Obama, Modi, Shakira among 30 most influential people on the Internet

What do JK Rowling, Taylor Swift, Beyonce and Barack Obama have in common. They are all among the 30 most influential people on the Internet by Time magazine.

Narendra Modi has roughly 38 million followers on social networking sites Twitter and Facebook. US President Obama of course leads the show. Time said the US President is the most-liked world leader on Facebook and the most-followed on Twitter.

“Unlike many of his contemporaries, Modi recognises that social media can be invaluable when trying to reach India’s 200 million-plus online population directly,” the Time magazine said.  It may be recalled Obama’s visit to India was first announced on twitter, bypassing traditional media outlets.

The list also includes reality star Kim Kardashian, Justin Beiber, Gwyneth Paltrow, Yao Chen and Shakira. Time said, “Yes, it (social media) helps to be famous in real life. But the rise of social networks has levelled the playing field, allowing unknowns to command audiences rivalling those of real-world leaders, even if by accident,” it said.

Barack Obama

He’s the most-liked world leader on Facebook, the most-followed world leader on Twitter. One of his videos was viewed more than 50 million times.

Narendra Modi

The Indian Prime Minister has roughly 38 million total followers on Twitter andFacebook, more than any other leader in the world except President Obama. And unlike many of his contemporaries, Modi recognizes that social media can be invaluable when trying to reach India’s 200 million-plus online population directly.

J.K. Rowling

The author, 49, has given Harry Potter new life online, answering fan questions, teasing future projects and revealing uberviral plot extras to her 4.2 million followers on Twitter

Yao Chen

On Chinese micro-blogging site Weibo, the 35-year-old actress touts a record 77 million followers, putting her in command of a population that exceeds the size of most countries. And Yao, who became a Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in 2013, frequently taps it to advance causes she champions.

Shakira

The two-time Grammy winner touts 107 million Facebook fans more than President Obama and Taylor Swift. One of her posts had tallied 1.3 million likes and nearly 90,000 shares.

Justin Bieber

The singer routinely makes headlines and has 23 million Instagram followers, 78 million Facebook fans and 61 million Twitter followers.

Caitlin McNeill

The 21-year-old Scottish singer and guitarist, had uploaded the dress photo from a wedding in Colonsay. The image went viral on social media and sparked an intense debate between everyone who has seen the dress. While some look at the dress and said that it is blue and black, others were adamant that the dress is white and gold. It was a question that the whole world was asking for one week.

Taylor Swift

The 25-year-old singer has millions of followers across social media.

TIME’s List of 30 Most Influential People on the Internet:

  • Felix Arvid Ulf Kjellberg – Swedish gamer and vlogger
  • Taylor Swift
  • The Jester – anonymous hacktivist
  • Nash Grier – prolific Vine user
  • Barack Obama
  • Kim Kardashian
  • Joy Cho – blogger
  • Janet Mock – transgender rights activist
  • Justin Bieber
  • Ta-Nehisi Coates – writer and journalist
  • Grace Helbig
  • Vani Hari – food blogger
  • Beyoncé
  • Gwyneth Paltrow
  • Tyler Oakley
  • Cristina Fernández de Kirchner – Argentinian president
  • Matt Drudge
  • Yao Chen – actress, blogger
  • Bethany Mota – beauty blogger
  • Alexei Navalny – Russian blogger and whistleblower
  • Brittany Furlan
  • Shakira
  • Denny Januar Ali – Indonesian political analyst
  • Anita Sarkeesian
  • Josh Ostrovsky
  • Brandon Stanton
  • JK Rowling
  • Narendra Modi – Indian PM
  • Jimmy Fallon
  • Caitlin McNeill – responsible for unleashing The Dress on the internet. SMDH.

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About the Author: Akhtar Jamal

Tribune International