BTS, ARIANA, LIL NAS X: Net Gains

Who runs the ‘Net? According to Time magazine, BTS, Ariana Grande and Lil Nas X rank high on the list of the internet’s masters of the universe.

Time just released its annual 25 Most Influential People on the Internet tally, and while it’s unranked, the pop flavour is unmistakable. Among the comments:

Lil Nas X: “For proof that viral fame can lead to bonafide stardom, look no further. The rapper developed his online fan base and his fluency in the quick, satiric language of the Internet by curating memes on Twitter.”

BTS: “The South Korean supergroup is well on their way to becoming a household name thanks to their millions-strong fanbase of digital natives called ARMY who avidly consume and promote their content online.”

Ariana Grande: “Her success was buoyed, in part, by hype she built via Twitter call-outs that doubled as song lyrics and music videos designed for (and steeped in) Internet culture. It helps, of course, that Grande recently became Instagram’s most-followed musician, giving her 223 million followers across Instagram and Twitter.”