Famous Birthdays wants to be the Wikipedia for Generation Z

But users also searched for unfamiliar names: people who couldn't be found on IMDb, a movie database, or Wikipedia. Instead, they had large followings on Instagram, Twitter (now X), or Vine (a defunct short-form video platform). Mr. Britton began adding these internet personalities, as well as other “missed searches,” to the site. As a result, the site's role changed. Famous Birthdays became an evolving, reactive map of people who matter to Generation Z.

The site is an observatory for rising stars. Charli D'Amelio, a TikTok personality, gave her first interview in 2019 at Famous Birthdays' offices in Santa Monica, California. Now she has 154 million followers on the platform and promotes brands like Dunkin' Donuts. Being featured on Famous Birthdays is a kind of endorsement – the kind that, unlike a blue checkmark on an X, can't be paid for. Some hopefuls try to get page administrators, but many are turned down.

Famous Birthdays illustrates the fragmentation of fame in the digital age. Gamers and models you may never have heard of can top the “trending” rankings. In a fickle age, it's fascinating to watch a star's value rise and fall. Still, the site takes an egalitarian approach, with all entries roughly the same length. (Some bios are more interesting than others, of course.) Brad Pitt is treated with no more reverence than Salish Matter, a 14-year-old YouTuber.

For companies looking to tap into the teen market, the site is a handy cheat sheet. Ben Relles, who spent six years commissioning videos for YouTube Originals, used Famous Birthdays as a “go-to” when looking for content creators. Famous Birthdays has monetized its service with Famous Birthdays Pro, which provides real-time reporting on which social media stars are making waves and allows talent agencies to connect with them.

Britton says he's not interested in making more money than is necessary to keep the company afloat. But his ambitions are high: He hopes Famous Birthdays will become a “pillar of the internet” alongside Wikipedia. That's a long way off: Wikipedia has about 4.3 billion unique visitors a month, compared to 20 million for Famous Birthdays. This guide to the internet's rising stars is itself still an up-and-coming one.

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