Is there any sort of commonly used alternative to Google Maps reviews out there?

Jules

Is there any sort of commonly used alternative to Google Maps reviews out there? I've written a lot of reviews over there (mainly cafes, campsites and bike shops) - I do want to leave them up because they're all places I want to support and bring business to, but is there anywhere better I could be copying them to?

#EuropeanAlternatives #DeGoogle

Elisabetta

@afewbugs I have downloaded Mapy.com instead of Google Maps and I see that they allow reviews of places. But I am afraid it might still be a platform too small to make a difference. Other than that I am still looking for a valid alternative as well.

Solarpunk Davy

@afewbugs I use CoMaps when I can, but I agree, I miss a place to review places. (And read reviews)

Harald Kliems

@afewbugs Not necessarily commonly used yet, but @mangroveReviews is an open alternative to other review systems. Two ways to access it are via @MapComplete and #OpenCampingMap

Christof Damian 💙💛

@afewbugs
Someone should implement something with OpenStreetMap and ActivePub.
Having the reviews centralised is probably not a good idea any more.

Christof Damian 💙💛

@afewbugs
Clearly my idea is not original
https://community.openstreetmap.org/t/a-crowd-sourced-review-service-for-openstreetmap/136235

monstreline

@afewbugs great question, I’m interested to know as well.

GBiskup

@afewbugs I have been using @organicmaps for over a year now. The maps are downloaded locally to the device and many places are marked, while those that are not can be easily added.

boink

@afewbugs I'm afraid the way the internet has developed makes it extremely hard for independent alternatives.

Besides the usual chicken/egg problem with users and reviews you need content moderation for reviews and who's gonna pay for them if the platform doesn't generate income by generic big tech shittieness?

I mean there's Yelp, TripAdvisor etc. but are they really an improvement towards Google?

Carsten Raddatz

I want to know this too. Searaching about I find this thread https://community.openstreetmap.org/t/a-crowd-sourced-review-service-for-openstreetmap/136235 which names:
* https://lib.reviews/
* https://mangrove.reviews/
which may be a good start. Anyone reading this has an invite?

Moss Wizard

@boink @afewbugs that’s exactly the problem: all the major review sites are ruined by profit seeking and predatory abuse of the system. And why would the average searcher look at small sites that don’t have many reviews?

Jeppe Bundsgaard på Mastodon

@cdamian @afewbugs thank you for the link. Really interesting and respectful discussion. I learned a lot

matejrokos

@gilraen79 @afewbugs Mapy. com is my choice as well. I'am using it for years and it keeps getting better and better.

Elisabetta

@matejrokos good to know! I have started using it only recently but I really like it. Very nice and clean, it's nice to know that's it's still improving.

boink

@Moss @afewbugs That's what I'm rather clueless what to do here.

I can encourage people to switch to a different Messenger, annoying for all but not impossible. I can move my social media to the Fediverse, it might lack many people I want to follow but has new different faces with interesting content.

But ratings? I'm still stuck with Google here, though the business model of removing bad reviews makes it less and less reliable.

Wandering Adventure Party

Is there any sort of commonly used alternative to Google Maps reviews out there?