Understanding TikTok Slang: What Is NPC?

You may only have seen the term “NPC” in recent TikTok videos and comments, but the abbreviation has been around for decades. NPC stands for “non-player character,” and it originated in role-playing games like Dungeons and Dragons.

Any character in a game that isn’t controlled by a player is an NPC; village merchants and random villains are just two examples of NPCs you might encounter while playing D&D. They may have very little influence on the story and the game’s outcome, or they may wind up being integral to players’ success or failure.

These days, you’ll find all sorts of NPCs in video games ranging from Animal Crossing to Fortnight; they’ve become commonplace in virtually all modern first-person and multiplayer streaming games.

The term is commonly used on TikTok, too. What does it mean? Let’s find out.

NPC Live Streams

This trend is believed to have originated with the TikTok user Pinkydoll, and it’s now often seen in content creators’ TikTok Live sessions. It’s somewhat silly, but when done well, it can be funny and fun for everyone involved.

In a nutshell, the creator plays the role of a character they’ve invented, and all of their actions and dialogue in the stream are triggered by the “virtual gifts” (TikTok’s form of tipping) they receive from viewers. For instance, a creator receiving a virtual “ice cream cone” might respond with comments about ice cream or mimic eating the ice cream. (We told you it’s kind of silly.)

What’s the attraction? Users enjoy watching inventive and entertaining streamers — while the creators can cash in the “gifts” that viewers purchase and give to them during the sessions. (Pinkydoll has been said to earn as much as $7,000 per day from her NPC live streams.)

NPC Memes and Insults

A “Wojak” meme was first posted on the anonymous image board 4chan in 2016. It was based on the Wojak character in MS Paint; Wojak’s face is expressionless in the meme, implying that the character has no genuine thoughts. The image became known as the “NPC meme” because non-player characters can’t think for themselves, either.

Numerous variations of the meme have popped up online over the years. They’re almost always used to depict someone with no critical thinking abilities who just adopts popular opinions, or in pre-Internet slang, a “sheep.”

The term “NPC” is now used in TikTok posts and comments without being attached to memes, but its meaning is essentially the same. Normally used as an insult, it’s saying that someone’s opinions, arguments, or views are just being parroted based on what they’ve heard from others, and not even worth considering. In other words, there’s no “real” person behind their words.

Be careful when using “NPC” on TikTok, though — because it’s usually considered offensive and can trigger lengthy, angry, and non-productive back-and-forth discussions.