However, this time around the feature has been in the news for being able to spot people, even deceased loved ones.
The feature went viral when Leslie Barraza, took to her Twitter to post a 13- second screen recording of her using Google Maps Street View on Tuesday to find her late grandfather's farm in Durango, Mexico.
My grandpa passed away a few years ago. We didn’t get to say goodbye to him. Yesterday we found out google maps finally drove through his farm and as we were curious going through it, where the road ends, there is my grandpa, just sitting there. pic.twitter.com/CbwRTkCKrZ
— yajaira (@yajairalyb) January 7, 2020
Barraza and her sister were exploring the street around her grandfather’s house when they suddenly stumbled upon an image of the deceased sitting outside his home.
"My grandpa was the rock to my family," Barraza told CNN.
"He was the only father figure in my life, and to see him one last time gave me such a sense of comfort."
After Barraza’s story went viral on Twitter she received hundreds of replies from people doing the same thing and posting images of their loved ones that they found on Google Maps.
My grandpa too! Marked 8 years on December 2019 since he’s been gone pic.twitter.com/xvDIXDYwHF
— RoseBud (@RufussMom) January 8, 2020
My grandpa too! Marked 8 years on December 2019 since he’s been gone pic.twitter.com/xvDIXDYwHF
— RoseBud (@RufussMom) January 8, 2020
I randomly googled my grandma's address once last year when I couldn't stop thinking of her... this was what I saw I couldn't stop crying! My grandma was chilling in her front yard... I miss my ole gal! ❤ pic.twitter.com/1ytDswHDIO
— Kizzi J. (@KizziRock_) January 9, 2020
my great abuelo passed away last month, exactly 1 year after my great abuela also left us. to see him here walking to our old house brings back so many childhood memories pic.twitter.com/qfDIsDQoWT
— (@Buenrostrohhh) January 8, 2020
Google Maps also responded to the thread by thanking Barraza for the tweet, "It's heartwarming to see Google Maps and Street View helping so many people remember their loved ones in a special way and share their memory with the world," Ben Jose, Google Spokesperson told CNN.
Our tissue box is officially empty. Thank you for sharing this.
— Google Maps (@googlemaps) January 9, 2020
This article originally published on CNN.
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