NASH GRIER @NASHGRIER
The 17-year-old from North Carolina is the most-followed person on Vine, where his six-second comedy videos—with titles like “Really ... green beans?”—have been played more than 2 billion times.
TECH
THE MOST INFLUENTIAL PEOPLE ON THE INTERNET If we’ve learned anything from the white-gold (or was it blue-black?) Dress That Broke the Internet, first posted to Tumblr by a 21-year-old singer from Scotland, it’s that anyone with a web connection can make worldwide headlines. Yes, it helps to be famous in real life. But the rise of social networks like Vine and Tumblr and the growth of stalwarts like Facebook and YouTube have leveled the playing field, allowing unknowns to command audiences rivaling those of real-world leaders, even if by accident. With that in mind, Time set out to identify the 30 most influential people on the Internet, based on socialmedia followings, site growth and traffic, and overall ability to drive news. Here, a sampling from the full list available at time.com/webwinners. —DAN MACSAI
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THE JESTER @TH3J35T3R
a hero to some and a criminal to others, the Jester is one of a growing army of anonymous cyberwarriors, or “hacktivists,” who push the boundaries of the law in the name of their causes. In his case, that means targeting terrorists and hate groups. Since he assumed his persona five years ago, the Jester says he’s taken down more than 180 websites, including some associated with ISIS, and played virtual pranks on groups like the Westboro Baptist Church, which is known for anti-gay rhetoric. Of course, it’s impossible to verify such claims with certainty. But if true, they make him one of the most powerful stand-alone hackers in the world. The Jester knows this is risky business. “If they’ll murder cartoonists, they’ll have a field day with me,” he tells Time of hacking a site linked to al-Qaeda. That’s why anonymity is paramount. During our interview, which was conducted via email and the Jester’s officially recognized Twitter account, he would not confirm personal details or give proof of his nationality (American, he says), gender (male) and employment (“I have a day job!”). Over the years, dozens of people tried to unmask him. None succeeded. “Hence,” he says, “I’m still here.” After each hack, the Jester sends a tweet: “TANGO DOWN.” It’s military shorthand for “enemy eliminated.” (He says he used to serve.) Soon after, the Jester’s 66,500 Twitter followers erupt in congratulations. To them, he is a hero—defending his country, as he puts it, “in any capacity I am able to with maximum effect.” But technically, under U.S. cyberlaws, the Jester is an outlaw. Although hackers are rarely prosecuted—and several law-enforcement officials told Time they agree with the Jester’s motives—it is still illegal for a private citizen to hack a server. Look no further than the Sony attacks to understand why. For now, the Jester is probably safe. One of his laptops even sits behind glass at the International Spy Museum in Washington, where it raises questions about what, in the Wild West of the digital world, constitutes mischief, warfare or an act of patriotic duty. —haley sweetland edwards
KIM KARDASHIAN @KIMKARDASHIAN
THE JESTER’S CLAIMS TO FAME NOVEMBER 2010
Shut down WikiLeaks shortly after it started posting classified U.S. documents MAY 2013
Hacked a Westboro Baptist Church site to post an obscene image of Jesus JANUARY 2015
Hacked an al-Qaeda propaganda site to post Charlie Hebdo covers and “Je Suis Charlie”
The reality star has mastered the art of virtual selfpromotion: her selfies get millions of likes on Instagram (she’s one of the app’s most-followed users), and her candid tweets routinely make headlines (“Can I live?!?” she posted after being criticized for cropping her daughter out of a photo).
G R I E R , M O C K , H A R I : G E T T Y I M A G E S; I L L U S T R AT I O N B Y S TA N L E Y C H O W F O R T I M E
