Perplexed by WordPress? Remove Dates to Improve User Experience

WordPress is a powerful CMS, but its default configuration is not for everyone. One commonly cited issue is the automatic posting of dates on each post, which can detract from the overall user experience. Fear not – removing dates from your WordPress site is a fairly simple process that can improve your site’s shareability and visual appeal.

Why Remove Dates from Your WordPress Posts?

There are several benefits to removing dates from your WordPress posts:

• Your content will always look fresh, even if it was created some time ago.
• Your posts are more shareable, as readers may be put off by posts that are obviously out of date.
• Your site’s design will be less cluttered, as dates can take up valuable space and distract from your content’s visual appeal.

How to Remove Dates from Your WordPress Posts

There are several methods you can use to remove dates from your WordPress posts:

Method 1: Remove Dates with a Plugin

This is the easiest method if you don’t have coding experience.

WP-PostRatings

1. Install the WP-PostRatings plugin from the WordPress plugin repository.
2. Go to the “Settings” page, then click on “WP-PostRatings.”
3. Scroll down to the “Templates” section and click on “post-ratings.”
4. Remove the following code from the “post-ratings” template: <?php if(function_exists('the_ratings')) { the_ratings(); } ?>
5. Save your changes.

WP-Polls

1. Install the WP-Polls plugin from the WordPress plugin repository.
2. Go to the “Settings” page, then click on “WP-Polls.”
3. Click on the “Poll Archive” tab and select “Blank template.”
4. Remove the following code from the template: <small><?php the_time('j M Y'); ?></small>
5. Save your changes.

WP-PostViews

1. Install the WP-PostViews plugin from the WordPress plugin repository.
2. Go to the “Settings” page, then click on “WP-PostViews.”
3. Click on the “Template” tab and select “Custom template.”
4. Remove the following code from the custom template: <div class="postviews"> <?php echo the_views();?> </div> <div class="postmetadata"> <?php the_time('F jS, Y'); ?> <?php _e('by','wp_postviews'); ?> <?php the_author_posts_link(); ?> <?php edit_post_link(__('Edit','wp_postviews'));?></div>
5. Save your changes.

Method 2: Remove Dates with CSS

You can use CSS to hide the date from your WordPress posts.

1. Go to the “Appearance” menu, then click on “Customize.”
2. Click on the “Additional CSS” option.
3. Insert the following code: .entry-meta .posted-on { display:none; }
4. Save your changes.

Method 3: Remove Dates with a Child Theme

This is the most permanent method, but requires more advanced coding skills.

1. Create a child theme.
2. In your child theme directory, create a new file called “functions.php.”
3. Insert the following code into the file:
   <?php function my_sp_remove_date() { remove_action( 'genesis_entry_header', 'genesis_post_info', 12 ); } add_action( 'genesis_before_entry_content', 'my_sp_remove_date' );?>
4. Save your changes.

The Bottom Line

Removing dates from your WordPress posts can improve your site’s usability and shareability. Whether you choose to use a plugin, CSS, or a child theme, the process is relatively straightforward and can be accomplished with just a few steps.