TikTok mega influencer Wasil Daoud gained popularity on TikTok and YouTube by creating prankster videos with food. However, after walking through an unfamiliar area of New Jersey which had large numbers of homeless individuals he realized that the food he was wasting could have been donated to the hungry. So, he pivoted his content and now feeds homeless and hungry individuals instead. He's also currently crowdfunding with the hope of feeding 100 people every day for an entire year. He’s a great example of how social media can be used for good. Let’s read more about him!

Tell us about your childhood. 

I grew up in a big city in New Jersey, in the greater New York area, in a family of five - two older brothers and my mom and dad. I had a pretty normal childhood growing up hanging out with friends on the weekend and being around my family. I always felt that I wanted more. School was great, seeing my friends and all, but I was always on the more creative side. While other kids in school were into sports or being part of different clubs, I was always trying to figure out a way to start my YouTube journey. I would come up with different skits while staying up all night - instead of doing homework- and thinking of new ideas for my next video. Since around the age of 13, I knew social media was something that I wanted to get into and it quickly became my passion.

How did you get into posting on social media?

Every night after coming home from school, I would watch different YouTubers and big creators to learn their craft and how they were doing things that worked and learning from things that didn't work. I wanted to learn from them and figure out what was trending and how they got so popular. It was a lot of work, and some days I would burn out. Because of the influence of other YouTubers and always being a lover of anything creative, by the age of 13, I started really taking my social media career and presence seriously. I started small. I would film small skits and videos and start posting them on YouTube hoping something would eventually go viral. Of course, all my videos flopped completely -- which is naturally what happens as a new up and coming YouTuber. However, I kept it going knowing one day all the effort and work will eventually come to light. Trying over 100 different new skits, I started posting more and more consistently and trying different types of content until one worked for me which was food. 

What advice do you have for teens interested in launching a social media channel?

I would just say go for it! Of course, in the beginning, it's going to be hard, challenging and even discouraging not seeing the numbers where you want. But keep going. I had so many setbacks and times I just wanted to give up and quit. I knew I would eventually succeed. Be yourself online. Also, consistency is key. Don't try to be someone you're not because eventually people do notice. It's also super important to follow trends and learn the algorithm to understand exactly what people are looking for and interested in.

Are you really pursuing a career in medicine? Tell us about it!

I love social media so much and I’m always working to want more. Although this is truly my passion, I also love helping people, which is why I started to create content about providing food to the homeless. After seeing how bad the homeless situation is in LA, it started really weighing heavy on my heart. So, one day when my brother was off from working his shift at the hospital, (he's a doctor) I sat down with him and discussed a potential future in medicine. My brother thought it was a great idea, especially because I love helping people and that's a true passion of mine, and medicine could help so many people in need.

Tell us about the ways you give back.

I really do love to give back and help others. I do a lot of charity work with my church which also involves feeding the homeless at different shelters around the area. The homeless shelter would be packed with people looking for their next meal and for some, it's their first meal of the day. I started thinking about all the homeless people who didn’t get a plate and who were going hungry. I came up with the idea to provide homeless and hungry individuals that I would see on the streets of different cities with the food that they so desperately needed. I now cook all fresh and healthy meals, wrap them, box them up and drive to different towns that have people in need. I also donate to different charities and organizations dedicated to helping the homeless.

Why is charity work important to you?

Since I was young my parents got me involved in charity work at the church and it really opened my eyes to how blessed I am and how many people are less fortunate. After moving to LA in 2021 and seeing the homeless epidemic, it gave me a desire to want to extend myself further.  Being that both my parents are immigrants and grew up with little to nothing, I understood the troubles some can have and how hard it must be to be in a difficult situation.  I truly have a heart for those who are less fortunate and it has become a part of my everyday life. Even If I can change one person's life and make them smile or a little happier, it's worth it to me. 

Tell us about your crowdfunding campaign.

I've partnered with AngeLink, a crowdfunding platform built and powered by women, to raise $182,000. This would allow me to feed 100 people every day for an entire year. So many of my followers have mentioned that they love how I give back and how important feeding the homeless and hungry is, so I'm also giving my followers the chance to help me feed thousands of people. The team at AngeLink has been really great at helping me with my goal and getting the word out to people that I'm trying to do something to feed those in need. 

What makes your social media different from others?

I started again when I was only 13, I poured my heart and soul into my work and what I do every day. I always wanted to use my platform to promote love and kindness to others and put a smile on their face. Just scrolling through all the social media apps, people can see so much negativity and even compare themselves to others constantly, which has shown to cause anxiety and depression especially toward kids and teens. But I want my social media to show people that it is possible to use your gifts and your time for good and to really help other people. I want people to smile when they watch my videos. Maybe they had a bad day. I hope that my cooking video or a video helping others makes them smile and know that there are good people out there. 

Wasil’s TikTok is: WasilDaoud. There’s a donation link in his bio.