Google Maps debuts group planning feature for friends

Google’s trying to make picking a restaurant to meet up with friends a bit easier.

The company today announced a new feature in Google Maps that allows friends to collaboratively plan a day out, all without combing through mountains of text messages and recommendations.

“Starting today, you can use Google Maps to easily plan where to go as a group,” Google wrote on its blog.

Group planning makes use of the already established shortlist feature, which allows individuals to add places to a bucket list.

“Simply long press on any place to add it to a shortlist — the small floating bubble on the side of your screen,” Google explains.

“Once you’ve added places, you can quickly share the list with your friends on any messaging platform, add or remove additional places, and vote together in Google Maps.”

Users within a list can also upvote and downvote recommendations, much like a Reddit thread. Google suggests this makes it easier for a group of people to decide on where to eat out for a birthday, or where to head over the weekend.

The feature is hitting the stable builds of Google Maps on Android and iOS this week.

Feature image: Google Maps