Did you know that there are approximately 4.66 billion active internet users worldwide? Can you imagine all the different ways in which we all use the internet? Obasanjo’s Internet is our interview series where we speak to some of our internet favourites on how they relate to the internet and what it means to them and their work. This week, Itty Okim, co-host of Nigerian podcast Baegist talks to us about how he uses Obasanjo’s Internet.
What’s the first thing you do when you wake up?
Devotion.
How do you use the internet for work or pleasure?
Both. I work on the Internet, so the kind of work I do always requires me to be on the Internet but then while i’m working, one or two things come up and I leave my work then go and play.
What moment or episode in your life would you say captured the essence of the internet?
I think it has to be when Tosin and I started Baegist. The primary platform for the podcast is the internet, so I don’t think there will be a Baegist without the internet, maybe it would have been radio or something, but then everything is easier because of the internet. So it has to be when we started Baegist early last year.
Your favourite social media platform and why?
Easily Snapchat, because all my secrets are safe and if you try to cast me I’ll catch you.
What was the last meme you saved?
Do you remember the first time something you posted went viral? What was it? How did it make you feel?
I had a lot of Facebook moments in those years, but I think in recent times, it was when I tweeted that I was looking for a bible believing baddie. That went really viral, it had thousands of retweets. Blogs were reposting and people were tagging me that my handle was on this blog and that blog and I was really just thinking of how to make something out of it. I was thinking numbers and how to make money from it. I didn’t find any way and it was frustrating.
A couple of times Baegist episode snippets have gone viral and those make me feel good because the numbers are coming back.
What’s the most outrage you have ever generated over something you posted? How did you react to it?
To be honest, I just always ignore it. I hate drama. I like other people’s drama but I don’t like drama for myself. So every time I say something that causes outrage and people start replying, I just keep quiet, I chicken out. It’s when you keep replying that other people keep seeing it and replying, and I don’t want that kind of attention. I just leave them alone, perhaps when they’re done talking, I go to someone’s DMs to insult their parents and then I leave them alone. I don’t want stress.
What rules do you live by on the internet?
I don’t like any form of bullying, both online and offline. I won’t be the person who bullies someone on the internet or drops a negative comment, even when I have them I keep them to myself. But if it’s someone I care about I tell the person over the phone or in their DM.
What is your guiltiest online pleasure?
I think I share memes in an annoying way. I literally share almost every single thing I see on the internet. I have a list of 12 people in my DMs that see a lot of what I see on the internet every day, and sometimes the things I send are not even necessary.
Would you say you have an online persona?
I don’t think so. I think I’m sexy tomato everywhere. I just have this very permanent sexy energy so there’s no use faking anything.
What’s your favourite emoji and why?
💯 Because I say 100 a lot.
Are you particular about your feed?
A lot! My feed is designed. Anybody that is creating content I don’t want to see is either going to be unfollowed or muted.
YouTube or TikTok? Which do you prefer and why?
TikTok. I think YouTube is hard. The algorithm on YouTube is not as smart. When you finish watching a video on YouTube, they show you something you’ve already watched as the next video. TikTok won’t do that. And YouTube will not stop killing me with ads and im not going to pay for premium, there are no ads on TikTok
Which Nigerian creator do you think the world needs to see and hear more of?
I have a list. Asherkine, Jay On-air, Lazy Ela, Osas. Let me just stop there before I mention the whole internet.
Who is the coolest person you follow and the coolest person who follows you?
My girlfriend.
What is your favourite Nigerian podcast?
Are you whining me? Baegist now, yesterday, tomorrow, every single day.
Have you ever hooked up with someone you met online?
Nope.
5 people you’d love to see answer these questions
Asherkine, Ahmed Mosh, Osas, Korty, Boylexxy and Lazy Ella