Did you know that there are approximately 4.66 billion active internet users worldwide? This makes the internet, one of the greatest tools and catalysts for the advancement of humanity. Through this new column, we will document the internet habits and methods of some of our favourite creators and thinkers.
We are joined by editor and writer, Angel Nduka-Nwosu, as she lets us know what she gets up to on Obasanjo’s internet.
What’s the first thing you do when you wake up?
The first thing I do when I wake up is drink lots of water and stare into space for like five minutes. I like to do that to gather my thoughts.
How do you use the internet, for work or pleasure?
Majorly for work and to promote myself. I also use the internet to meet new people in my line of work and for resources. If the internet in question includes Netflix then yeah I use the internet for pleasure.
What moment or episode in your life would you say captured the essence of the internet?
Well, I would say when I got my first editing gig. I had been advertising myself as an editor on Twitter and someone reached out to me to edit his book. It made me more confident and that’s one of the reasons I haven’t left Twitter. One of my friends also got a gig that paid in pounds due to her advertising herself on Twitter. Not just that, when she said that I was the one who encouraged her to put herself out there through The Emecheta Collective – which is a safe space and accountability group for women who freelance that I founded last year. Her shouting me out actually increased my followers on Twitter.
Your favourite social media platform and why?
In all honesty, I don’t know if I have a favourite, each one has its downsides. Instagram is more peaceful than Twitter cause there’s no one quote tweeting you. But then again, I try to avoid scrolling any social media platform. I also have my Twitter notifications very filtered. I was quite addicted to Twitter so I made a decision not to scroll on it or wake up to it. I simply post and through the people that like and RT, I can check their profiles and see what’s going on. But I love Youtube. It’s calming and filled with resources.
What was the last meme you saved?
I can’t remember. I hardly save memes.
Do you remember the first time something you posted went viral? What was it? How did it make you feel?
Yeah, I remember. It was a thread on submission in 2018. EbonyLife used it in a discussion and one other TV Station did too. It felt nice seeing as it increased my following on Twitter, but at the same time looking back, I think that was the beginning of people placing me on a pedestal.
Before then though there was this poem I wrote which also got a lot of RTs. Again I was happy because I wasn’t expecting it. One thing I’ll never forget is how a South African babe messaged me and thanked me profusely for putting to words what she couldn’t say. I always remember that whenever I feel like not writing poetry or posting stuff online.
What’s the most outrage you have ever generated off something you ever posted? How did you react to it?
The most outrage I’ve received hands down has to be when I criticised the involvement of women in the #EndSARS protests. I received rape and death threats and my family was dragged into it. I muted the thread and after a while, I set my account on auto-delete and the thread went too. Before then though I stood my ground and tried replying to a few people. #EndSARS was a very triggering period for me but the way I maintained my sanity was by telling myself that even after October, I was going to make threads and write things on that same Twitter talking about my stance. Turns out I did the right thing cause each time Feminist Coalition got insulted as thieves and liars, everyone kept saying: “Oh we should have listened to Angel”. Eventually, I did some technical research and I found the entire thread online. I brought it back on Twitter. Overall, I’m glad it happened ’cause it showed me the hypocrisy of humans first-hand. I also decided from then on to not quote tweet people anyhow except I was highlighting the good. I don’t want to contribute to anyone’s anxiety and frankly, it’s helped me stay focused and not get addicted to Twitter.
What rules do you live by on the internet?
The major rule is that I only post what I’m comfortable being public property. I also try not to use any social app as a diary. I also don’t wake up to any social media. Then I don’t scroll.
What is your guiltiest online pleasure?
I don’t have any guilty online pleasures but I love videos of cats.
Would you say you have an online persona? What’s it and how did you arrive at it?
I don’t think I have an online persona. My online persona is me. But I tend to be sarcastic and witty, especially when describing sexist scenarios. It’s not an online persona cause that’s how I am in real life.
What’s your favourite emoji and why?
You know this one: 🥺. It makes me happy and feels cute. It also works if you are asking for something.
Are you particular about your feed?
I don’t scroll. So I don’t even have a feed. The thing with scrolling is that it’s never-ending and I don’t want to be sucked into something that’s never-ending.
YouTube or TikTok? Which do you prefer and why?
YouTube. I don’t have TikTok.
Which Nigerian creator do you think the world needs to see and hear more of?
Definitely Sansa. Her handle is @_Oroboghene on Twitter and @phoenix.blvck on IG. Her page on Instagram is very inspiring.
What is your favourite Nigerian podcast?
Asides from my own podcast As Angel Was Sayin’? Should be I Said What I Said with Jollz and FK.
Have you ever hooked up with someone you met online?
It wasn’t exactly hooking up, but one of my best relationships to date happened from Twitter.
5 people you’d love to see answer these questions
@thisibi. @onosowobo. @Jollz. @PraiseOjekudo. @dameeunice.