Dawn Images

Expanding its influential TIME100 franchise, TIME Magazine has introduced the TIME100 Creators list, recognising creators who are reshaping culture, business, and influence in the digital age.

In an editorial explaining the move, TIME Editor-in-Chief Sam Jacobs said the decision to spotlight creators came from their growing cultural power and direct influence on how people “watch, spend, buy and vote.”

As audiences spend hours daily on social media, the creators they follow are now among the most influential figures globally. As Jacobs notes, “digital creators, the entrepreneurs who have built businesses through significant online followings, have emerged to shape our culture,” and they are “changing the way people inform themselves”.

“The signs of growth are everywhere. In 2024, internet users spent nearly 2.5 hours a day on social media. Much of that time was given over to individuals like those on TIME100 Creators. They are among the 67 million content creators globally, forming a multi-hundred-billion-dollar industry where social media creator revenues are growing five times faster than those of traditional media,” Jacobs writes.

The list, developed in collaboration with analytics firm #paid, includes 100 individuals who have built careers natively online, without relying on legacy media fame. TIME divided them into five broad categories: Titans, Entertainers, Leaders, Phenoms, and Catalysts.

Among the inaugural honourees are MrBeast, the YouTube philanthropist known for high-budget viral videos and massive charitable initiatives, Remi Bader, a fashion influencer advocating for size inclusivity, Sean Evans, whose fiery interview show Hot Ones has become a cultural phenomenon, and Cyrus Veyssi, whose comedic sketches and candid family moments drive conversations around queer identity and Iranian heritage.

Other featured creators include Khabane Lame, the deadpan TikToker debunking absurd life hacks, Prajakta Koli, whose relatable comedy sketches have led to mainstream success in India, iShowSpeed, the high-energy streamer bridging gaming and sports media, Kareem Rahma, the Egyptian-American comedian behind the popular Subway Takes show, and Palestinian-Uruguayan Leana Deeb, who promotes faith and fitness with modest activewear.

The list also features Jay Shetty, the former monk sharing modern wisdom through his massively popular podcast, and Ilona Maher, the Olympic rugby player whose goofy, body-positive content is redefining what it means to be an athlete online.

Others on the list include figures from around the world and across industries, beauty creators, gamers, educators, activists, and entertainers.