Mashable Unveils The Mashable 101: Inaugural List Awards the Creators Defining our Digital Era

Winners were hand-selected by a team of Mashable editors and writers

NEW YORK, Sept. 24, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Mashable, the home of digital culture, today released The Mashable 101, its inaugural list of 101 creators who shaped the internet, grew their influence and impact, or otherwise captivated audiences this year.

These creators have been chosen for their ability to entertain, drive the conversation, educate, inspire, or capture attention again and again, sometimes to a positive effect, but not always. They are cultivating engaged online communities and are defining – and redefining – what the internet looks and sounds like right now.

Mashable is a leading source for digital culture, covering the creator economy, internet trends, influencer news and the tech that powers it all. The list reflects the spaces Mashable is best known for covering: mainstream creators alongside those focused on tech, science, social good and more.

"Creators today are shaping not just what we watch and share, but how we think, build, and connect online," says Alesha Williams Boyd, Mashable Editor in Chief. "You may know some of these voices already; we hope to introduce you to a few new ones, too."

See the voices that made the list, here.

The honorees feature big names like MrBeast and iShowSpeed, as well as creators who more recently gained viral recognition, including Jools Lebron and Vanillamace. Mashable editors also selected digital leaders behind the tools and platforms that keep us online and coming back for more, including BlueSky and Canva CEOs Jay Graber and Melanie Perkins.

Creators were selected within the following categories:

• Content Creators: Individuals who've demonstrated noteworthy impact across a variety of areas as creators — from audience growth and entrepreneurship to brand-building and innovation
• Digital Entrepreneurs: The people who've had a noteworthy impact as digital entrepreneurs this year
• Rising Stars: Individuals who've seen noteworthy growth in influence, reach, audience, or users over the past year
• Social Good Innovators: Individuals who have leveraged tech or digital platforms to create positive social, environmental, or humanitarian outcomes
• Community Builders: Creators cultivating unique, thriving or otherwise noteworthy online communities
• Cultural Curators: Those defining and redefining culture and representation in digital spaces 
• Entertainers: Creators who've entertained and engaged us this year
• Gamers: Gamers and creators who are influencing the gaming landscape
• Good Connections: Creators who are making us smile or uplifting audiences in the digital age
• Techfluencers: Creators who've managed to cut through the noise, stand out and grow their audience in the crowded field of tech influencers

Mashable editors selected creators based on criteria as of August 2025, including:

• Growth in impact and influence
• Product or platform adoption and user growth
• Cultural impact, trend creation, or movement leadership
• Innovation and disruption across digital spaces
• Humanitarian or community-focused initiatives

About Mashable: Mashable is passionate about tech and entertainment. With smart, spirited coverage that gets people talking, Mashable reaches a dedicated and influential audience around the globe. Future-facing and forward-thinking, Mashable is the expert on what's trending now and next in connected culture.

Mashable is part of the shopping and technology division of Ziff Davis (NASDAQ: ZD). Ziff Davis is a vertically focused digital media and internet company whose portfolio includes leading brands in technology, shopping, gaming and entertainment, health and wellness, connectivity, cybersecurity, and martech.

SOURCE Mashable