The world, right now

Why check the time first

Messaging someone at 3 a.m. their time is not a disaster, but it changes the conversation. Knowing whether they are at lunch, on a commute or asleep helps you pick the right opener. "Good morning" lands much better when it actually is.

How the list works

The clock for each city comes from your own device, so it is always accurate and nothing is sent anywhere. Cities are sorted so the ones closest to midday come first, and the label says whether people there are probably awake. "Probably asleep" just means it is between 11 p.m. and 7 a.m. there. Night owls exist everywhere.

Picking a good time to write

If you want a quick reply, aim for the other person's evening, roughly 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. Most people are free then and in a chatty mood. Mornings and lunch hours are usually busy, and the middle of the night is best avoided unless you already know they keep late hours.