advertising revenue on the iOS operating system, in addition to the already available ads in the App Store and Apple News.
Users' reactions on social media, especially at international forums such as Reddit, show that many people are not comfortable with this change.
Account moeka_8962 wrote: I switched to Apple Maps just because there were no ads. If Apple adds more ads, I will go back to Google immediately.
Chrisdh79 said that Apple is at risk of losing its strengths: The best part of Apple Maps is the clean experience. If the advertisement appears, that advantage will disappear.
In addition, many comments criticized Apple for going short checkpoints, questioning whether the company really needs more of this profit: Is Apple so underwhelming that it has to put the Ad on the map?
On the contrary, some opinions have more dovish views that advertising is acceptable in the current era. If the advertisement is integrated delicately, without disrupting the interface or influencing leads, this can still be considered a reasonable choice.
Advertising is just a priority search result, not a banner or a pop-up window, I think its okay, says iMacmatician.
Analysts also believe that Apple can use algorithms to ensure relevant and useful advertising suggestions, rather than just commercial ones.
With Google, Meta, and many other major platforms continuing to optimize advertising revenue, Apple may also be moving in that direction to diversify revenue.
However, the problem is how to balance business benefits and maintain user experience, especially in the context of Apple's long-standing goal of building an image that prioritizes privacy and minimalist.
The debate is not over yet, but one thing that users can see most is that with Apple Maps, what users expect most is still a consultation tool that focuses on convenience, clarity, and is not a hassle.
How Apple chooses to change and how much advertising intervention is will play an important role in retaining or losing the current loyal user base.
However, Apple may have to ensure that the advertisement does not affect the user experience, especially in the lead positioning application where the banners or intervention advertisements are easily troublesome or distractive.
