Obasanjo’s Internet – Victor Daniel

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, writer and communications strategist, Victor Daniel talks to us about how he uses Obasanjo’s Internet.

What’s the first thing you do when you wake up?

I check my phone for notifications.

How do you use the internet for work or pleasure?

It’s a mixture of both. My work involves me using the internet every day. I work as a writer and new media specialist in a food-tech company. So, I basically live on the internet.

For pleasure, that’s if you consider music, and film streaming as pleasure, I consume a lot of written works on the internet, if that passes as pleasure and then having interesting conversations.

What moment or episode in your life would you say captured the essence of the internet?

I was built on the fact that I wasn’t expressive during my formative years. In my teens, I wasn’t as bold I wanted to be. I was highly opinionated and because I didn’t have many friends to share those ideas with, I was left to my phone and the internet. The internet presented a platform where I could express myself unhinged. The need to express myself beyond my physical boundaries inspired my internet usage.

Your favourite social media platform and why?

Facebook. I like the way it’s structured, and I have control over my page. Facebook gives you the opportunity to write as much as you want. There’s no word count. It’s basically a content platform.

 What was the last meme you saved?

Do you remember the first time something you posted went viral? What was it?

Yes. I do. It was in 2016. It was a post I made on the morning Donald Trump won the elections as US President. I made a post advising black Americans on how to live in America now that Trump is President. The post blew up. It had thousands of likes and was shared far and wide.

 How did it make you feel?

I didn’t feel any way but was surprised how viral it went before then, I knew I could make a post that would go viral. The post was a confirmation.

 What’s the most outrage you have ever generated over something you posted? How did you react to it?

Religion generates the most outrage. I’m not that much of a religious person but whenever I make posts about religion that appear somehow to religious zealots, they always come for my head.

I can’t remember any right now but those posts trigger Nigerians so much.

 What rules do you live by on the internet?

I mind my business a lot. I only post things that only concern me and try as much as possible to stay away from the drama because it affects how one is perceived.

“That person is always in one drama or another” I don’t like that because it can limit peoples interaction or relationships with me.

 What is your guiltiest online pleasure?

Watching people’s videos and looking for gist in my ecosystem by going undercover for it.

 Would you say you have an online persona?

Yes. People say I come off as stern on Facebook, but in reality, I’m quite a clown because I’m fun to be with.

 What’s your favourite emoji and why?

The sunflower emoji. Used to dilute the severity or seriousness of a conversation, It works out in different situations.

Are you particular about your feed?

I’m particular about my feed. So, if there’s anyone who posts content I don’t like, I either unfollow or unfriend them. The content we consume goes a long way in affecting us.

YouTube or TikTok? Which do you prefer, and why?

YouTube. It has by far one of the largest resources. You can learn a lot on Youtube.

 Which Nigerian creator do you think the world needs to see and hear more of?

Rodney on TikTok and Layi, the comedian. I think they deserve more exposure. Rodney and Layi’s content are cerebral. They have the ability to be humorous without having to be outlandish. They’re not dramatic and their expressions are spot-on. Layi is someone who is needed on the Nigerian comedy scene because he understands how to put depth into comedy.

Rodney is extremely creative.

Who is the coolest person you follow and the coolest person who follows you?

I have a lot of filmmakers who follow me, including Pamela Ade, Nkiru Njoku, Onyeka Nwelue

I follow a lot of cool people, both Nigerians and non-Nigerians. They’re a lot.

What is your favourite Nigerian podcast?

I don’t listen to any Nigerian podcasts. I’m generally not a podcast guy.

Have you ever hooked up with someone you met online?

A lot of times.

5 people you’d love to see answer these questions

Olumide Glowville, Layi, Akinyemi; the editor-in-chief of Citizen by Zikoko, Ama Udofa; content lead at Vendease and Solomon Buchi.

Read previous Obasanjo’s Internet entries here.