diff --git a/ts/thread-summary-element.ts b/ts/thread-summary-element.ts
index 4f75860..1c97ff2 100644
--- a/ts/thread-summary-element.ts
+++ b/ts/thread-summary-element.ts
@@ -69,8 +69,8 @@ export class ThreadSummaryElement extends HTMLElement {
     }
     
     const l = parseInt(this.getAttribute("data-len") ?? "0");
-    const latest = new Date(this.getAttribute("data-latest") ?? 0);
-    const created = new Date(this.getAttribute("data-created")?? 0);
+    const latest = this.getAttribute("data-latest") ;
+    const created = this.getAttribute("data-created");
     const newness = this.getAttribute("data-new") ? true : false;
     
     let metadataChanged = false;
@@ -79,14 +79,14 @@ export class ThreadSummaryElement extends HTMLElement {
       metadataChanged = true;
       this._len = l;
     }
-    if (created && created != this._created) {
+    if (created && new Date(created) != this._created) {
       metadataChanged = true;
-      this._created = created;
-      this._latest = created;
+      this._created = new Date(created);
+      this._latest = this._created;
     }
-    if (latest && latest != this._latest) {
+    if (latest && new Date(latest) != this._latest) {
       metadataChanged = true;
-      this._latest = latest;
+      this._latest = new Date(latest);
     }
 
     if (newness != this._new) {