Every post upon publishing has a "created at" date-time that is the current date-time. This is perfectly fine for the vast majority of posting. However in some circumstance, it is very useful to be able to set a custom "created at" date-time in the past. Examples:
- Archival and historical context: When importing (from another service) or republishing older content, it is good practice to backdate the post to match the originally published date-time. This may provide historical context, or create an accurate timeline, making it easier for the audience to follow the evolution of a topic or story.
- Event-specific content: When publishing content related to an event that occurred in the past, backdating can align the post with the event date. This is especially relevant for recaps, reviews, or analyses of past events, ensuring they appear alongside other content related to that event.
- Maintaining posting consistency: One may want to ensure that posts appear in a specific order or maintain a consistent publishing schedule. Backdating can help fill gaps in the content calendar, especially if a scheduled publishing date was missed. It keeps content organized and presented to readers as intended.
Most post types, when being publishing, can optionally set this option, ie the precise "created at" date-time can be selected.
Note that the date-time cannot be in the future.
While post backdating offers immense flexibility, it's important to use it judiciously and ensure that it doesn't mislead or confuse the gentle reader. Transparency and accuracy are crucial, especially when backdating could impact the interpretation of information.
