Aside from having high self-worth before starting, it’s definitely good to have a good lawyer and accountant immediately. And then making sure you have a good support system around you, and stay focused.
As a part of our series about leaders who are using their social media platform to make a significant social impact, we had the pleasure of interviewing Dave Disci.
Dave Disci is a prominent YouTuber and social media influencer known for his insightful commentary on K-pop, and Asian entertainment. With a significant following across multiple platforms, including TikTok and Instagram, he uses his influence to raise awareness about social justice issues and share his experiences as an Asian American. Dave’s engaging content and dedication to breaking stereotypes have made him a respected voice in the online community.
Thank you so much for joining us in this interview series! Can you tell us a story about what brought you to this specific career path?
I’ve always enjoyed telling stories. In fact, when I was in fifth grade, I created a series of flip books that were animations of a story. As I got older, I realized the easiest and quickest way I could tell a story was if I appeared on camera. That, coupled with the fact that I have always been obsessed with current events, led me to the path of news. Which is what I try to do: create news in a compelling way.
Can you share the most interesting story that happened to you since you began this career?
Recently, I got to attend the red carpet for a movie about Amy Winehouse’s life, Back To Black. The red carpet’s first talent was me, and following me were Bradley Cooper, Constance Wu, and several other famous cast members and directors of the movie. I was absolutely shaking, and this has definitely been my highlight so far.
It has been said that our mistakes can be our greatest teachers. Can you share a story about the funniest mistake you made when you were first starting? Can you tell us what lesson you learned from that?
I can’t think of anything funny, but I did deprive myself of a lot of fun things in life when I started. I quit my job in December 2019, and by April 2020, I was already making a full-time living. However, from April 2020 to about June 2022, I wasn’t doing anything with the money I was making. I was literally just saving it — not going out, not eating good foods, and I was still living with my parents, so I wasn’t paying for anything there either. I did end up saving a lot, but I imagine for many people, this would be very depressing and might make them choose a different career path. I do wish I had enjoyed myself more during that time.
You have been blessed with success in a career path that can be challenging. Do you have any words of advice for others who may want to embark on this career path, but seem daunted by the prospect of failure?
I still don’t feel like I have succeeded, and I think that is the challenging part. When I walk into a room, whether it be an influencer event, an event hosted by YouTube, or a film studio event,, no one ever knows who I am or what I do. Oftentimes, I am dismissed as someone who “probably doesn’t do much.” At events, if photographers from Getty are present, I’ve seen them post photos of people with far fewer followers and never post mine. This is one of the most challenging aspects because many of us get into this career path seeking approval from others, and when this happens, it feels devastating. Knowing your self-worth before going into it is probably helpful.
Ok super. Let’s now jump to the core focus of our interview. Can you describe to our readers how you are using your platform to make a significant social impact?
I don’t want to die knowing that at one point I had viewers and never used it to impact the world. It is much easier to make social commentary on my K-pop YouTube channel, as those videos are much longer. However, I have noticed lately that I’ve had to hold back on my social commentary as people seem to be put off by it. It is much harder to take a stance on TikTok or any short-form content site. Because of this, I have decided to use my voice during events where press is present to make a statement with my fashion or through interviews.
Can you tell us a story about a particular individual who was impacted by this cause?
This is difficult to gauge for me, as the only way to know is by reading all the comments and messages, which can be hard at times. However, I read comments on a post I made about the Back To Black movie premiere. One person told me that they have always been impacted by Amy Winehouse. I wore a shirt that highlighted the phone number for the alcohol poison center, which is related to how Amy died. People were very happy that I raised awareness about that issue.
Was there a tipping point that made you decide to focus on this particular area? Can you share a story about that?
Alcohol poisoning is an issue close to me. My family has suffered from alcohol abuse, and I grew up with a lot of violence in my household. There was a time when I even wanted to end my life because of it. So any chance I get to raise my voice on this topic, I will probably take it.
Are there three things the community/society/politicians can do to help you address the root of the problem you are trying to solve?
I’m not entirely sure, but I think if there was a way to erase social stigma around getting help, going to therapy, or just looking for other ways to cope with problems, it could solve a lot. People drink for so many different reasons, and a lot of it, I don’t think anyone can help solve, but the way people seek help could use work
Why do you think social media in particular has the power to create social change and create a positive impact on humanity?
I think social media just reaches a lot of people. I think it’s hard to ignore the impact social media has and can oftentimes make us feel a lot less alone in our problems.
What specific strategies have you been using to promote and advance this cause? Can you recommend any good tips for people who want to follow your lead and use their social platform for a social good?
Going to events and talking about it online is probably the best way to do this. The awesome thing about nowadays is that anyone can go viral online. So any photo ops and any post can reach a lot of people.
What are your “5 things I wish someone told me when I first started” and why? Please share a story or example for each.
Aside from having high self-worth before starting, it’s definitely good to have a good lawyer and accountant immediately. And then making sure you have a good support system around you, and stay focused.
Having a good team around you lets you conquer any situation that arises. I had a lot of haters saying that my content would get me in trouble. When I had a lawyer look it over, they never said anything was wrong with it, and in fact, those saying that there are issues, I could potentially take legal action on them. Also, in the beginning, I didn’t have a good support system around me, so I was very depressed, and that made the work I did feel miserable.
You are a person of enormous influence. If you could inspire a movement that would bring the most amount of good to the most amount of people, what would that be? You never know what your idea can trigger. 🙂
I would love to contribute to the homelessness cause in the US. It’s close to my heart because my family and I have faced struggles finding a place to live.
Is there a person in the world, or in the US whom you would love to have a power lunch with, and why? He or she might just see this, especially if we tag them. 🙂
Let’s shoot for the stars here, let’s try Chris Hemsworth. I love the Marvel universe and would love to pick his brain.
How can our readers further follow your work online?
You can find me anywhere with my name Dave Disci. Tiktok is @davedisci.stories and instagram is @dave.disci
This was very meaningful. Thank you so much!
Social Media Stars Making a Social Impact: Why & How Dave Disci Is Helping To Change Our World was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.