Back to the OP. Popularity - is it even Christian? Do you find anywhere in the Bible, the early church fathers, where anyone worried about being popular? Do you find it anywhere in the writings any theologian, Catholic or Protestant since the 4th century to the present? For that matter, where is popularity extolled?
This is something the media has done. It makes people put popularity above ethics, integrity, honesty, kindness, compassion, etc. People strive to be popular, instead of serving God, and being changed and transformed in character.
Ok, I think, and always have, even as a teenager, the popularity is probably the most shallow thing you could dwell on. How about this instead?
"Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things." Phil. 4:8.