A young Cuban woman has gained viral attention on TikTok after sharing a video depicting the challenging conditions she faces daily in Cuba: enduring a lack of water, electricity, and unbearable heat. "Let me show you how we live here," the user @katicabm01 begins her video, explaining that she's been without water for over a week. Despite her home lacking power, a nearby circuit, just a few houses away, occasionally receives electricity. "They give them a little when we have none," she notes, as she illustrates her surroundings.
"These are most of my days. It's true that Cubans are the only ones who can always laugh at their misfortune," she comments while the voices of her neighbors can be heard in the background. The 70-second video has garnered more than 23,000 likes, over 1,400 comments, and has been shared hundreds of times.
Online Reactions: Sadness, Criticism, and Offers of Help
The responses to the video reveal a mix of outrage, empathy, and exhaustion. Many expressed sorrow and anger about the living conditions in Cuba: "This isn't living, it's surviving," "You can't raise a family like this," and "It's not fair to live this way in the 21st century."
Some directed sharp criticism at the island's political system: "This is the government's fault after decades of ruining the country," "Even during the Special Period, it wasn't this bad," and "This is the true face of Cuban socialism."
From abroad, many offered moral support and potential solutions: "If I could, I'd get you out of there right now," "In my country, you have a home, electricity, and food," and "I hope one day you can live with dignity." There were even suggestions to help her emigrate or recommendations of countries "where there's no shortage of water or electricity."
Some comments took a more sarcastic or resigned tone: "At least you have internet to tell the story," "And there are still people who defend this," "Cubans laugh because otherwise, they'd cry."
Katty has responded to several comments, expressing gratitude and sharing more videos to shed light on her daily reality. "Thanks for the support, my loves. Today I woke up the same, without water, but with hope," she wrote in one of them.
A Part of a Wave of Testimonies Against Precarious Living Conditions
Katty's video joins a wave of viral testimonies on TikTok, where Cubans expose the hardships on the island. Recently, a 94-year-old woman in Pinar del Río lamented the power outages and shortages of food and medicine. In another post, a family in Villa Clara showed how they adapt to power cuts by using a Soviet washing machine. A mother in Havana recounted how her child's puree spoiled after a night without electricity.
These stories capture what statistics cannot: how everyday life in Cuba has become an act of resilience. While many of these videos incorporate humor or tenderness, they underscore a reality defined by scarcity, frustration, and a lack of future prospects.
Katty's account brings a youthful face to a systemic issue. A generation that, amid power cuts and empty water tanks, strives to move forward with the only tools they have left: words, creativity, and a camera to tell their story.
Understanding the Cuban Crisis Through Social Media
What are the main challenges faced by Cubans as shown in these videos?
The videos highlight issues like lack of water and electricity, extreme heat, and overall challenging living conditions that residents endure daily.
How have people reacted to the viral videos from Cuba?
Viewers have expressed a mix of frustration, empathy, and anger, with some offering moral support or suggestions for emigration, while others criticize Cuba’s political system.
What role do these videos play in highlighting Cuba's issues?
These videos serve as powerful testimonies that reveal the underlying hardships of everyday life in Cuba, providing a personal glimpse into the struggles that statistics alone cannot convey.