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: Jesse Miltenburg (21), sociology student, who is signed with an influencer label.

‘TikTok is a kind of community where people get inspired by each other’s videos. When a certain type of video or topic is popular, other people elaborate and put their own spin on it. It feels like a game: if you capitalise on a current trend and your contribution is good, there is a chance you might go viral.

My best-viewed TikTok built on videos about popular English footballer Jude Bellingham. About how all women find him so attractive. That made wonder: who is the Dutch Jude Bellingham? The answer was Virgil van Dijk, so I made a TikTok video about him during the European Championship. That video got almost one million views. If I had created the video one month earlier or later, it wouldn’t have worked.

The fact that a video gets lots of views and likes is a key motivation for me. I would be lying if I said I only do it because I enjoy making videos so much. It’s fun to do, but what really gives me a buzz is other people enjoying it.

A few years ago, I felt a lot of pressure to keep making TikTok videos that got more views than the previous one. That is why I decided to stop for a while. Now I no longer feel that pressure. When I feel inspired, I post a video, and sometimes I don’t post anything for a few days.

I hope to start working as a media maker within a few years. I think it’s really important these days to market yourself as a person. That is why I recently joined an influencer label in Amsterdam. Who knows, maybe that will help me grow further.’