Without GPS navigation, I would likely still be disoriented. Recently, I experienced a sense of accomplishment for biking a Citi Bike from Manhattan to Brooklyn without any guidance. Having lived in New York City for almost ten years, this minor feat felt quite meaningful.

A new TikTok phenomenon amusingly showcases this truth for those who grew up relying on GPS. The trend features individuals meandering or performing a model walk while gazing at their phone, seeming lost, often accompanied by Charli XCX’s track, “Girl, so confusing.” This trend, predominantly involving women, is referred to as the Google Maps Girl trend.

The Google Maps Girl trend is a spin-off of other TikTok clips utilizing the Charli XCX song for a playful model walk. Participants move to the rhythm, then humorously pivot, as if they just realized their partner is still upset or that they left their vape behind. Like most trends, the Google Maps Girl posts can be linked back to earlier trends. We’re all building upon the digital landscape that came before us.

I can personally identify with the concept of wandering around, fixated on my phone’s map.