Digital Superstitions: From ‘Type Amen’ to Airtime Scams.

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Digital superstitions are literally everywhere on the internet. Whether you're scrolling through Facebook, WhatsApp, or even random websites, there's always that one message that tries to scare you into sharing it—or else something bad will happen. Back in the day when I was very active on Facebook, these things were flying up and down, and the funny part is that many of us actually believed them.

I remember seeing posts that said things like, “If you love your mum, share this post,” or “Don’t ignore this if you want to live long.” There were even some that said “Like this post about Jesus and type Amen or face spiritual problems.” I mean, come on! Looking back now, it all sounds so ridiculous, but back then, it was a different story.

The messages were so manipulative. They played on your emotions, especially the ones involving your parents. I remember reading one that said, “If you skip this post, your parents will die in their sleep tonight.” Just imagine that kind of mental stress. I didn’t even want to believe it, but I found myself hitting “like” or “share” just to be on the safe side. It felt like a spiritual insurance policy—very unnecessary but somehow convincing.

But the one that really got me, the one that still makes me laugh anytime I remember it, was the famous recharge card code forwarding superstition. That one swept through Nigeria like wildfire. I was in need of airtime badly one day, and then —I saw the message:

“Forward this recharge card code to 10 people, and MTN will credit you with N1,000 free airtime.”

And just like that, my brain switched off. They even added, “This is a secret promo. Don’t tell anyone!” As if MTN was running some underground recharge card ritual.

To make it worse, people were sharing “testimonies” like they had just won the lottery. I saw comments like, “I tried it, and I got N200 airtime in just 5 minutes!” I was like, wow! This is my chance. I forwarded that message with all my heart—picking out 10 people I knew wouldn't judge me—and waited patiently for that airtime to drop.

I refreshed my balance. Nothing. I restarted my phone. Still nothing. I even checked again the next day, thinking maybe MTN was running on “African time.” But no show. I felt so scammed and so annoyed at myself for falling for it. How could I have believed such nonsense?

Looking back now, I realize it was just a digital version of the same old tricks—manipulation, fear, and FOMO (fear of missing out). The internet has its own way of spreading superstitions, and somehow, they always find a way to target your emotions or your wallet.

It’s funny how the human mind works. Just because it’s online and looks like a “promo” or has a few fake testimonies, people believe it—myself included. But these days, I just shake my head and scroll past. No more “type Amen” or “forward to 20 people” for me. I’ve learned my lesson.

But still, those days were funny. We may laugh about it now, but back then, it felt very real.

Posted Using INLEO