NPC Streaming could be the most confusing TikTok trend yet
NPC streaming is a new TikTok trend sweeping the US TikTok user base. It involves people sending TikTok stickers to make them perform their animations. As a result, online influencers act like non-playable characters from video games, hence the trend’s namesake. In response, people had mixed feelings about it.
The internet connects everyone worldwide, mixing many conflicting views and values. Inevitably, these interactions will produce strange trends like NPC streaming. Most people connect to the internet nowadays, so these trends will eventually affect their lives.
You must understand its potential impact on yours. This article will discuss the NPC streaming TikTok trend and how people reacted online. Then, I will cover how TikTok LIVE works to explain this phenomenon further.
How did NPC streaming start?
TikToker Pinkydoll broke character during one of her "NPC streams": pic.twitter.com/a3MfA7rPEI
— Know Your Meme (@knowyourmeme) July 14, 2023
According to the Know Your Meme website, the TikTok trend last year, February 4, 2022. Two Japanese content creators, Satoyu0704 and Natuecoco, posted a video where they pretended to be NPCs and battled for prizes.
Natuecoco continued her NPC act as more viewers referred to as such. Later, the NPC streaming trend spread to the West, inspiring Canadian TikToker Pinkydoll and US-based influencer Cherry Crush.
On April 7, 2023, the former posted her NPC stream on YouTube, gaining over 27,000 views in three months. Later, the Quebec-based influencer popped off when she posted an NPC streaming video while cooking popcorn with a hair straightener.
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Meanwhile, Cherry Crush introduces herself as “your very own AI Tamagotchi.” A Tamagotchi is a digital pet simulator that was popular in the 90s. Unlike Pinkydoll, she usually cosplays as an elf from fantasy movies.
Both intentionally act without thought or personality, like background characters in video games like Final Fantasy. Then, viewers would send stickers and perform their sounds.
For example, they will say, “Ice cream, so good,” and make a licking motion if they receive an ice cream sticker. Nowadays, NPC streaming is a growing online trend.
How did people react?
I feel like the thing getting lost amid the NPC streaming outrage is that these performers are doing this because the view times for these streamers are so low. I doubt the average viewer for these streamers watches more than a few seconds before moving on. https://t.co/7E4g0UagPV
— Ryan Broderick (@broderick) July 14, 2023
The trend garnered mixed reactions from online viewers. According to Distractify, journalist and comedian Meridith Dietz posted a TikTok reaction.
“Enough people out there have something of a ‘control fetish,’ and that drives them to donate in exchange for feeling like they’re controlling this real human like their own personal video game character,” Dietz said.
She added, “So is that potentially dehumanizing for the creator? Sure, but isn’t it dehumanizing to work, like any corporate job? There’s simply a market for everything.”
Others responded with equally perplexing memes. For example, Twitter user Silverhand posted these words above a photo of a well-dressed man in a movie theater:
“Gang gang.”
“Yes yes yes”
“Mm ice cream so good”
“Mm ice cream so good”
“Yes yes yes”
“Yes yes yes”
“Mm ice cream so good”
“Slaaay hahaha”
“Thank you lopez”
“Gang gang”
“Yes yes yes”
“Mm ice cream so good”
Pinkydoll says these words as she receives TikTok stickers. Also, another user named God’s Child said, “I’ve never been more confused in my entire life, dawg.”
Others applauded her creative online hustle. Twitter user kemimarie wrote, “Oh, y’all turned her UP. Her LIVEs are hitting like 20k to 50k now.” That’s hella money bro. Congratulations to her!! We love to see it!!!!! Get yo bag, sis. It turns out ice cream is so good.”
How does NPC streaming make money?
Photo Credit: bark.us
You may disprove of acting like a robot on camera for money. However, it allows these content creators to earn significant income from seemingly low effort.
The stickers don’t only prompt influencers to repeat phrases and animations. TikTok LIVE enables online viewers to donate money by sharing these images. Here’s how it works:
- Fans buy TikTok coins with real money.
- Then, they spend the former on stickers.
- Next, they share the icons with their favorite streamers.
- Later, content creators turn their accumulated stickers into real money.
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I can’t discuss all the stickers because there are so many. However, the most expensive one, the TikTok LIVE logo, costs 34,999 coins or more than $500!
Conclusion
NPC streaming could be the stranges TikTok trend yet. It involves people acting like non-playable game characters by repeating phrases for stickers.
Later, they convert these stickers into real money. As a result, this trend allows content creators to make money creatively and uniquely quickly.
Are you wondering what’s next for social media? Check out more tips and trends on social networks, artificial intelligence, and more at Inquirer Tech.
