Viral map completely confusing the internet

News.com.au

09-06-2025

Now look what happens when you use a different projection like the Gall-Peters. This map corrects for size and shows each country in proportion to its actual land area. The result? Africa dominates the page, and suddenly Western countries look much smaller. It's a jarring reminder that the maps we trust are far from neutral. Picture: iStock
Now, Gen Z is catching on. TikTok and YouTube are full of explainer videos breaking down map distortions and exposing the truth behind why countries like Africa have been visually minimised. It's part of a wider conversation about decolonising education. Picture: TikTok/@NASDAILY
In true social media fashion, the viral issue has been turned into a meme. Picture: Reddit
Australia appears almost comparable in size to Africa on a Mercator map. In reality, it's not even close. Africa is nearly four times bigger than Australia. Picture: Supplied
Even in the digital age, the distortion lives on. Google Maps still uses Mercator projection for zoomed-out views, meaning countries far from the equator are stretched and inflated. Picture: Google Maps
There's no such thing as a perfect map because every projection distorts something. But equal-area maps like the Eckert IV projection aim to show countries in their true size, without dramatically skewing shape or scale. It's less extreme than Gall-Peters, more balanced than Mercator, and offers a clearer picture of how continents actually compare. Picture: iStock
The Equal Earth projection, introduced in 2018, is a modern attempt to balance aesthetics with size accuracy. It keeps continents in proportion without looking too unfamiliar, acting as a middle ground between Mercator and Peters. Picture: iStock
The Robinson projection is often used in atlases. It's not strictly accurate in area or shape, but it looks 'right' to many viewers, which is why it's common in schools and classrooms. Picture: iStock