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Internet-wise, 2018 has seen its fair share of highs and lows.

We’ve seen memes like “Yanny or Laurel” cause endless amount of drama, we’ve groaned over the diet lollipop debacle, and we’ve applauded those who’ve got the guts to free the nipple when no one would dare to try.

These happenings are all thanks to the popular celebs and influencers behind them, and now their efforts are being recognised.

TIME Magazine just released their list of their most influential people on the internet. To be included on the list means that these figures have a way of shaping headlines, and grabbing social media’s attention.

Question is, did your favourites make the list?

We’re about to find out – here’s who have been making and breaking the internet this year:

1. BTS

2. Logan and Jake Paul

3. Rihanna

4. Charlotte and Dave Willner:

Earlier this month, after reading that more than 2 000 children had been separated from their families as part of the Trump Administration’s controversial “zero tolerance” immigration policy, the Willners wanted to help. So they created a Facebook fundraiser titled “Reunite an immigrant parent with their child”; their goal was to generate $1 500 (over R20 000) for the Refugee and Immigrant Center for Education and Legal Services, a Texas-based nonprofit, better known as RAICES, which provides legal help to immigrants and refugees.

Instead, it became the most successful single fundraising campaign in Facebook history, raising more than $20 million (over R274 million) from more than 500 000 people.

5. Naomi Watanabe

6. President Trump (ja, he’s made the list, unfortunately)

7. Daniel Baker and Joel Martinez (aka Desus and Mero)

8. Sia Cooper (aka. @DiaryOfAFitMommyOfficial):

Cooper is primarily a fitness blogger, but it’s her ubiquitous comments on the Instagram accounts of celebrities (typically phrases with fire and heart emojis) that have helped turn her into one of the most notorious accounts on the social media platform …

Her incessant commenting has netted her more than 1 million Instagram followers and $500,000 in annual earnings as a social media influencer.

9. Kanye West

10. Roland Szabo (the dude behind “Yanny or Laurel”, BTW)

11. Eman al Nafjan

12. Scott Rogowsky:

Rogowsky was getting ready to leave New York, where he had pursued a comedy career, for life in Los Angeles when he snagged a hosting audition for HQ Trivia, a live game app promising cash prizes to winners. Since launching in 2017, HQ Trivia — and Rogowsky himself — have blossomed into phenomenon, reaching millions of players who tune in twice a day to answer the game’s 12 questions (which range from easy to obscure) in an attempt win money …

While a team of writers usually prepares material for Rogowsky, the onetime improv comedian frequently goes off script and his humor and style keep players returning to the game.

13. The Women of #BabaeAko

14. Ryan (aka Ryan ToysReview)

15. Shaun King

16. Tony Liu and Lindsey Schuyler (aka @DietPrada):

More than half a million followers — including Marc Jacobs, Chrissy Teigen and Gigi Hadid — follow the watchdogs of Diet Prada, both freelance designers in New York City, for alerts on supposed copycats …

“It really just feels wrong when someone is monetizing someone else’s creative works,” Liu, 32 tells TIME. “We both really care to protect creativity and push for more integrity throughout the industry.”

17. Matt Drudge

18. Kayla Itsines

19. ‘Q’

20. Busy Philipps

21. Tyler Blevins (aka Ninja):

Blevins may not be as renowned as LeBron James or Cristiano Ronaldo, but there’s no doubt he’s a most valuable player. His arena of choice: Fortnite, the wildly popular battle-royal­ video game, set in a post-apocalyptic future.

There, 27-year-old Blevins plays as Ninja, a revered figure whose live streams—filled with goofy commentary that can touch on tangential subjects like the best brands of children’s cereals—have generated more than 230 million views on Twitch.tv.

22. Lil Miquela

23. The Students of Parkland, Florida

24. Kylie Jenner

25. Ariel Martin (aka Baby Ariel):

It wasn’t enough for 17-year-old Ariel Martin, known to her fans as Baby Ariel, to be the most popular star on Musical.ly. (She currently has nearly 28 million followers on the lip-syncing app alone.) After signing to Atlantic Records, Martin started releasing her own original music, with four pop songs in 2018 that have racked up over 70 million YouTube views and 15 million Spotify streams.

There you go, 2018’s list of most influential people on the ‘net is done and dusted.

Better luck next time to those who didn’t crack the list.

[source:time]