TIL: How to find the time a photo was shared on Instagram
While searching for social media photos shared from Baltimore today (using Gramfeed), I was trying to work out the exact time pictures were uploaded to Instagram.
I realised the time a photo is shared on Instagram is recorded in the embed code.
For example, the embed code gives me the local time from the location from which I am viewing the image (actually it’s in GMT so my local time of British Summer Time minus one hour). It also gives PDT (US west coast).
datetime=“2015-04-27T23:27:32+00:00”>Apr 27, 2015 at 4:27pm PDT</time>
In this case I used the 4.27pm PDT time and added three hours to get 7.27pm ET.
I was able to create a social media timeline using the time information.
Remember, the meta data relates to upload information so in this case the time shared rather than the time the photo was taken. This is also true of location. I created a map to include in WSJ’s main story using SAM Desk (a social media asset management tool) and then worked to verify the images by cross referencing with landmarks and buildings with Google Street View.
I discovered that the images on the map were generally a block or so away from the locations where they were shot. I imagine people were taking photos and then either pulling back or continuing for a block or two before sharing. I therefore held back from including the map and used SAM’s slideshow option instead.
