Time managing editor
Rick Stengel says that thanks to technology and social media, "influence was never easier - or more ephemeral."
And that explains how some of our pop-culture faves are on the 2012 Time 100: The Most Influential People in the World list, right along with
Kim Jong Un, Hillary Clinton, Tim Tebow and
Jeremy Lin. They include:
Kate and
Pippa Middleton, Chelsea Handler, Rihanna, Claire Danes, Kristen Wiig, ...