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: Vivian van Iersel 26, Psychology, and Youri Wolf, 21, Psychology, want to reduce their telephone use.

Vivian: ‘I have almost no social media. Only TikTok, since recently, but mostly for watching things. I don’t feel the need to share pictures of myself.’

Youri: ‘I do use social media a lot: Snapchat, Instagram, TikTok, BeReal. Not that I post much, only when I’m on holiday or I’ve done something special. I mainly use it to keep abreast of what other people are doing. The amount of time I spend on it varies from day to day. Especially on quiet days, I notice that I spend too much time on social media. Maybe three hours or so.’

Vivian: ‘I notice with TikTok that I sometimes get completely sucked in. That I don’t even like what I’m watching, but I still keep scrolling to the next video.’

Youri: ‘Sometimes I sit with my phone in my hands and without even being conscious of it, I’m suddenly back on Instagram… It’s really frustrating. I also enjoy reading books. So then I think: why didn’t I just pick up a book?’

‘I also get annoyed by people online pretending that their lives are perfect.’

Vivian: ‘I still have some self-control, but only so long as I don’t open the app. That’s why I’m thinking of deleting TikTok from my phone. I find it irritating when people are constantly looking at their phones. What’s so important? I actually never have my smartphone with me when I’m working on something.’

Youri: ‘I also get annoyed by people online pretending that their lives are perfect.’

Vivian: ‘Being on social media a lot can also lead to fear of missing out. I have that with Polarsteps, an app on which people track their travel adventures. When I’m sitting in the library studying, and I see other people travelling, I feel a bit depressed.’

Youri: ‘But there are also positive aspects. Some people find an online community through social media, and feel less lonely as a result. And it is a nice way of keeping in touch with people who are far away: you still get a glimpse of their life through photos.’