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Social media has transformed the way the world connects with celebrities, athletes and public figures.
A decade ago, follower counts were already a cultural barometer — a rough but revealing measure of who the public loved, admired or simply couldn’t look away from. Today, those numbers have exploded into the hundreds of millions, reshaping what it means to be famous.
Looking at the most followed people on Instagram, X (formerly Twitter) and TikTok in 2016 compared to 2026 reveals just how dramatically the social media landscape has shifted.
Some stars have surged in popularity, others have quietly faded from the top ranks, and entirely new platforms have minted a fresh generation of online celebrities.
TikTok, for instance, wasn’t even available in the United States in 2016. Now it serves as a benchmark for many celebrities’ success. And Twitter, once the go-to platform for real-time cultural conversation, has lost its touch after rebranding as X.
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Here’s a look at who dominated social media then — and who rules it now.
Most Followed People on Instagram in 2016
A decade ago, Instagram’s biggest accounts were led almost entirely by pop stars and reality TV personalities.
The 2016 rankings, courtesy of Forbes, painted a picture of a platform shaped heavily by the music and entertainment industries.
Here’s a closer look at the most-followed people on Insta in 2016:
10. Kendall Jenner (69.6 million followers)
9. Nicki Minaj (69.6 million followers)
8. Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson (71.8 million followers)
7. Kylie Jenner (80.3 million followers)
6. Cristiano Ronaldo (83.2 million followers)
5. Kim Kardashian West (88.5 million followers)
4. Beyoncé (89.4 million followers)
3. Ariana Grande (90.5 million followers)
2. Taylor Swift (94.1 million followers)
1. Selena Gomez (103 million followers)
Selena Gomez topped the list, making her the undisputed queen of the platform. Fellow singers Taylor Swift, Ariana Grande and Beyoncé followed.
Three Kardashian-Jenner sisters — Kim Kardashian West, Kylie Jenner and Kendall Jenner — ranked in the top 10, while only two men (Dwayne Johnson and Cristiano Ronaldo) achieved the same.
Who Has the Most Followers on Instagram in 2026?
Fast-forward to today, and the Instagram landscape looks significantly different.
Taylor Swift, who held the No. 2 spot in 2016, has dropped out of the top 10 entirely. Kendall Jenner has been replaced in the rankings by her sister Khloé Kardashian. And Nicki Minaj is no longer on Instagram, as of last year.
Despite having no men in the top five in 2016, two soccer superstars now hold the No. 2 and No. 3 positions. Instagram itself claims the top spot.
READ MORE: We Were All Busy Surviving 2016 — But These 13 Blasts From the Past Were Iconic
The top 10 is essentially dominated by soccer stars, Kardashian-Jenner sisters and singers. And The Rock, of course, is standing strong.
Here are the current rankings, per Instagram:
- Instagram — 699 million
- Cristiano Ronaldo — 671 million
- Lionel Messi — 511 million
- Selena Gomez — 415 million
- Kylie Jenner — 391 million
- Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson — 390 million
- Ariana Grande — 372 million
- Kim Kardashian — 353 million
- Beyoncé — 307 million
- Khloé Kardashian — 299 million
Cristiano Ronaldo’s rise from No. 6 with 83.2 million followers to No. 2 with 671 million is among the most dramatic jumps on the list — a gain of nearly 588 million followers in a decade. Selena Gomez, who led the platform in 2016 with 103 million, has quadrupled her following to 415 million but now sits at No. 4.
Instagram’s own account, meanwhile, rules everyone.
Most Followed Twitter Accounts in 2016
Over on what was then known as Twitter, the top accounts in 2016 leaned more toward pop music royalty and a certain former president.
The 2016 rankings, courtesy of TIME, showed a different mix than Instagram.
10. Britney Spears (49.3 million)
9. Kim Kardashian West (49.3 million)
8. Justin Timberlake (57.3 million)
7. Ellen DeGeneres (63.8 million)
6. Lady Gaga (64.6 million)
5. Rihanna (68.1 million)
4. Barack Obama (80.1 million)
3. Taylor Swift (82.2 million)
2. Justin Bieber (90.2 million)
1. Katy Perry (94.5 million)
Katy Perry, who was a year removed from her Prism era and Super Bowl halftime show, led all Twitter accounts by more than four million followers.
Justin Bieber was a year removed from his fourth studio album, Purpose, while Taylor Swift had just wrapped up “The 1989 World Tour.” And then there’s Barack Obama, who was at the tail end of his eight-year run as President.
Most Followed X Accounts in 2026
The platform now known as X tells a very different story in 2026.
It should come as no surprise that Elon Musk, the owner of the platform, is the most followed person on X with 234.4 million followers. Ironically, the platform’s official X account only has 60.3 million.
READ MORE: 10 Years of Nostalgia: Why the Internet Is Looking Back at 2016 With Rose-Colored Glasses
World leaders are next in line, with former President Barack Obama at No. 2 with 119 million, current President Donald Trump at No. 3 with 110 million and current Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi at No. 4 with 106.1 million.
Here’s the rest of the top 10:
10. Taylor Swift (78.9 million)
9. Katy Perry (85.2 million)
8. NASA (88.9 million)
7. Justin Bieber (89.9 million)
6. Rihanna (96.4 million)
5. Cristiano Ronaldo (105.7 million)
4. Narendra Modi (106.1 million)
3. Donald Trump (110 million)
2. Barack Obama (119 million)
1. Elon Musk (234.4 million)
NASA is the only brand in the top 10, and celebrities round out the rest. The shift from a pop-star-dominated platform to one led by its owner and political figures marks a notable change in X’s identity compared to the Twitter of 2016.
Who Has the Most Followers on TikTok in 2026?
TikTok was released in the U.S. in 2017, according to Reuters.
The platform’s early success was dominated by Charli D’Amelio, who led the way with 105 million followers by the end of 2020, per Global Stats. Addison Rae, Zach King, Bella Poarch, Spencer X and Loren Gray were the only others with at least 50 million followers at the time.
In May 2021, Khaby Lame entered the top 10 and never looked back. He had 40 million followers at the time and grew that number to 143 million by June 2022 when he overtook D’Amelio as the most followed person on TikTok, per Global Stats.
Here’s the top 10 as of February 2026:
- Khaby Lame — 160.4 million
- Charli D’Amelio — 155.8 million
- MrBeast — 124.7 million
- TikTok — 92.9 million
- Bella Poarch — 92.7 million
- Addison Rae — 88.3 million
- Zach King — 84.4 million
- Willie Salim — 84 million
- Kimberly Loaiza — 83.7 million
- Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson — 79.7 million
Khaby Lame’s rise from 40 million in May 2021 to 160.4 million as of February 2026 underscores just how quickly fortunes can change on a platform that didn’t even exist in the U.S. a decade ago.
