MapQuest’s app surges to No. 1 in Navigation after refusing to rename Lake Ontario
MapQuest experienced a massive surge in app downloads after publicly refusing to comply with a presidential executive order to rename Lake Ontario. The company's stance on geographic naming conventions resonated with users, leading to a top-ranking position in app stores.
Why it matters
This demonstrates how corporate defiance of political mandates can drive brand loyalty and viral growth in the digital economy.
MapQuest stood up to President Donald Trump, and now its app is reaping the rewards.
The “OG of online mapping,” as the company calls itself, announced on Thursday that it would not change the name of Lake Ontario on its maps to Lake America, despite Trump’s executive order directing the U.S. Department of the Interior to update the lake’s name in the U.S. geographic naming service. As a result, MapQuest’s mobile app downloads soared, sending the iOS app to the No. 4 position on the U.S. App Store’s Top Charts for apps (not including games) as of Monday morning on the U.S. east coast.
MapQuest also reached the No. 8 position overall in the U.S. App Store across both apps and games, and it became the No. 1 Navigation app in the United States.
In Canada’s App Store, the app reached No. 2 overall as of Sunday evening.
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