On Google Street View the good, the bad, and the ugly are frozen in time to remind us of the past, and this new trend is showing it.
Google’s Street View has been a source of funny, bizarre, and sometimes even spooky shots, revealing people in their daily lives and even capturing crime scenes.
A new trend on TikTok offers a nostalgic trip down memory lane by showcasing old Street View photos. Depending on the location, the archive can date back to the late 2000s. The service was first introduced in some of US cities in 2007.
Some people might use this feature to revisit their childhood neighborhoods that no longer exist, while others might explore how their neighborhood changes across seasons or observe the transformation of important landmarks over time.
Others whose relatives are caught by the camera of the Google Maps car passing by might relive the moments even long after they pass away.
“Somewhere on Google Maps, it’s August 2011, and my grandpa is out gardening with a smile on his face only a few months before passing away at 90,” says one of the videos hashtagged for this trend.
@pastyjakesta I think we should all get to go back. #googleearth #googlemaps #googlemapstrend #childhood #nostalgia ♬ childhood - daniel.mp3 & Zamaro
“Somewhere on Google Maps in 2009, my mom is still alive frozen in time in her little barber shop cutting hair,” shows another video.
Apart from nostalgia for the old times, some users are sharing less bright memories. “When you grew up in chaos, and even Google Maps picked it up,” notes the other video showing the police raid on the suburban house.
@katt062095 #fyp #cops #googlemaps #2009 ♬ original sound - noaidenno
How to check the Google Street View archive?
1. Open Google Maps and search for any address that works with Street View.
2. Click the ‘Street View’ icon near the bottom of the page (it should be a small thumbnail showing the current Street View photo).
3. On the desktop, in the top-left corner of the Street View page, you'll see a widget that shows the current address and the date. Click the ‘See More’ dates link. If on mobile, open Street View in full screen and tap into the picture to find the See more dates link.
4. This opens a panel at the bottom of the page. Scroll through the available dates and select a photo to view it.
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