Thanks to the internet, the past decade changed how we live our lives and interact with each other. Pop culture reached even more people, manifesting in different forms and styles. From the surge of memes to the “receipt nation,” we had definitely come a long, long way from how things were when apple was still just fruit and not something we tap our fingers on.
Throughout the decade, we have witnessed new waves of entertainment. We have seen the rise of memes or the use of random photos as a response to pretty much anything. Thanks to social media platforms like Snapchat and TikTok, we found a new way of reaching more people through video documentation of information we wish to share with others.
It did not stop there; the surge in social media use gave birth to many memorable, sometimes drop-dead funny, pop culture references. Some of these references are widely used for comical effects or for spreading information. These are content that would stay on the world wide web even after the obsolescence of the internet – which is nearly never going to happen.
You have been memefied
The Philippines is the social media capital of the world. Statistically speaking, we use social media four hours a day, on average. No wonder we do not run out of witty content to share. There is always something new, something fresh, like that screenshot of Karen Davila’s vlog with Lyca Gairanod that took the internet by storm – or that unfiltered photo of the Mang Tomas-buying Prez of the Philippines, Nadine Lustre. Mang Tomas trended hours later, talk about impact.
Woke Twitter and the resibo culture
But in the past few years, this culture of social banter through memes has evolved. We now see “woke” kids on Twitter engaging with timely discourses, educational discussions, and sometimes debates about the sociopolitical climate in the country. “Woke Twitter” became a strong source of getting people to talk about social issues, dissent, injustices, and of course, good news – depending on where you are standing.
Take the case of our First Olympian Gold medalist, Hidilyn Diaz. While everyone is celebrating the feat, some carried on to resurrect some statements made by authorities and officials about the athlete and the state of Philippine sports. Brands, too, didn’t escape the netizens’ eagle eyes. In the gen Z’s and millennials’ urban dictionary, this is called the “resibo culture.” It’s a fair warning to everyone that what we said in the past will always find its way back to our present, and what we say now will resurface in the future. Two things could happen; the good things we say get boosted, and the bad ones get boosted ten times more. If you don’t have anything nice to say, maybe it should just stay in the drafts. So be careful; think before you click.
Now on the good
But of course, the internet is a never-ending source of information and happiness. It has answers to every question our brains could formulate, and by answers, they don’t necessarily have to be correct. They just have to be there to create a web of references which eventually leads to the most accurate answers. Every bit second, we make 1.7 MB of data per person. Even when our unlimited subscription expires, we still create data – manifested in other things like Google Maps Street View, perhaps?
Internet and social media play an essential role in the lives of Filipinos, just like everybody else in the world. But as a nation of heavy internet users, our online footprints have become our fifth limb. Every time we get hit by an earthquake, some of us would check our social media accounts like Facebook and Twitter to confirm if the world is rocking figuratively or literally. If you see “earthquake” or “may lindol” trending, you get your answer.
The Internet of Things has different forms, but they all drive towards one goal – experience. For us Filipinos, it’s not just the experience; it has become our way of life that, if left unchecked, might bite us from behind. Enjoy every little thing that makes you happy. Whether it be TikTok videos or funny tweets or statuses, you do you. Use the resources you have the best way possible but never forget to be responsible when you click that login button to enter the virtual world.
