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Teens' icons and role models aren't just actors and athletes anymore - now, they're looking up to their favorite people to follow on Instagram and YouTube.
Financial analysts at Piper Jaffray recently surveyed 9,500 teenagers as part of its biannual project to gain insight into Generation Z's favorite brands, day-to-day habits, and preferences when it comes to shopping, spending money, and spending time.
The results, released Tuesday, show a lot about teens' social media behavior: they're spending more time watching videos on YouTube rather than on Netflix, and Instagram is their most-frequented app - although Snapchat remains the favorite.
Researchers also asked teens about their favorite influencers and personalities to follow across social media. The top 10 people that teens chose have massive presences across Instagram, YouTube, and Twitter.
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There are the top 10 most popular social media personalities, per Piper Jaffray's fall 2019 Generation Z survey:
Top social media platform: Instagram — 22.8 million followers
Sommer Ray is a 23-year-old fitness model who has amassed a massive presence on Instagram. She also runs a YouTube channel where she posts vlogs and fitness workouts, and hosts a podcast with influencer Amanda Cerny.
(tied) 10. Danny Duncan
Top social media platform: YouTube — 3 million subscribers
Danny Duncan is known for posting YouTube videos of pranks and athletic stunts. He just wrapped up his second "Virginity Rocks" tour, which have included "a dance-off between little people, haircuts for his fans, and jousting matches onstage."
8. Kevin Hart
Top social media platform: Instagram — 79.9 million followers
Kevin Hart is a prolific comedian and actor who is as popular as he is controversial: He was slotted to host the Oscars this year, but stepped down after anti-LGBTQ tweets and stand-up jokes were surfaced. He recently suffered a "major back injury" in a car crash.
7. Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson
Top social media platform: Instagram — 158 million followers
Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson — the pro wrestler turned actor — has made a name for himself on Instagram, where he frequently posts everything from workout regimens, behind-the-scenes shots from film sets, and cute moments with his kids. He recently got married to his longtime girlfriend, Lauren Hashian.
6. LeBron James
Top social media platform: Instagram — 51.9 million followers
Professional basketball player LeBron James is one of the most well-known NBA stars, and arguably one of the best of all time. He's the most-followed American athlete on Instagram, where he shares photos of both his Los Angeles Lakers team and his family, including their Taco Tuesday night that he recently attempted (and failed) to trademark.
5. Emma Chamberlain
Top social media platform: YouTube — 8.5 million subscribers
Emma Chamberlain is one of the most talked-about Generation Z-aged influencers. She's grown her fame in just two years on YouTube, where she posts candid vlogs from her daily life that teen girls can relate to.
4. PewDiePie
Top social media platform: YouTube — 101 million subscribers
PewDiePie, aka Felix Kjellberg, is the most-followed solo YouTuber on the platform. He's known for his popular videos where he gives commentary while playing video games, as well as his coverage of internet memes and viral videos. Kjellberg has also attracted negative attention for a long history of offensive racist and anti-Semitic remarks, which YouTube has punished him for.
3. Donald Trump
Top social media platform: Twitter — 65.4 million followers
Top social media platform: Instagram — 147 million followers
As a member of the Kardashian-Jenner clan, Kylie Jenner has been in the media spotlight since she was 10 years old. Now, Jenner is one of the most popular stars on Instagram, has a daughter named Stormi, and runs a wildly popular make-up company called Kylie Cosmetics, which is valued at $900 million.
1. David Dobrik
Top social media platform: YouTube — 14 million subscribers
David Dobrik is only 23, but he's been around as one of the most recognizable social media stars for years. He was one of the most popular stars on Vine before the app shut down, and runs a popular YouTube channels with vlogs and challenges that often feature members of the Vlog Squad, made up of other former Vine stars.
