Every day, social media gives us something new to talk about. One moment it's entertainment, the next it's politics, and before you know it, everyone seems to have an opinion about one person or one event. This time, it was VeryDarkMan's latest controversy that captured the attention of millions of Nigerians.
Like many people, I came across countless videos, blog posts, reactions, livestreams, and comments discussing his decision to reject a police invitation over allegations involving the Lagos Assistant Inspector General of Police. My timeline was filled with debates from people who either supported him or strongly disagreed with him. For a while, I found myself reading through different opinions just to understand why the story had generated so much attention.
But after a few minutes, I noticed something that completely changed my perspective.
Instead of focusing on who was winning the argument, I started paying attention to the people who were benefiting from the conversation itself.
Every trending story creates an entire digital economy around it. While thousands of people spend hours arguing in comment sections, someone else is writing articles. Someone is recording reaction videos. Someone is designing thumbnails. Someone is editing short clips for TikTok and Facebook. Someone is managing social media pages. Someone is creating graphics. Someone is producing background music. Someone is optimizing blog posts for Google. In other words, while many people consume attention, others quietly convert that same attention into income.
That realization made me pause because I saw myself in it.
There have been times when I've spent far too long following trending stories without asking what value I could create from them. Yet the internet has never really rewarded people simply for watching. More often than not, it rewards those who create something useful around what people are already interested in.
The more I thought about it, the clearer it became that VeryDarkMan's latest controversy wasn't the biggest lesson for me. The real lesson was seeing how quickly opportunities appear whenever millions of people focus on the same topic.
Attention has become one of the world's most valuable digital currencies.
Every viral story creates demand for information, entertainment, education, creativity, and fresh perspectives. That's why bloggers write articles. YouTubers publish explainers. Podcasters release episodes. Graphic designers create visuals. Editors produce highlight reels. Social media managers schedule content. Freelancers find new clients. Digital marketers identify trends. Behind every trending topic is an entire network of people building businesses without ever becoming the headline themselves.
That was the moment I asked myself a question I think more of us should ask.
What if we spent less time reacting to every trending story and more time learning the skills that allow us to create something because of those stories?
For me, that question has changed the way I look at social media.
Instead of seeing it as a place where people argue endlessly, I now see it as one of the biggest marketplaces in the world. Every scroll reveals problems people want solved, conversations people care about, and audiences looking for valuable content.
The exciting part is that building a digital business no longer requires expensive equipment or a physical office.
Today, a smartphone can be enough to start writing articles, editing videos, creating graphics, offering freelance services, launching a blog, selling digital products, managing social media accounts, promoting affiliate products, teaching online, or building a personal brand.
The barriers that once stopped ordinary people from becoming creators continue to disappear.
As I reflected on all of this, one opportunity stood out to me because it combines creativity with technology in a way that wasn't possible a few years ago.
Music creation.
Whenever a story trends in Nigeria, it doesn't take long before someone creates a song, remix, freestyle, or catchy sound inspired by the conversation. Some of those sounds end up spreading across TikTok, Instagram Reels, YouTube Shorts, and Facebook, reaching audiences far beyond the original story.
Many people assume creating music is only for professional artists with expensive studios and producers. Thankfully, technology has changed that narrative.
With the Music Creation Service on Auxi Sherpa, aspiring creators can write original songs, create catchy lyrics, produce cool beats, experiment with different musical styles, and develop music with the potential to become the next viral sound, all from their smartphones. Whether you're inspired by Afrobeats, gospel, amapiano, or contemporary pop like the kind of infectious sounds featured on Davido's latest album, you no longer have to let limited resources stop your creativity. Sometimes, the biggest difference between someone who dreams of making music and someone who actually releases it is simply having access to the right tools.
That thought encouraged me because it reminded me that opportunities on the internet aren't reserved for celebrities or influencers with millions of followers. They belong to people who are willing to learn, practice, and consistently create value.
Maybe your own opportunity isn't music.
Maybe it's writing.
Maybe it's blogging.
Maybe it's video editing.
Maybe it's graphic design.
Maybe it's freelancing.
Maybe it's creating digital products that solve everyday problems.
Whatever it is, the important thing is to start.
One habit I've been trying to develop is asking better questions whenever I see a trending story. Instead of asking who is right, I ask what I can learn. Instead of asking who will win the online argument, I ask what skill I should improve. Instead of wondering why someone else has become successful online, I ask what I can begin creating with the resources already in my hands.
Those questions have been far more valuable than any comment section I've ever read.
Eventually, this latest controversy surrounding VeryDarkMan will fade, just like every other viral story before it. Another headline will replace it, another debate will dominate our timelines, and the cycle will continue. What doesn't have to continue is the habit of allowing every trend to consume our time without producing anything meaningful in return.
I've come to believe that the internet doesn't only reward people who become the story. It also rewards the people who build something because the story inspired them to think differently.
That is the lesson I'm taking away from all of this, and I hope someone reading this decides to do the same. Whether it's writing your first article, launching your first blog, creating your first digital product, composing your first song, producing your first beat, or finally starting the online business you've been postponing, there has never been a better time to begin than now.
If you have an article, opinion piece, or news story you'd like published on Global News Arena, or you're ready to begin your journey toward building a profitable digital business from your phone, I'd love to hear from you.
Send me an email
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