The thing with 'popularity'; it's transient and relative to differing personalities. Social media is perfectly exemplifying where different people get their validation from - the internal or the external world.
I myself was very popular at school, though probably not the most popular. Mostly I was just going about my business, keeping myself to myself, but being polite and friendly when necessary.
Then I move to college and expanded my social circle; where my old school friends didn't so much. All of a sudden, I was one of the most popular guys in town, captain of the sports teams, dating the hottest girls. My old school friends were eventually put out because they thought I'd 'left them behind', though it was usually me making the effort to maintain connections.
Then I moved to the city to go to university, and the same scenario happened. Now I hardly speak to anyone from school nor college. I have a few good friends who I maintain mutual effort with. Otherwise, I'll continue to go out and meet new people as I always have. Some will stay, some won't.
Two things I have noticed:
-People come and go from each others lives, not owing to popularity, lack thereof, like or dislike, but usually just circumstance.
-Some people will appreciate your company up to a point; that being, until they're bored, someone more interesting comes along, or it's just time to go home at the end of the evening.
Being popular and being well-liked are not always the same thing.