What Does NPC Mean?
An NPC (Non-Player Character) is a term borrowed from video games where it refers to characters controlled by the computer rather than a real player. In internet slang, calling someone an NPC means they seem scripted, robotic, or like they're just going through the motions without original thought.
If someone says the same generic things, follows every trend without question, or just seems like they're running on autopilot — they're giving NPC energy.
Where Did NPC Come From?
The NPC meme first emerged around 2018 on platforms like 4chan and Reddit, originally used in political contexts to describe people who seemed to parrot opinions without thinking. It was initially controversial because of those political connotations.
But in 2023, the meaning shifted dramatically when NPC streaming became a massive TikTok trend. Creators like PinkyDoll went viral for acting like NPCs on livestream — performing repetitive, scripted-seeming actions and phrases in response to gifts ("ice cream so good," "yes yes yes"). It was bizarre, fascinating, and incredibly lucrative.
How to Use NPC
- Describing behavior: "He just stands in the hallway every morning saying the same thing. Actual NPC."
- Self-deprecating: "I walk the same route to work, say the same greetings, eat the same lunch. I'm an NPC."
- The streaming trend: "She's doing the NPC thing on TikTok Live and making thousands."
Examples in the Wild
"my coworker says 'living the dream!' every time you ask how she is. absolute NPC dialogue."
"I realized I'm an NPC when I caught myself saying 'it is what it is' for the 500th time"
Why It Matters
The NPC concept touches on something deeply philosophical: what does it mean to live authentically? When we call someone an NPC, we're commenting on the human tendency toward routine, conformity, and scripted behavior. Are we all NPCs in someone else's story? Deep thoughts brought to you by a gaming term. The NPC streaming trend also raised interesting questions about content creation, parasocial relationships, and what people will pay for online.