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With 1 million followers on X and over 18,000 followers on Instagram, Daniel Rega is extremely popular online for his controversial comments.He tells Faith Ajayi about his own social media personality
When did you become active on social media?
I have always been active on social media since my 2go days. However, my online presence was established on Facebook in 2018 before joining Twitter (now known as X) in early 2020.
Why did you choose X as your primary social media for interaction?
I think X is the fastest place to get real-time news. I didn’t choose X at first. First it was Facebook. However, since news headlines are often wrong or misunderstood, I wanted to try other platforms and decided to join Twitter. Since then, Twitter has been my first choice, even before it became popular.
What are some of the opportunities you have enjoyed as a social media influencer?
Being an influencer has helped me grow in many ways. Mentally, spiritually, and financially. I’m not a well-liked influencer, so I’ve had to toughen up mentally to withstand the backlash I often receive. It’s not that I don’t really care about people’s negative comments. Again, my relationship with God was taken more seriously. Because only God can protect me from invisible forces. Being an influencer also allows you to earn money, so I earn money by promoting brands. Another benefit is the connectivity that comes with it.
What are some of the challenges that come with being a social media personality?
It faces several challenges, the biggest one being the popularity that comes with it. A lot of people know me offline, and I’m not the type of person who likes unnecessary attention. This makes it extremely difficult for them to step outside, such as going to the market or using public transportation such as kekes (tricycles). I want to be able to carry out normal activities without feeling like I’m being watched.
How were you able to overcome those challenges?
There’s really nothing you can do. I just try not to think about it too much, and when I’m outside I try not to draw attention to myself. As for online hate, I don’t care at all because it’s not my problem. I couldn’t care less.
What kind of content/comments do you think brought you into the spotlight?
To be honest, I don’t know because I never set out to be an influencer and I never tried to be in the spotlight. Social media is my reality and contrary to what many people believe, I don’t post to infuriate people or get engagement. That’s why I couldn’t care less about their anger and negative comments.
You are said to be controversial. Have you always done that or did it come with your social media activity?
People say I’m controversial. That is their opinion and they are entitled to it. But I chose against it. Because what I’m doing isn’t intended to provoke a reaction, I’m simply airing my opinion like anyone else. Sometimes my comments may be contradictory, but that’s okay because I grow, unlearn, and relearn every day. So what you think is true today may turn out to be wrong if you research it or learn from others.
What important support did you receive when you started your social media journey?
When I started getting noticed on social media, I got a lot of support from my friends, especially my neighbors. At the time, I remember people calling and texting me just because something about me had been posted on a particular blog. I was so surprised as that was not my reason for posting on social media.
I remember the landlord, his brother, and the neighbors being very supportive. Some friends also supported me financially when I had banking problems. Their advice was also very helpful to me.
Two other people I’m really thankful for include VIP Vendor, who was the first brand that really wanted to work with me. I even won him a cash gift once. He was very supportive even before the fame and ambassadorial contract.
The second person is my friend Wariri Oga. Words cannot express how grateful I am for everything he has done for me.
Others I will always be grateful to are the owners of News Round The Clock and the executive producers of “The Tegan Show.”
Since you became famous, what is something you loved to do that you can no longer do?
I still do all the things I used to do before it became popular, from trekking to the market to negotiating with shoe stores. I’m not easily influenced by anyone or anything, and I don’t plan on changing my lifestyle to accommodate any point of view.
Besides being an influencer, what other things do you work on?
I work as a part-time chef and actually have a chef’s license. 2024 may be the year for me to explore other career paths. I’m looking forward to seeing what this year will bring. So excited and ready.
How do you deal with negative comments following controversial posts?
As I said earlier, I don’t get what people say negatively because it’s their personal opinion. I have opinions about others too, but I hope they don’t offend either. So if I was offended or concerned about people’s opinions of me, that would make me a hypocrite.
I usually start my day by watching animal documentaries, cartoons, or interesting educational content that sets my mood for the day. And I will do everything to protect my peace of mind. You can’t troll people you’re not interested in.
How do you deal with criticism in general?
Criticism is part of life. I expect it and learn from it. But I don’t pay attention to negative remarks and criticism, because I know that many people say such things out of malice.
How can you be sure to protect yourself from people who may have ulterior motives towards you?
That’s one of the challenges that comes with popularity. You never know who has ulterior motives or who is trying to harm you. However, you can be aware of some simple red flags. I just take as much care as I can and leave the rest to God.
Your page also promotes certain products and services, so what do you look out for before accepting a job?
I can’t reveal it because if I do, brands will try to take advantage of my intelligence and use it for their own benefit.
How did your family react when you became popular?
I didn’t give my family a choice. Because I’m going to do what I want, with or without their support. As I said, what I do online is more than just content. If I address an issue, it’s either something I’m affected by or it’s a pressing issue that needs to be discussed. I’m not intentionally posting anything that will cause harm to me. My family is worried, but these are issues we talk about almost constantly, so I understand. After all, it’s my life, but I appreciate their love and care.
Becoming an influencer on Instagram is considered more profitable than X. What do you think about this?
I don’t know if being an influencer on Instagram is more profitable than other platforms. But I feel it’s not the platform that matters, it’s how big the person, blog, or brand is. I turn down work worth millions of naira from both big and emerging brands on Twitter almost every month. For me, it wasn’t about money. Once you make it big as an influencer, you can make money regardless of the platform.
What keeps you motivated?
What keeps me going is the idea of the nature of life itself, which gets me through everything life throws at me.
What is a notable event that you have experienced that has had an impact on you?
I won’t go into details, but small things like nature had a big impact on me.
Some people think that you glorify poverty in your posts. What do you say about that?
People are free to think and assume whatever they like. I don’t owe them an explanation.
Have you ever wanted to be more active on social media platforms other than X?
I simply use X to express my thoughts. I may not be active on other social media platforms right now, but I’m trying. To address the issue of impersonation, you need to increase your presence on other social media platforms. Many people have already impersonated me and used my image to deceive people. That’s the main reason I need to be active. Or at least try to be.
What other areas are you interested in?
I love watching documentaries, especially those about ancient history. I also love traveling, discussing with people, and playing indoor games. I liked swimming, but I can’t swim.
How do you relax?
it depends. Sometimes I would call my friends and talk about the gist, or I would hang out with my neighbors and reminisce about the good old days. Sometimes I simply take a walk down the street, and sometimes I take public transportation and walk down a few streets to clear my head and get some fresh air. Especially at night, it’s a kind of soothing experience. Sometimes I have fun discussions with my neighbors, and I find that very energizing.
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