We’re being led by children: TIME releases ’25 most influential people on the internet’ list

Scanning TIME’s current roster of the 25 most influential people on the internet does not give me much hope for the future of our society. I mean, when a beauty vlogger (something I was unaware existed until today) is counted among the most influential people in what is ostensibly our most important public square, the internet, well, we’re probably doomed.

In choosing who made the list, “TIME evaluated contenders by looking at their global impact on social media and their overall ability to drive news.” …  [W]e get James Charles, the aforementioned beauty vlogger; the Duke and Duchess of Sussex (Prince Harry and Meghan Markle); and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. The unranked list also includes such intellectual luminaries as the South Korean pop-supergroup BTS, stripper turned rapper Cardi B, and a teen star named JoJo Siwa whose claim to fame is “wearing bright colors and playing with unicorns.”

Look, I have nothing against JoJo Siwa, at least, I don’t think I do. But being 16 years old and singing catchy, optimistic pop tunes while dressed in intentionally eye-grabbing ways should not elevate someone to the position of influential. TIME’s inclusion of the young Nebraskan tells me that our society has inverted in how influence is derived. Instead of recognizing that wisdom comes with experience, we are now led by children.