Some students mindlessly scroll on TikTok between classes, but Christian MacNaughton is the reason that some stop.
The Rockaway, New Jersey native and junior marketing major has created a social media platform for short-form comedy videos that blend relatability and a New Jersey niche. He’s known to social media as @thichris, with over 5,000 followers, and is better known for his @Jerzboys_ duo, with over 7,000 followers. MacNaughton transferred to Seton Hall during his sophomore year, from the University of Delaware, to be closer to home and pursue content as a full-time gig.
And what began as a spur-of-the-moment post in the summer quickly turned into something much bigger: a career.
“I guess I always wanted to be a creator, like for the longest time,” MacNaughton said. “I just didn't know what my path was as a creator. I didn't know what would be my niche.”
For MacNaughton, a single idea sparked the beginning of his content-creation future.
“I was in Miami over the summer one night, and I just had the random thought and idea to just post a skit,” he said. “It took 30 seconds to film, 10 seconds to edit, and I just uploaded it. And it did all right, got a couple thousand views. And I was like, huh, like I see a future in this.”
From that moment, MacNaughton decided to commit to the bit.
“I think the exact date was like Sept. 2, started the account, and then just haven't missed a day since,” he said. “Just posted every day and I don't plan on ever stopping.”
A major part of that consistency comes from collaboration with his longtime friend Andrew Shoals, a student at Montclair State University. The two first met at Morris Knolls High School and now regularly create content together on their TikTok and Instagram accounts @Jerzboys_.
“He's one of my best friends,” MacNaughton said. “I kind of started it and then he kind of came along and we were like, huh, I think it's way easier with two people, always someone for each other.”
Their videos are inspired by everyday life, especially moments familiar to college students and New Jersey residents, like going out for dinner or to a bar in Morristown, buying snacks and drinks at the local gas station, or even a wider audience of sports parodying lacrosse guys, NFL draft night outfits, and annoying Lebron James fans. With idea after idea, MacNaughton said that his creativity isn’t forced; it comes easily from observing the world around him.
“The biggest thing is not trying too hard,” he said. “If you just sat down and said, ‘Let me think of a skit idea,’ it doesn't come that way. It's just like the way my brain is wired, pretty much now. The way I see the world is always in the content point of view.”
Christian MacNaughton outside Jubilee Hall | Photo by Sofia Kasbo | The Setonian
MacNaughton stays true to this mindset and turns it into a stream of ideas.
“I'll see something on campus, the slightest inconvenience or something happens, and I just go right into my notes,” he said. “I have a notes on my phone, it's just full of ideas, like endless.”
As his content grew, so did his audience. One of his viral moments came just weeks after he started posting regularly.
“We made a video at The Hunt… I think it got like 200K,” MacNaughton said. “I just remember being in the car, refreshing views and I was like, ‘wow, this is awesome.”’
That moment confirmed what he had started to believe, and it made everything feel more real.
“I was like, wow, like I do see a future in this,” MacNaughton said.
With growth has come recognition, not just online, but on campus, too.
“Starting to get recognized on campus a few times, and then a bunch of kids now recognize me out in public,” MacNaughton said.
With recognition, MacNaughton said he separates his online persona from his real-life identity.
“I'm just a normal kid,” he said. “I'm taking an accounting class… I have to study for an exam next week.”
The dual lifestyle, student and creator, comes with challenges like keeping up with day-to-day tasks.
“The most challenging thing is kind of keeping that posting one every single day thing,” he said. “Sometimes when that 12, 1 o'clock runs around, and you don't have anything… you just have to go out and push something out.”
Amidst the pressure, MacNaughton said he enjoys the process.
“I do kind of look forward to waking up and like, ‘Oh, what am I posting tomorrow?’” he said.
Keeping up with content has been rewarding for MacNaughton. Beyond views and virality, the most meaningful part of his work has been the impact on others.
“The best is I'll be playing basketball, and some kids come up and say, ‘Dude, I love your stuff. I want to do something just like you one day,’” he said. “Just being a role model to some younger kids. That's my favorite thing.”
Being a content creator comes with room for brand deals and free PR packages. MacNaughton said his growing platform has also opened doors professionally.
“Brand deals have been coming in,” he said. “One of the biggest ones was getting reached out to by Jake Paul’s team. That was like, ‘Wow, that's really cool.”’
This growth, from a few thousand followers to brand partnerships and public recognition, has been surreal, MacNaughton said.
“Going into the school semester, the page didn't even exist,” he said. “Now coming to the end of the semester, it's like stuff showing up at my house, people ask me for pictures in public…it's kind of crazy what one semester of work can do.”
Christian MacNaughton infront of the green| Photo by Sofia Kasbo | The Setonian
MacNaughton credits part of his growth to his education at SHU. He explained that his classes have helped him become more confident and outgoing.
“It's really up to you, like the person you are,” he said. “Now I want to get my face out there as much as possible. I want to talk to everyone.”
Looking ahead, MacNaughton said he hopes to take his content to the next level post-graduation.
“I would love to take like a gap year and just take one year to go all the way in on content and just see what happens,” he said. “I don't plan on stopping content ever.”
For now, MacNaughton remains focused on what got him here: consistency, creativity and a willingness to take risks every day.
“I love that process of creating something,” MacNaughton said. “Having the idea first, going out, filming, editing, and then just waiting on the views. I really do love that process.”
Sofia Kasbo is the Managing Editor of The Setonian. She can be reached at sofia.kasbo@student.shu.edu.
