ECONOMY & WORK
MONEY 101
NEWS
PERSONAL FINANCE
NET WORTH
About Us Contact Us Privacy Policy Terms of Use DMCA Opt-out of personalized ads
© Copyright 2023 Market Realist. Market Realist is a registered trademark. All Rights Reserved. People may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.
MARKETREALIST.COM / NEWS

What Is NPC Streaming, the New Tiktok Trend?

Currently, these videos are all the rage on the famous video-sharing platform TikTok
PUBLISHED NOV 23, 2023
Cover Image Source: TikTok | PinkyDoll
Cover Image Source: TikTok | PinkyDoll

If you haven't come across videos on TikTok where TikTokers are acting like playable characters from video games, then we are here to tell you that they are nothing short of mesmerizing. The trend which is called  “NPC streaming” is all 'bout awkwardly repeating pre-programmed phrases and of course the movements. The most recognizable face in this trend is that of Pinkydoll, who is a Montreal-based content creator whose “ice cream so good” clips went viral this week. The phrases are her reactions to her gifts from thousands of viewers, who had sent her digital ice cream cones, roses, doughnuts, and hearts.

The logo of the mobile video sharing and social networking application TikTok | Getty Images | Photo by Chesnot
The logo of the mobile video sharing and social networking application TikTok | Getty Images | Photo by Chesnot

Currently, these videos are all the rage on the famous video-sharing platform TikTok. In a video, one young content creator can be seen sitting in a tub, dressed in a sombrero, greeting viewers in a robotic voice while splashing water in a loop. Mostly creators are seen, reacting to their gifts with phrases like “ice cream so good”, “slay, huh”, and balloon-popping noises that sound satisfying according to users.

The exact reason is unknown but we can all agree that there's something bizarre about seeing very limited movement being repeated over and over again. Another probable reason is that this trend taps into already existing trends like ASMR which is extremely loved on the internet. The viewers also love the engagement factor of it. They enjoy the fact that their gifts and rewards are being accepted in such a fashion and the fact that they are also getting a response. 



 

There's some talk surrounding this trend that suggests that these videos have sexual undertones and are explicit to some extent. Many have also talked about how the fact that payments are being accepted and offered in exchange for these lets the viewers feel an unhealthy sense of control over the content creators. The fact that the women who made this trend famous also have their own OnlyFans pages is only adding to the controversy.

Christine Tran, a University of Toronto doctoral researcher of internet culture and digital labor says “I think the NPC streamer can be understood as the media granddaughter of sorts to the ‘e-girls’ influencers that populated Twitch and TikTok in the early 2020s,” she says. “These are also self-sexualized creators who built their followings by combining the aesthetics of gamer culture with cam girl influencing.”

On the other hand, some people are using this bizarre trend to make some positive changes. DeRoche did the same thing for two hours straight, to raise money for her child's braces. She later spoke to the Guardian and said, “I have mad respect for people who are doing this for more than two hours a day – because it does take a lot of effort. You are using your brain a lot more than people think you are when you’re doing that type of thing because you have to remember what each thing means and respond to it in the same way every time. That said, it was honestly fun.”



 

TikTok is part of everyone's lives now and eliminating it is not an easy job. To avoid any mishaps, it's important to have healthy conversations regarding all this with your children and their social media feeds. This is why, every parent needs to take an interest in these apps and learn about them as much as they can. Curiosity and learning can ensure your and your child's digital welfare. A few ways to protect your kids from the negative effects of social media is by setting daily limits and censoring some of the pages. 

MORE ON MARKET REALIST
The show took a hilarious turn when a contestant gave a bold answer that caught the host completely off guard.
7 minutes ago
Despite talking through her guesses, Carrie Trujillo couldn't crack the puzzle and failed to win $40,000.
1 hour ago
Robert Herjavec and Lori Greiner rubbed it in O'Leary's face by celebrating their deal with Phoozy
21 hours ago
Duc and Lisa Nguyen's stubbornness paid off, as the co-founders of Baubles + Soles got Daymond John as a partner.
23 hours ago
The player got the host to be candid about his fears and his mother's opinion on him.
1 day ago
Justin Baer, founder of Collars & Co., was looking for mentorship from the Sharks in addition to a $300,000 investment.
1 day ago
She said that her husband may still have to buy a dog as America may hold him accountable.
1 day ago
When Harrison knew that the 18th-century map was the real deal, he made a genuine offer.
1 day ago
10 years after her sister’s win, Chelsea Hall hit the jackpot on ‘WoF’ with a brand new Mini Cooper and a cash prize.
2 days ago
The co-founders of BuggyBeds wowed the Sharks so much, they were "itching" to invest, and offered a $250k deal.
2 days ago
The guests were left stunned to find out just how much the repairs would cost.
2 days ago
Unfortunately for the seller, she allegedly got robbed of a significant amount of money.
3 days ago
Not only did the co-creators of FlingGolf get a $300,000 deal, they proved Mr Wonderful wrong.
3 days ago
The guest never imagined the old, autographed sneakers that his mom acquired could be worth so much.
3 days ago
The gameshow whiz did it again by bagging the top prize on yet another trivia test.
3 days ago
Riccardi took to Reddit to clear the air around his stunning loss which was facing scrutiny.
4 days ago
Fans gathered on the show's unofficial Reddit forum to discuss the 'dumb and useless' items.
4 days ago
The contestant, Matt Benton expressed he wanted to enjoy the moment before thinking of the future.
5 days ago
The guest who treasured the collection had no idea how significant it was.
5 days ago
Even the contestant admitted that there was no way he could've got the answer.
5 days ago