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, co-host of Cruising Outwest and Afrobeats Decoded, Tobi O talks to us about how she uses Obasanjo’s Internet.
What’s the first thing you do when you wake up?
I think the ideal answer is to pray, right? But sometimes I might just turn on my phone, check through my messages, see what I’ve missed only because I have a podcast with someone that lives across the world. So in terms of time difference, he’s up when I’m not so I want to know about anything I miss first thing in the morning, in case it’s urgent and stuff.
How do you use the internet for work or pleasure?
I use it for both. I obviously host a podcast so the internet is really good for us. Everything we do is pretty much online, in terms of finding and scheduling guests, recording the episodes. We’ve only ever had two video episodes where we were both in the same country. Besides that, every other episode has been recorded remotely even with the guests and stuff. So the internet is obviously used for that.
Also for leisure, you know, to keep me entertained when I’m bored, a little TikTok here and there, scrolling on Twitter here and there as well. And yeah, I think that’s pretty much how I use the internet. Sometimes to make money, I mean, let me not say as if I’m only there playing. I make money there as well.
What moment or episode in your life would you say captured the essence of the internet?
That’s a very interesting question. I think there are lots of moments. One that just sticks out is the day I asked KP (the guy I host the pod with) to start a pod with me. Just because it was very random and also because, simultaneously, I was talking to someone else who was egging me on to start a podcast and it was just like, “OK, yeah, I’ll message this person randomly.” I wasn’t even being serious because I didn’t know what the reaction would be. I just messaged KP, “let’s start a podcast” and he was like, “yes, let’s do it.”And three years down the line, here we are.
Your favourite social media platform and why?
Right now it is Twitter cause I think it’s very funny to see different people’s points of views and how everyone thinks they’re the main character and they’re all right. It’s just so funny because it’s like, “interesting, fairs, if this is how you feel, okay.” If you like it, I love it.
But those are just funny because some people, Nigerians or would I say black people, turn a lot of stuff into humor. So everything is like, really, really funny. Even if it’s bad news, they can kind of spin a humorous angle to it.
What was the last meme you saved?
So there’s a problem. I do not communicate in memes. I don’t think I have a lot of memes but I have a last sticker that I saved. My last sticker has to be my teddy bear grumps.
Do you remember the first time something you posted went viral? What was it? How did it make you feel?
I don’t think I’ve gone viral. I think the most I’ve gone is maybe a picture of me that I put on Twitter and it was probably some provocative wording and, you know, it gets the crowd going. I think maybe my alte challenge back in the day but I don’t know if that was even as big as the picture ones that I did.
It was like a random picture that I thought “Oh, I look nice.” I don’t think I expected the reaction. So I was like, “ok, I see. So this is how IG models are born? This might be a bit too much for me. Maybe I’m not posting a picture anytime soon.”
What’s the most outrage you have ever generated over something you posted? How did you react to it?
In terms of outrage, I think that’s quite hard to say because I’m not particularly sure. I can’t give an answer right now.
What rules do you live by on the internet?
I think the standard ones that your parents tell you, the internet lives on forever. So whatever you post, it’s gonna stay there for a very long, long, long time. Twitter is my favorite platform and it’s so interesting because one time I was being nosy and I found a way to find deleted tweets. I think that day was a real eye opener for me cause this person deleted the tweets but I was able to find it, so even if I delete a tweet, anyone can find it too.
What is your guiltiest online pleasure?
Probably watching TikTok for hours and hours and hours on end. If I’m in bed by 8pm, I’m probably watching TikTok till like 9/9:30pm which is not good.
Would you say you have an online persona?
No, but I think people think I’m big and bad on social media but, omo, I’m small and meek o. People think I’m mean sometimes and I just like clear people but I think I’m just myself and that’s what I’ll say in real life too.
What’s your favourite emoji and why?
My favorite emoji is the melting emoji. Only because I’m very dramatic and what’s more dramatic than melting?
Are you particular about your feed?
No, not really. But if I see something I don’t like, if it’s Twitter, I will mute and if it’s insta I will unfollow.
YouTube or TikTok? Which do you prefer and why?
TikTok. I think TikTok is very random, especially because I make an effort not to follow anyone on TikTok. So I’m only on my FYP (for you page) and the things that come up on there are very random. I can see cruise ships, makeup, cooking videos, football, the cruise that’s going on for nine months. So it’s not very curated, it’s just random stuff that I think are very interesting to me because there’s some things that I learned for the first time. For example, I learned how a tap works and I know that sounds mundane, but I didn’t realize when you screw the tap open, you’re essentially lifting up something that blocks the water from coming out. So yeah, TikTok is very random. I’ve be learning the most random shit there.
Which Nigerian creator do you think the world needs to see and hear more of?
Cruising Outwest, the podcast!
Who is the coolest person you follow and the coolest person who follows you?
I guess Beyonce. No one can be angry at me about Beyonce. The coolest person I follow would be Telz, just because he’s a Grammy winning, big time producer. Also one of my favorite artists.
What is your favourite Nigerian podcast?
Cruising Outwest!
Have you ever hooked up with someone you met online?
Hmmm no. I don’t think I have. I’ve dated people I’ve met online but I don’t think I’ve regretted it.
5 people you’d love to see answer these questions
Kemka, Telz, Uncle Bubu, Africaine, Belema.
Read previous Obasanjo’s Internet entries here.