TIME, has released it’s second annual list of
“The 30 Most Influential People on the Internet.” Number one on that
list? None other than Kanye West. And most shocking Dj Khaled made the list. See Full list after the cut.
TIME doesn’t
explain their methodology outside of saying it’s because of their
“global impact on social media and their overall ability to drive news.”
The latter metric is… well, you’re reading an article about Kanye
making the top of the list, so it’s probably on point. Ye has been all
over the news recently for his repeated, lengthy outbursts on Twitter,
as well as the massive and rabid following from his music.
The
list is an eclectic one, featuring graphic designers, YouTube stars,
activists, authors, a motivational DJ and more. Kanye was not the only
member of the Kardashian clan on the list, as both Caitlyn Jenner and Kim Kardashian West made the cut (Caitlyn beat out Kim, which hopefully won’t cause any friction).
1. Kanye West
The artist and entrepreneur has perfected the art of the Twitter spree,
sharing candid thoughts that are often just as provocative—if not more
so—than his music. His tweets can be controversial (see: his comments on Amber Rose and Bill Cosby) and confusing (like his revelation that he’s $53 million in debt), but many do offer constructive criticism of the fashion and music industries. West also used the Internet to shake up the idea of an album as we know it, treating his latest LP, The Life of Pablo,
like a work in progress by refusing to sell it (it’s only available on
the streaming service Tidal) and promising alterations to its “final”
version.—Nolan Feeney
2.Joy Cho
The crown jewel of this graphic designer’s online empire, which also includes her popular lifestyle blog, is Pinterest, where Cho has 12.8 million followers.
As the most-followed person on the platform, she’s now able to garner
big partnerships, including a photo-documented road trip sponsored by Toyota and new lines of baby clothes and nursery and home décor for Target. More recently, she was tapped to design the souvenir eggs for the 2016 White House Easter Egg Roll.—Sarah Begley
3.James Corden
Even if you’ve never watched CBS’s Late Late Show, chances are you’ve seen its host singing in a car with Adele. Or playing “tattoo roulette” with One Direction. Or hijacking a tour bus
with Jason Derulo. This is a testament to how well the 37-year-old
British comedian understands how to be a late-night host in 2016,
pushing celebrities beyond their comfort zone to create the kinds of
funny, feel-good clips that thrive in the age of YouTube. Chief among
them is “Carpool Karaoke,” a semiregular series (now set for a prime-time special)
in which Corden chauffeurs famous artists as they bop along to their
own hits. The casual setup is more intimate than a studio set, which
encourages to guests let loose—and people to watch and share. So far, more than 85 million have watched his outing with Adele, in which the soulful singer wound up rapping along to a Nicki Minaj verse.—Daniel D’Addario
4.Laci Green
In an effort to provide a more approachable version of sex education, the YouTube star
offers sisterly advice on everything from hookup culture to body
positivity to BDSM. In sum, her videos have amassed 122 million views,
turning the 26-year-old, who was raised Mormon, into a millennial Dr.
Ruth. She’s now a go-to host (of MTV’s digital series Braless) and ambassador (for Trojan’s “Consent. Ask For It.” campaign)—with a rapidly growing fanbase.—Nolan Feeney
5.Josh Holz and Daniel Lara
6. DJ Khaled
Just five months after joining Snapchat, the music
producer (real name: Khaled Khaled) has become one of the social media
platform’s biggest stars and “a meme in human form.” His more than 20 million followers are drawn to his relentlessly positive attitude and numerous catchphrases—like “major keys to success,”
or motivational humblebrags that are often marked with the key emoji.
But his influence has extended well beyond Snapchat: Earlier this year,
the 40-year-old also recorded an inspirational message for Jeb Bush on Jimmy Kimmel Live! and starred in a video promoting ObamaCare as one of his major keys to success. He’s also been on the cover of Businessweek and made an appearance on The Ellen DeGeneres Show.—Samantha Grossman
7Johnetta Elzie and DeRay Mckesson
Although there are no official leaders of the
#BlackLivesMatter movement, Elzie and McKesson have both helped
meaningfully shape it through the Internet. After gaining national
attention for live-tweeting the 2014 events in Ferguson, Mo., they
founded WeTheProtesters.org,
an online hub and resource center for all #BLM activists. Together,
they command an audience of more than 400,000 people on Twitter, and
McKesson is running for mayor of his native Baltimore.—Eliza Berman
8. J.K. Rowling
10. Donald Trump
Donald Trump is redefining how political candidates
use social media, for better and for worse. Although supporters value
his candor, the GOP frontrunner has caught flack for tweeting insults at
or about his rivals—alleging that Megyn Kelly is a “bimbo,” for example, and dismissing Marco Rubio as “Little Marco.” All of which bolsters Trump’s virtual presence: the mogul touts almost 7 million followers on Twitter, more than any other presidential candidate, including Hillary Clinton.—Daniel D’Addario
11 Cristiano Ronaldo
Although the soccer star doesn’t post as often as some of his contemporaries, he is far and away the most popular athlete on social media and the undisputed king of Facebook, touting some 110 million followers. He’s also only the third celebrity to reach 200 million combined followers across Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, joining previous Time listees Taylor Swift and Justin Bieber. His posts on Facebook and Instagram, in particular, garner an average of one million interactions each, helping Ronaldo earn $27 million a year in off-field endorsement deals.—Megan McCluskey
13 Caitlyn Jenner
20. Angie Nwandu
As more and more of our own daily interactions
happen online, so, too, does celebrity drama. And Nwandu, 25, has made
it her business to capture it. Two years ago, she started The Shade Room, an Instagram account and blog that aims to be like Page Six
for celebrities on social media: a chronicle of who likes whose posts,
who comments on whose photos, and who starts following (or better yet,
unfollowing) each other. Since then, TSR has become a burgeoning media
empire, replete with its own tipsters, staff (there are now four full-time employees), and advertisers—all of whom serve an audience of 3.9 million. And counting.—Nolan Feeney
23. Kim Kardashian West
Kim Kardashian West is one of the most-watched people on the planet, with more than 120 million followers across Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and Snapchat. Most recently, she made headlines for posting, and then ardently defending,
a series of nude selfies. “I am empowered by showing the world my flaws
and not being afraid of what anyone is going to say about me,” she
wrote. “And I hope that through this platform I have been given, I can
encourage the same empowerment for girls and women all over the world.”
The reality star also launched two new mobile apps in the past year,
including Kimoji, which features icons of her famous derriere and “ugly cry” face.
25. Drake
More than perhaps any other artist, Drake understands the power of a meme. Last year, he released a strikingly simple video
for “Hotline Bling”—most shots were of him doing goofy dance moves amid
a neon backdrop—that all but begged to be parodied. And the Internet obliged, churning out countless GIFs, Vines and spoofs that helped make the song his biggest hit to date. More recently, Drake tapped meme culture to settle a score, using fan-made images to taunt rival Meek Mill during a performance.—Nolan Feeney
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