Dive Brief: 

• There has been a recent uptick in the social sharing of maps, particularly Slate's food map and Vox's GMO labeling laws map. 
• Maps' popularity and value come from their ability to show a lot of information in a small space and in a visually appealing way. 
• The maps help publishers and brands increase engagement on social sites because, as Buffer reports, tweets with images receive 18 times more clicks than those without images. Maps are another visual tool to use. 

Dive Insight: 

Anyone who spends a considerable amount of time on any of the various social networks has likely noticed the trend of using maps to spread information. There could be opportunities for brands and advertisers to take advantage of readers' love of maps, as well, in sponsored and native content.