Thanks to its format of short videos, TikTok has become one of the most popular entertainment platforms. Users can also do live streams to interact with their followers and follow the latest trends. However, a new trend has already left thousands of people scratching their heads.
Influencers on the platform create and follow trends in an attempt to stand out and build their fan base. Users like Pinkydoll and Cherry Crush hit the mark, as they became the main proponents of the new "NPC" trend. What is it about and why is it so popular?
The New TikTok NPC Trend
Although gamers are very familiar with the term NPC, it's worth explaining for those who are unaware of its meaning. Basically, it stands for Non-Playable Character, which refers to all the characters in a video game that cannot be controlled by the player.
Usually, these characters repeat actions, animations, and dialogue lines endlessly, as their main function is to provide information to the player and make the game's open world feel alive and populated.
The TikTok NPC trend consists of imitating the cyclical and empty behaviors of a Non-Playable Character. While it's a concept that many people find strange, ridiculous, and even concerning, it has gained significant popularity, and TikTokers are making money by doing these kinds of live streams.
Streamers react to the stickers sent by their viewers and perform the corresponding sound or action. It's worth noting that each sticker costs money, so content creators earn income from this new and peculiar trend on the social media platform.
Everyone talking about the NPC TikTok person like Ohio Queen didn’t do it first 😤
— Mayhem (@MayhemMagic_) July 14, 2023
Not my recording btw but she CONSTANTLY comes up on my FYP pic.twitter.com/0xgeRXt3g1
POV your opponent has you cornered in Street Fighter 6 pic.twitter.com/VNtTMko0eK
— Perfect Legend (@PerfectLegend) July 14, 2023
tiktok is occasionally very great and in the off chance you stumble upon this buff Japanese NPC named Satoyu0704 you know it's gonna be one of those occasions pic.twitter.com/Tekeb2wu2l
— Pɪxᴇʟᴇᴛ 🇵🇸 (@inactivepixelet) March 18, 2023
Now, why would someone be willing to spend money to make a TikToker repeat the same phrase or action over and over again?
Users theorize that fans of this emerging trend enjoy "controlling" TikTokers as if they were an avatar or a video game character. Of course, some argue that the trend dehumanizes content creators, and concerns have already been expressed.
Although this trend has gained renewed popularity in recent days thanks to the work of Pinkydoll, Cherry Crush, and other creators, it's worth noting that it's not entirely new.
But tell us, what do you think of this trend? Let us know in the comments.
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