Is it better to send a birthday message in the morning?

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My mum was saying that sending birthday messages in the morning is more sincere to show you took the time to remember. All very well if it's on a weekend and I feel free to post it immediately after seeing the Facebook reminder. But on a work day, if I am not free at lunch, I will only be free in the evening. I also wonder if people will wonder why I am posting on their wall during office hours and not lunch in the day. Personally, I am not too bothered about when I get a birthday message as long as the person took the time to send me one. Is it just me? Thanks.

Personally, I don't think it matters.

But it might matter to other people, for unknown reasons (to me).

I would send the greetings in the morning, just in case.

But I wouldn't obsess about it should you send the greeting out in the afternoon, instead.

If people can't understand that not everyone can just get on social media any time they feel like it, that's their problem. Many people (myself included) have erratic work hours and work weekends and holidays. Most people will be glad you took the time to say something when you could. It seems like people should be more appreciative if you only have a small or specific window in which to post and you made sure to use it for them.

Also, unless you have your boss on Facebook (or peering over your shoulder) nobody will care that you posted during the work day. Social media during work hours is pretty common these days.

I think it's splitting hairs really. My reason for sending a happy birthday wish as early in the day as possible is that it means the job's done and I can get on with my life without worrying that I might forget. What I'd really like is a program that posted birthday messages for me.

I don't think sincerity is based on time. You are as sincere as you are whenever you send it. And people should be glad that you remembered and that you encouraged them at all, not be picky about when you did. You could wish them a happy birthday a week after the fact and they should be happy you sent them good wishes. Most people understand that the world does not revolve around them and the whole planet is not going to be focused on wishing them a happy birthday. They should just be happy to get the greeting whenever it comes.

Thanks for the replies!

In order of preference

1) Send them a birthday card
2) If you care about them enough to send them a greeting but not enough to send them a card then send your greeting in the morning, either by text\email or social media. Almost everyone can access FB etc on their phones these days so working isn't really an excuse.
3) If you can really only send a greeting in the evening then do so but the recipient will probably hold your greeting in less regard as they will think you forgot but found out through the day.

However if you really cared that much about what the recipient thinks about your greeting you would have done step 1.

Birthday etiquette is a complete mystery to me.
I asked my wife to explain why on the one hand me making my wishes known for the style/venue/guest list of my celebration had to take into consideration diverse and multiple factors about everyone who would attend while I have never ever been asked what I might want to do at anyone else's event and seemed to be expected to just go along with it. She couldn't but said it was "just the way things are".

I think that already exists. Apparently, I got one of those messages about four years ago, on the day before my birthday.

If you really care about that person, the best thing is to send them a Whatsapp/FB post at 00:00 am. If it's not a very close friend or a very important member of your family, it doesn't really matter. I like getting birthday wishes even if it's some days after my birthday.

Lordy! even Facebook gets the date right when it notifies me about a birthday. The ideal solution I envisage is a "just do it for me" switch, plus maybe a box into which I could type various snazzy feelgood greetings from which it would select something at random. I can never think of anything stunning to say at short notice, but on a good day I might be able to get into the right groove for a little while and reel off several at one go.

I've heard that there are some cultures that don't celebrate birthdays anything like as "religiously" as we do in the affluent West - some Islamic ones, Jehovah's Witnesses, China, South Vietnam, Chad, Ethiopia.

I always wish people a happy birthday in the morning. It seems better to do it that way. It shows the person that you really care.