By the year 2025, individuals who navigated their careers through an intense online presence have risen to notably influential positions globally.
As predicted, topping the ranks is Donald Trump. The 79-year-old former president exercises control primarily through proclamations made on his social network, Truth Social. Meanwhile, the U.S. government has shifted under the leadership of a collection of diverse figures, including former conspiracy theorists, media personalities, vaccine skeptics, and entertainment industry leaders. Just a decade ago, the advice was to ignore the often vitriolic comments on platforms like YouTube; today, the personas reminiscent of those comments are the very ones shaping federal legislation.
Beyond Trump’s circle, this year’s influential list also highlights perennial figures: state-supported hackers from China, disruptive elements from the online underbelly known as “the com,” persistent online fraudsters, and notably, Elon Musk.
Every year, we compile a list of those whose actions make living in this internet-centric era feel akin to navigating an endless comments section—often resulting in tangible repercussions far beyond the digital realm. Here’s our overview for 2025.
Donald Trump
In 2025, Donald Trump has evolved into what may be his most unrestrained form yet. Free from traditional standards of governance, his second term emphasizes a relentless focus on the political ideologies pushed forward by advisors like Stephen Miller and Russell Vought. However, Trump continues to be the consummate social media figurehead, consistently disseminating a barrage of attacks, conspiracy theories, and incendiary remarks on Truth Social.
During a notably chaotic session in December, Trump engaged in an unprecedented posting spree, sharing hundreds of messages in just a few hours. Among them were demands to Congress to “TERMINATE THE FILIBUSTER” and comments regarding elections abroad. Just weeks prior, he had labeled a message reminding U.S. troops of their duty to disobey illegal commands as “SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR, punishable by DEATH.” With Trump’s postings drawing significant media attention, the constant turbulence he generates online impacts lives across the United States and beyond.
Each day under Trump mirrors this volatility, an ongoing characteristic for almost ten years. Recently, however, some resistance has emerged even within the Republican ranks, notably after his insensitivity surrounding the tragic deaths of filmmaker Rob Reiner and his wife. Still, Trump’s pervasive influence shapes public discourse and has the capability to alter lives through a single post on Truth Social. One fundamental principle remains clear for Trump: an unwavering commitment to continuous posting.
The Border Czars
In 2025, the Trump administration’s aggressive policies toward both documented and undocumented immigrants have generated a climate of fear in America. Reports of masked agents engaging in racial profiling and the arbitrary detention of individuals have become commonplace. Central to this transformation are White House advisor Stephen Miller and DHS Secretary Kristi Noem.
Miller, often referred to as the “architect” of the administration’s stringent immigration policies, has promoted aggressive enforcement actions that include a quoted desire to “arrest 3,000 people a day.” Despite official denials of such quotas, legal challenges have compelled administration officials to confront these claims in court. The influence of Miller has been so significant that the portrayal of immigrant lives has drastically shifted in news and social media under his direction, contributing to a fraught national narrative.
Noem has emerged as the public figurehead for these anti-immigrant initiatives. As leader of the DHS, she oversees both Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP), directly influencing the administration’s approach to enforcement. Measures under her purview include advanced social media surveillance methods, the implementation of facial recognition technology to monitor individuals, as well as a controversial proposal for subjecting travelers to reviews of up to five years of social media history.
DOGE
The startling narrative this year unfolds around the activities of a group under Elon Musk dubbed the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). This group, comprising largely young and inexperienced operatives, has managed to circumvent conventional background checks to access sensitive U.S. government systems. Their primary aim appears to be the interlinking of various datasets to establish an extensive surveillance database.
This situation raises significant concerns about privacy and data integrity as DOGE extends its influence over federal systems. The implications of such a comprehensive surveillance initiative could reshape aspects of governance and personal freedoms, highlighting the urgent need for increased scrutiny and protective measures within cybersecurity frameworks.
