Diego García del Prado, the Cuban TikToker known as @dieego_blogger, announced the purchase of his first house in Cuba for $2,500.
The 18-year-old young man attributes this significant achievement in his life to his earnings as a digital content creator and the support of his community of followers.
"I live in Cuba and I can hardly believe it myself. I bought my house. It cost me $2,500 and there’s no better option than this," declared Diego in the video posted on Instagram, which garnered more than 122,000 views and 35,000 reactions in just a few hours.
The house features a living room, three bedrooms, a kitchen, a large dining room, a bathroom, and a small unfinished terrace.
The property has been uninhabited for a long time, and the former owners still need to remove some belongings, but Diego already has a clear plan: a gradual renovation that he will document on his social media.
"Soon I will start fixing it up, cleaning it, painting it," she explained, and invited her followers to join her in the process chapter by chapter.
The young man's most personal motivation was clearly expressed: "The most important thing is that my mom and I already have a roof over our heads where we can live and sleep."
Diego also took the opportunity to respond to those who question social media as a legitimate source of work: "The people who say that social media like TikTok isn't a job... I'm demonstrating to you today that it is."
The content creator acknowledged that this year he won't be able to indulge in other luxuries, but he has achieved something more important for himself and his family.
"This year I won't be able to wear new clothes, but at 18 years old, I'm going to enjoy my new little house in Cuba."
In his Instagram post, Diego extended the credit to his audience.
"What you see here today is not just a house; it is a dream come true. And although I did work hard for this, each of you played a significant part in the process. Every like, comment, message, show of support, and person who believed in me contributed a little bit to reaching this moment."
Diego's case adds to a growing phenomenon among young Cubans: using income from digital platforms to improve their living conditions on the island.
In March, another young Cuban used his first TikTok payment to buy appliances for his mother, and in February, a young woman who was making money on social media was criticized for deciding to build a room in Cuba instead of emigrating.
Diego himself had previously starred in viral videos: in January, he showed what he could buy with $20 in Cuba, and in February, he documented the purchases made with 10,000 Cuban pesos sent by a follower, both videos generating significant impact by highlighting the contrast between the value of the dollar and the Cuban peso.
All of this happens amid a deep housing crisis in Cuba, where obtaining a home of one's own is an extraordinary achievement for any Cuban, and even more so for an 18-year-old.
"I never imagined I could say 'this is my home'," Diego wrote at the end of his post.
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