One of the most interesting things about supporting friends and acquaintances is how they feel they have the right to make you promote their stuff on your status. More than often I receive DMs that mandates "Kindly listen, like and share."
Don't get me wrong I am for supporting our own, I'd rather shower my love on someone I know than to do that for a celebrity I've never seen before or doesn't even know I exist.
Personally, I take what I post on my status or profile very seriously.
If there is one thing I’ve learned in this life, it is that WhatsApp is no longer an app, it is now a distribution center for emotional pressure and unsolicited obligations.
I woke up one peaceful Saturday morning with plans. Big plans. Plans like “stay on my bed and pretend adulthood is on break.” My eyes never even open clearly sef when my phone vibrated. “Bro abeg, check my new song and drop it on your status. It’s out on all platforms 🔥”
It was from Femi.
Femi, my childhood friend. The same Femi that once borrowed my earpiece in SS2 and never returned it till today. Now he has released music.
I opened the link. The song was titled “Too loaded to Fail"
I listened.
It was… okay. Not bad. Not Grammy worthy. It was alright. Before I could even let out a breathe, another message came in.
“Brooooo, episode 1 of my podcast is out! Topic: ‘Why men cry in silence but still won’t wash plates’. Please post and tag me 🙏🏽”
This one was from Tobi.
That one never even settle in finish o, boom another message dropped.
“Guys, I just posted my first YouTube vlog. I’m officially a content creator now. Please support by sharing on your status. Love you all ❤️”
This was Ada.
Ada that used to say she hates camera. Now she is “officially a content creator.” wonders shall never end ke...
Shuu, what is going on edakun? Am I now a media agency? Abi is my WhatsApp status is not DSTV.
The best I did was to have a listen, liked and comment where it applied but you see that posting on my status? No be you go tell wetin I go do ooh.
Not long after the pressure started.
Femi called.
“My guy! You never post my song o!”
I replied, “Bro I listened.”
“And?”
“And it is… nice?”
“Guy don’t do me like that. Just put it for your status. You know people dey view your status gaan, my destiny helper fit dey among them. Help my life.”
I responded with "Oya now I don hear." A response that meant I've heard you but na wetin dey my heart I go do.
Next was Tobi.
“My guy, why you never post my podcast na, you dey beef me?”
I laughed. "No worry my bro I gat you." In my mind, I was like I din din gat you kaan kaan oo.
Ada didn’t even call. She just sent a voice note.
“Bestieee, I saw your status empty o. So you’re not proud of me? After all the years we’ve known each other? Wow.”
Ah. Edakun when did I become bestie? E reach to post on status I am now bestie? Is choke!
Emotional blackmail has entered premium subscription. Now I’m no longer just a friend. I am now a “support system under review.”
Later that evening, another wave entered.
Different people.
“I just launched my thrift business. Badawira Global. Please repost.”
“I wrote a poem about heartbreak. Help me push it.”
At this point, I felt like my WhatsApp had turned into a digital junction where everyone parks their dreams and expects me to direct traffic.
I sat back and reflected deeply.
How did we reach a point where friendship now comes with repost obligations? If I don’t post your song, am I suddenly the villain in your success story?
By night, I made a decision. I didn't post anything o. I was like it's kuku my status, my data and my phone.
Not the song. Not the podcast. Not the YouTube link.
And funny enough… Nothing happened. Femi is still streaming. Tobi is still podcasting. Ada is still influencing.
Maybe friendship is not always about turning your WhatsApp status into a marketplace. Sometimes it is just about saying, “I see you,” without needing to say, “I go repost am.”
Image Credit - Mine
