Understanding Google's review date

Google reviews often have vague timestamps and present review dates in relative terms, such as "3 days ago" or "2 weeks ago," making it difficult to know the exact date a review was posted. This lack of precision can pose a problem when analyzing historical reviews for specific timeframes, which can sometimes feel like navigating a maze.

In this article, we will tackle Datashake's approach in working with this limitation.

Consider this scenario: It's currently the 21st of February, 2024, exactly 02:10:55. Now, let's delve into the mechanics of deciphering the time references in Google reviews.

1. "3 days ago" - If a review indicates "3 days ago," the date supplied would be 18/02/2024 02:10:55. Subtract three days from the current timestamp, and you have your date.

2. "2 weeks ago" - For a review dated "2 weeks ago," subtracting 14 days (2 x 7 days) from the current timestamp gives us 07/02/2024 02:10:55. This calculation brings us exactly two weeks back in time.

3. "2 months ago" - Here, it gets a bit trickier. Subtracting two months from the month value (and adjusting the year if necessary) while retaining the same date gives us 12/21/2023 02:10:55. If the month doesn't have that exact date, the nearest date of that month is used.

4. "a year ago" - If the review states "a year ago," subtracting one year from the current year maintains the same date down to the second, resulting in 21/02/2023 02:10:55.

Essentially, the process involves subtracting the specified time period from the current timestamp while keeping all other components intact.

To summarize the points above:

"3 days ago" translates to 18/02/2024 02:10:55.
"2 weeks ago" translates to 07/02/2024 02:10:55.
"2 months ago" translates to 12/21/2023 02:10:55, adjusting dates if necessary.
"a year ago" translates to 21/02/2023 02:10:55.

While getting the exact dates for Google reviews may be a challenge due to Google's date rendering practice, our approach ensures consistency and reliability in approximating the dates. By adhering to this approach, we strive to provide accurate insights into the timeline of reviews, helping you make informed decisions based on reliable information.