Alexis Kestler
Have you ever wondered what time that hilarious Instagram meme or adorable pet photo was actually posted? As a tech geek and social media expert, I totally get the appeal of finding the exact timestamp of an Instagram post.
While Instagram only shows you a rounded timestamp like "2 hours ago", there‘s a secret way to uncover the precise date and time any post was shared. In this comprehensive guide, I‘ll share how to find the exact timestamp on Instagram by inspecting the post‘s code – no hacking skills required!
By the end, you‘ll know how to verify event times, analyze posting patterns, and satisfy your curiosity about when a post went live. So let‘s dig into the details…
Why Uncover the Exact Timestamp?
Here are some of the main reasons for finding the precise timestamp of an Instagram post:
Confirm Timelines and Settle Disputes
Was that selfie posted before or after the big event? Did your friend share their news before you shared yours? Seeing the exact timestamps can settle those "who posted first" disputes. No more wondering if a post went up right before or after something happened!
Verify Event Details
From viral videos to breaking news, the Instagram timestamp can help verify the timing of events and posts. Rather than relying on fuzzy estimates, you can pinpoint the details.
Analyze Usage Patterns
As a social media analyst, I often chart posting patterns – things like frequencies, best times, and more. The exact timestamp allows me to closely analyze when other users or brands post and make data-driven recommendations.
Record Keeping
For influencer reporting or social media records, the precise timestamp provides accurate details rather than estimates. This can be useful for legal matters, financial records, analytics, and more.
Satisfy Your Curiosity
Let‘s be honest – we‘ve all wondered about the specifics of when something was posted. Uncovering the exact timestamp satisfies the inner tech geek‘s curiosity!
While the rounded timestamps Instagram displays get the job done most of the time, sometimes you need to dig into the details. Read on to see how it‘s done!
Limitations of Instagram‘s Timestamp Display
Instagram primarily shows two types of fuzzy timestamps that lack precise details:
Relative Timestamps
For posts within the past week, you‘ll see a relative timestamp like:
- "3 minutes ago"
- "1 hour ago"
- "4 days ago"
These are rounded to the nearest minute, hour, or day. There‘s no way to see the exact second a post went live.
Simplified Dates
For posts more than a week old, Instagram simplifies the date:
- "February 15"
- "November 24, 2019"
No exact time is shown – just the day and year.
While these fuzzy timestamps are helpful for a general idea, they lack the specifics us tech geeks crave. Let‘s look at how to uncover what‘s behind the curtain.
Digging into the Code to Find the Exact Timestamp
The secret to finding a post‘s exact timestamp is inspecting the HTML code behind the scenes. Here‘s a step-by-step walkthrough:
Step 1: View the Post on Desktop
First, pull up the post on Instagram.com in any desktop browser:
The developer tools we‘ll use in the next steps only work on the desktop site – the mobile site and Instagram app won‘t allow inspecting code.
You can get to the post URL directly or search for it once logged in to Instagram.
Step 2: Right Click the Timestamp and Inspect
Next, right click on the relative timestamp shown below the post:
In the right-click menu, select Inspect. This will bring up the developer tools panel.
Step 3: Copy the Timestamp From the <time> Element
In the developer tools panel, look for the <time> tag in the code:
Double click to highlight the full timestamp inside the datetime attribute, and copy it (Ctrl/Cmd + C on Windows and Mac).
This raw timestamp will look something like:
2022-07-19T15:24:41.000Z
We‘re almost there! Next we‘ll convert this to a human readable timestamp.
Step 4: Convert to Readable Timestamp
The last step is converting that raw timestamp into a format we can understand.
I like to use Cogitolearning‘s UNIX Timestamp Converter for this. Just paste the copied timestamp and it will convert to a readable date and time.
For the example timestamp above, it would convert to:
Tue, 19 Jul 2022 23:24:41 GMT
And there we have it – you can now see the exact date and time the Instagram post was shared!
The converter shows the time in GMT, but you can convert it to your local timezone. As a tech geek, I think this timestamp format is super cool.
The entire process takes less than a minute once you get the steps down. Let‘s look at some common questions next.
FAQs About Instagram Timestamps
Here are answers to some frequently asked questions about finding timestamps on Instagram:
How can I see what time an Instagram photo was taken?
The timestamp shows when the photo was posted on Instagram, not when it was originally taken. To find the original photo date, you‘d need to check the metadata with a tool like Photoshop.
Does Instagram have advanced search filters for date posted?
Unfortunately Instagram does not let you search or filter posts by timestamps or dates posted directly within the app. The only way get the timestamp is by inspecting the post‘s code.
Can I see exact timestamps in my Instagram archive data?
Nope – the Instagram archive download only provides simplified dates without exact timestamps. The code inspection trick is still required to find timestamps.
Does this work on private Instagram posts and profiles?
Yep! As long as you‘re logged into an account with access to view the private profile or post, the timestamp inspection works the same.
What about Instagram Stories – can I see exact timestamps?
Instagram Stories also lack exact timestamps, but you can see the date Stories were posted in your Story Archive. Just go to your profile, tap the three lines menu, then Story Archive > Calendar View.
And that covers the key questions around inspecting Instagram timestamps!
Closing Thoughts on Uncovering Exact Timestamps
As a tech nerd, I love finding hidden details like exact timestamps that aren‘t visible at first glance. A few simple Developer Tool steps expose the timestamp hidden in Instagram‘s code.
The ability to verify event timelines, analyze posting patterns, settle disputes, satisfy curiosity, and more is super valuable. While it takes a few extra clicks, uncovering the specific data points is worth it.
Hopefully this guide has shown you how discovering the exact timestamps is possible without any fancy hacking tools – just good ole‘ fashioned web page inspection.
So next time you come across an interesting Instagram post, go ahead and find out the precise time it was shared! Getting into those technical details lets the inner geek shine.
