Did you know that there are approximately 4.66 billion active internet users worldwide? Can you imagine all the different ways we all use the internet? Obasanjo’s Internet is our interview series where we talk to some of our internet favorites about how they relate to the internet and what it means to them and their work. This week, model and filmmaker Odey talks to us about how he uses Obasanjo’s Internet.
What’s the first thing you do when you wake up?
I brush my teeth and wash my face, then I try not to open social media or answer my phone. But most of the time I still do. I always tend to go on Twitter, but lately I’ve been trying to do things outside of social media before I open social media because it takes up quite a lot of my time.
How do you use the internet for work or pleasure?
Both actually. Work and pleasure. A major application I use is YouTube. I use that for work and pleasure. But lately I’ve been using it more for work. I learn a lot based on what I do; photography and cinematography, just by watching a lot of instructional videos. Everything I want to learn, I go to YouTube. Even when I am in my art phase, I watch videos about art. I pay attention to anything I need to reassure myself about. So yes. More work than fun.
What moment or episode in your life captured the essence of the Internet?
So I would say this was a lockdown for me. Not the early stages of the lockdown, but almost the middle or end of the lockdown, because we didn’t have WiFi at the start of the lockdown. We had to convince my father to get us WiFi. That was our first WiFi and now it was unlimited fiber optic. That was my first big experience with unlimited internet. I went crazy, man. I was streaming all the time. I didn’t have to think too much about what I was watching or spending a limited amount of time on the internet. I went crazy. I was gaming online. Everything I did at that time revolved around being online. My screen time was very high.
So I would say that was my craziest experience because it was kind of a contrast between not having stable internet access and having stable unlimited internet access. So it was wild then and because you couldn’t go outside, we were just at home and everyone was connected online.
Your favorite social media platform and why?
Right now I’d say Pinterest. It’s because it’s not that chaotic. I am extroverted, but also very introverted. So there aren’t many people who know me on Pinterest. I just go there and post what I want to post. I also get a lot of inspiration from Pinterest. So I really love it. It doesn’t follow many trends and is curated to your taste. So I love Pinterest.
Do you remember the first time something you posted went viral? What was it? How did that make you feel?
It’s weird too. It was when I was dating my ex and I posted a picture of both of us on Twitter and, I don’t know, Twitter went crazy over the picture and they started being like, ‘Ah, you’re posting your cutie mark. on Twitter. Um, one more man, go carry.” It reached Twitter NG and that was the problem. And yes, it was crazy.
I didn’t feel much about it other than showing people that one of my tweets went viral: “Oh, look what niggas say.” So we just used it to laugh and just had conversations about it. And really nothing special.
What’s the most outrage you’ve ever generated about something you posted? How did you react to it?
I don’t think I can remember if I’ve ever had crazy outrage over something I posted. I am also very reserved in my messages.
What rules do you live by on the internet?
Post what you want to post, do what you want to do, but just be a good person in real life. Your social presence is very important and you know, that’s a well-curated part of people’s lives right now, knowing that social media is very strong in reaching new people. So whatever you do, never forget your real life and how much value it has for your personality and your being.
What’s your guiltiest online pleasure?
I don’t think it’s a guilty pleasure, but there’s a video on TikTok that my girlfriend sent me about cats mimicking human experiences. They’re always in bed and it’s always so funny. It never makes sense, but it also makes sense because I live those experiences. I don’t say it like, “Oh, I watch these videos or I find so much excitement in them,” but I do and it’s always so funny to watch. We share a really big part of our relationship watching those videos and seeing how many people experience these things.
Would you say you have an online personality?
Yes, I think so. I do have an online persona, but it would be difficult to name the persona. I try to go for a bit of mystery mixed with whimsy. I don’t post much in real time. I don’t know if it’s also for security or what, but I like to post the day after or a few hours later after I leave the location. I don’t know if I have a big personality, just mysterious, playful and I just post what I like.
What is your favorite emoji and why?
So right now I like the 8 ball logo. There’s a red circle that I also really like and the camera emoji. I like the red circle emoji because I just put the short film Chaos on Obasanjo’s internet, and there’s a symbol on the O that I was referring to from the emoji and it’s going so well because it’s the same O and red circle. And that O also refers to my name Odey, because on my Twitter the O in my name is the red circle. So yeah, I like that Emoji.
Are you picky about your feed?
It depends on the social media app I use. So for Instagram, I’m picky about my feed. I manage it the way I want it to look. Both my photography page and my page. Even with my Pinterest, I’m more flexible and free with it, but overall I’m still managing it.
On places like Twitter I don’t care what I post, but on Instagram and Pinterest I pay particular attention to my feed, what it looks like, how it feels, and how people would relate to it if they stumbled upon it.
YouTube or TikTok? Which one do you prefer and why?
YouTube now, because honestly the phone I’m using right now kinda hates TikTok. Don’t know. I’ll buy another one that my TikTok will probably work better on, but the one I’m using now won’t, so I’ll say YouTube because I use that a lot on my laptop.
Which Nigerian creator do you think the world should see and hear more of?
Debby. Her YouTube channel is running at full speed and so is Rachel’s. You guys should check them out on TikTok.
Who is the coolest person you follow and the coolest person who follows you?
There are a lot of nice people I follow. But the coolest person is me, but I don’t follow myself. But yeah, apart from me, my husband MK, Alton Mason, Rema, Ebube and Debby. A cool person who follows me is a friend of mine, Mel.
What is your favorite Nigerian podcast?
I don’t listen to podcasts like that. A friend of mine has one, I have it on my Spotify but I don’t listen to it that much but I do like it. I just have to give it more time. Chia chats
Have you ever hooked up with someone you met online?
Yes and no, I haven’t regretted it.
5 people you would like to see answer these questions
Enoch, Rachel, Ebube, Jason and Blessing
Read previous internet posts by Obasanjo here
