What sets Generation Z apart from other generations? What drives today’s youth, and what keeps them awake at night? No one can tell us better than Gen Z themselves. That's why we are portraying 24 students from Radboud University. In this episode: Eeke Janssen (23), student Healthcare Psychology, is active on TikTok, WhatsApp, Snapchat and Instagram.

‘When I’m studying, I usually put my phone away. At university, when I’m with my girlfriends, it’s quite easy to do. At home, though, the temptation is too great, and before I know it, I’ve spent another 15 minutes on TikTok.

When I was younger, I was very susceptible to the influence of influencers. I would see them exercising, and I would feel bad. Now that I’m a bit older, I realise that those photos are often fake, and that influencers also have to deal with unpleasant things in their lives.

On social media, you see a lot of pictures of faraway destinations. I’ve already been to the United States and to Bali, but I still feel the pressure to travel. When I see a friend backpacking alone through Asia for three months, I feel like an outsider for not doing the same.

Besides TikTok, I also spend a lot of time on WhatsApp, Snapchat, and Instagram. My average screen time? Just over four hours, I see. That’s not too bad, because I also sometimes watch series on my phone.

Social media also have a positive side. Within my friend group, we often send each other memes. Those are the inside jokes we laugh about. Another great thing about social media is that they allow you to keep in touch with people you don’t see that much. Sometimes that leads to me taking a trip with old girlfriends.’