There were kids that stood out,the popular ones. Popularity was everything. Well, the times may have changed but the basic concept is the same.
Popularity is alive and well on the Internet.
Pretend you were a resident in the XYZ community. Maybe by associating with your neighbors, participating in community groups, maybe even running for council. You could stay home and just keep to yourself, but no one will know who you are or what you stand for. It's the same online. The Internet may be a different kind of neighborhood,but it's still a community of people, and it functions on the same principals.