Social media has given a wonderful platform for people to build a career entirely by having an online presence. The past couple of years have seen a bunch of social media influencers and YouTubers who earn a living just by posting content on the internet. It’s amazing to see how with just 15-second Instagram Reels, people are able to garner a loyal audience, thereby attracting paid collaborations with top brands.
However, a lot of these people invested either their own or their parents’ money to start off their online journey. There are teenagers who saved their pocket money to purchase items for ‘haul’ videos, there are young adults who used their internship stipend to buy a gym membership so they can make workout videos, there are professionals who are investing a portion of their salary into buying equipment for making visually-striking videos.
But what about the people who do not have such kind of disposable income in the first place? What about those who are struggling to make ends meet and have a family to feed? What about those whose lives are not flashy or ‘aesthetic’ for the internet? Do they not deserve an equal shot at internet fame?
Of course they do. Their lives might not be ‘Instagram worthy’, but they are worth something.
Meet Aamir Hussain, a guy who works 12-hour shifts as a security guard. His life is definitely not something youngsters would call ‘Instagram-worthy’. But still, he makes Reels documenting his life regularly and it shows raw, real struggle.
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His life is what struggle looks like for a large chunk of Indians. He calls himself a “simple man” (as per his Instagram bio) who has the responsibility to look after his family and make ends meet. He survives on basic food in a small room. He makes a makeshift barbell with buckets of water and a large stick so he can work out at home.
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He is not embarrassed to show his struggles or how his life really looks. He is hustling on the internet, just like a lot of people. His vlogs are very different from what we usually see on social media. He wakes up as early as 4.30 AM, gets ready, eats a few bites and leaves for work.
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Several people on the internet constantly shower him with love and support to keep him motivated to keep going. Here’s a look at some of the comments under his posts:
Hard work rarely ever disappoints. We hope his life turns around for the better very soon!