Social media is fun, no doubt. It’s where most of us go to unwind, laugh at memes, watch dance challenges, and catch up on viral news. But for those who pay a little more attention, it can become more than just entertainment it can be a full-blown business tool, a classroom, and in some cases, a working office.
I’ve seen it firsthand. As I scroll through my feeds, between skits and food videos, I’ve noticed more people using social platforms to promote products, build personal brands, or even teach stuff like how to set up a Shopify store or edit reels for better engagement. growing up, phones were a distraction in class something to be hidden from teachers. Now, that same phone can pay your bills. Times have changed.
Warren Edward Buffett, American investor and CEO of the conglomerate holding company Berkshire Hathaway. Once said “If you don’t find a way to make money in your sleep, you will work until you die”
In school, we were taught to write CVs, not content calendars. But now, if you learn how to design a flier on Canva, edit videos on Cap Cut, or grow an audience on TikTok you’re basically job ready. And you didn’t need a fancy degree for that, you just needed data, discipline, and a desire to learn.
Sandra Mutesi, 29, a Kigali based fashion reseller, started her business with nothing more than a second-hand phone and a few clothes from the local market.
“I took some nice photos of the clothes I bought at Kimironko market and posted them on my WhatsApp status,” Sandra recalls. “By the end of the day, three people had placed orders. That’s when I realized I could really make money this way.”
Now, Sandra uses WhatsApp, Facebook Marketplace, and Instagram to sell up to 50 items a week, all without owning a physical store.
Before I heard these stories I used to believe “business” meant opening a shop or starting a company with registration certificates and rented office space. But today, I know people who Sell clothes via WhatsApp statuses, bake cakes and take orders through Instagram, offer virtual makeup classes on Zoom, do freelance writing and get paid through PayPal, create digital art or logos using nothing but their phones.
Now, don’t get me wrong, not everyone will become a six-figure influencer. But even if you don’t go viral, you can still turn your phone into a tool for learning a skill, making side income, or creating opportunities you never thought possible. It’s becoming more common, and it made me realize phones are not just distractions anymore; they’re digital offices. Whether we use them that way is up to us.
Here are five ways from memes to means, quick tips to turn your phone into a shop or a marketplace
Learn something valuable online: use YouTube, free courses, or even TikTok tutorials. Pick a skill: writing, editing, design, social media management, selling, anything.
A British advertising tycoon, David Mackenzie Ogilvy, once said, “The more you tell, the more you sell.”
Build a small portfolio: Post your work, even if it’s just for fun at first. Your profile becomes your resume. As you keep building your profile, eventually you will start to get recognition and calls for collaboration, and that’s how you get your first job.
Offer value: Help someone with their business, promote a product, or create content that educates or entertains.
Use the tools on your phone: You have more power than you think, Canva, Cap Cut, ChatGPT, Google Drive, Zoom, Instagram insights… It’s all there.
Be consistent and professional: Just because it’s from your phone doesn’t mean it’s not real work. Show up on time, reply to messages, and deliver quality.
Phones are no longer just for selfies and scrolling. With the right mindset, they can be your workspace, your learning zone, your marketing department, and your income stream, all in one pocket. Remember, the phone itself isn’t the business. You are. The phone is just your digital toolbox
