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?<bによ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, Aisha Alabi, content creator and host of Tea Time with Aisha, talks to us about how she uses Obasanjo’s Internet**.
Gris
So I wake up two times in the morning. The first time is to pray either the Tahajjud prayer or my fajr prayer. So if I wake up for my fajr prayer, more likely than not, I’m still tired, which is like around 5 a.m. So I wake up for prayer and then I’ll go right back to sleep. So when I wake up the second time, I’m scrolling to see my emails, to see who texted me, to see what’s going on on TikTok.
How do you use the internet for work or pleasure?
I’m a content creator so I feel like it’s a mix like work sometimes is pleasure, if that makes sense. So like both.
What moment or episode in your life would you say captured the essence of the internet?
Two times actually. So, one that sticks out is in 2022, I was having the worst year of my life. I was so depressed. I wouldn’t create, I wouldn’t get up. I was like a couch potato for like months and then Ayra’s Instagram was coming out and so she had posted a snippet to Instagram of the song and it was like a cute video where she was like going around the tables – like short form content, right? And I don’t know why that song resonated with me so much, but it led me down a rabbit hole of Ayra Starr. Like, obviously I already knew who she was but now I’m like, oh, I wanna know who she is. I wanna know how her mind works. So I was watching an interview from her and in one of the interviews, she was basically saying like, oh yeah, she doesn’t have time for men right now, this stage of her life is just about chasing her dreams and you know, bossing up to the level where she wants to be, there’s just no room for men to come in and distract her from that. And for me that message was so empowering and the fact that I could just go on YouTube whilst still being a couch potato and watch that interview and be inspired to get off
What are some strategies Aisha Alabi uses to tailor her content for a mobile-first audience?
## Obasanjo’s Internet: Aisha Alabi on Smartphones andContent Creation
**Gris:** Welcome back to Obasanjo’s Internet, where we talk to creators about their relationship with the online world. This week, we have Aisha Alabi, the dynamic personality behind “Tea Time with Aisha.” Aisha, thanks for joining us!
**Aisha:** Thanks for having me, Gris! It’s great to be here.
**Gris:** Let’s dive right in! You’re known for your engaging content and strong online presence. We were looking at some statistics recently showing that smartphone use for internet access is incredibly high, especially among those aged 30-49. Do you see that reflected in your audience and how they interact with your content?
**Aisha:** Absolutely! It’s no surprise to me at all. Almost everyone I know, myself included, uses their smartphone to access the internet constantly.
**Gris:** [1](https://www.statista.com/statistics/1360723/us-internet-usage-penetration-by-age-group-and-device/) shows 91% of people in that age group saying they regularly use smartphones to get online. How do you tailor your content to account for that mobile-first audience?
**Aisha:** It’s all about keeping things concise and visually appealing. Short, shareable videos, eye-catching graphics, easy-to-read captions - these are key. People are scrolling quickly on their phones, so you have to grab their attention fast!
**Gris:** Makes perfect sense. Has the prevalence of smartphones changed how you approach your content creation process?
**Aisha:** Definitely. I’m always thinking about how something will look on a smaller screen. I use editing features that allow for vertical videos, and I’m constantly experimenting with new formats like Reels and TikToks.
**Gris:** It sounds like smartphones are not just a consumption tool, but also a powerful tool for creation. Anything else you’d like to add about the impact of mobile on the content landscape?
**Aisha:** I think it’s democratized content creation. Anyone with a smartphone can now be a creator and share their voice with the world. That’s incredibly empowering!
**Gris:** Aisha, thank you so much for your time and insightful perspective.
