Old page wikitext, before the edit (old_wikitext) | '{{short description|An insult that implies a person lacks critical thinking}}
{{Infobox character
| name = NPC (non-player character)
| image = NPC wojak meme.png
| alt = A drawing of a grey head with simplified facial features in black, on a cyan background
| caption = The NPC
| first_date = July 7, 2016
| creator = Anonymous [[4chan#/v/|/v/]] user<ref name="theverge" />
| based_on = [[Wojak]]
| alias =
}}
The '''NPC''' ({{IPAc-en|E|n|.|p|i|.|s|i|}}; also known as the '''NPC Wojak'''), derived from ''[[non-player character]]'', is an [[Internet meme]] that represents people deemed to not think for themselves; those who lack [[introspection]] or [[intrapersonal communication]]; those whose [[Identity (social science)|identity]] is deemed entirely determined by their surroundings and the information they consume, with no conscious [[Information processing (psychology)|processing]] whatsoever being done by the person themselves.<ref name="theverge">{{cite web |url=https://www.theverge.com/2018/10/23/17991274/npc-meme-4chan-press-coverage-viral |title=The NPC meme went viral when the media gave it oxygen - The Verge |date=October 23, 2018 |website=The Verge|publisher=[[Vox Media]] |access-date=December 23, 2019 |archive-date=December 20, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181220030609/https://www.theverge.com/2018/10/23/17991274/npc-meme-4chan-press-coverage-viral |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="nytimes">{{cite web |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/10/16/us/politics/npc-twitter-ban.html |title=What Is NPC, the Pro-Trump Internet's New Favorite Insult? |date=October 16, 2018 |website=[[The New York Times]]|last=Roose |first=Kevin |access-date=December 23, 2019 |archive-date=October 19, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181019033210/https://www.nytimes.com/2018/10/16/us/politics/npc-twitter-ban.html |url-status=live |quote=NPC Wojak... has become a kind of collective mascot for the far-right commenters online.}}</ref><ref name="theindependent">{{cite web |last=Sommerlad |first=Joe |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/npc-meme-right-wing-trolls-liberals-donald-trump-twitter-insults-republicans-a8588036.html |title=What is an NPC? The liberal-bashing meme sweeping social media ahead of the US midterms|date=October 17, 2018 |website=The Independent |publisher=Independent Digital News & Media Ltd |access-date=December 23, 2019 |archive-date=November 22, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191122041003/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/npc-meme-right-wing-trolls-liberals-donald-trump-twitter-insults-republicans-a8588036.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://observer.com/2018/11/maga-conservative-memes-dominate-why/ |title=MAGA Memes and The Right Still Dominate Social Media-Here's Why |date=November 5, 2018 |website=Observer |publisher=Joseph Meyer |access-date=December 23, 2019 |archive-date=January 3, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200103090422/https://observer.com/2018/11/maga-conservative-memes-dominate-why/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="theweek">{{cite web |url=https://www.theweek.co.uk/97291/what-are-npcs-and-why-has-twitter-banned-them |title=What are NPCs and why has Twitter banned them? |date=October 23, 2018 |website=The Week UK|publisher=Dennis Publishing Limited |access-date=December 26, 2019 |archive-date=January 3, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200103090421/https://www.theweek.co.uk/97291/what-are-npcs-and-why-has-twitter-banned-them |url-status=live }}</ref> The meme gained further viral status on [[TikTok]] in 2022, with the surge of "NPC Streamers".<ref>{{Cite web |last=Yomary |first=Tatayana |date=2022-05-18 |title=NPC Is the Latest Trending Acronym on TikTok, but What Does It Mean? |url=https://www.distractify.com/p/what-does-npc-mean-on-tiktok |access-date=2023-01-25 |website=Distractify |language=en-US}}</ref> The NPC meme, which graphically is based on the [[Wojak]] meme, was created in July 2016 by an anonymous author and first published on the [[imageboard]] [[4chan]], where the idea and inspiration behind the meme were introduced.<ref name="knowyourmemenpc" />
In terms of politics, it has often been used by those with [[anti-establishment]] views to describe those who fail to question authority, "[[groupthink]]", or a stance that would display conformity and obedience.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.distractify.com/p/what-does-npc-mean-on-tiktok|title=NPC Is the Latest Trending Acronym on TikTok, but What Does It Mean?|last=Yomary|first=Tatyana|website=Distractify|date=May 18, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.complex.com/life/a/tracewilliamcowen/npc-streaming-tiktok|title=NPC Streaming on TikTok, Explained|last=Cowen|first=Trace William|date=July 19, 2023|website=Complex.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bustle.com/life/what-does-npc-mean-tiktok-slang-term|title=What Does the 'NPC' slang Term Mean on TikTok?|website=Bustle|last= Giandurco|first=Jillian|date=March 22, 2023}}</ref>
The NPC gained widespread attention during the [[Presidency of Donald Trump|presidency]] of [[Donald Trump]].<ref name="nytimes"/><ref name="VergeAlexander"/> In October 2018 the meme was covered by numerous news outlets, including ''[[The Verge]]'',<ref name="theverge" /> the [[BBC]],<ref name="bbc">{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/blogs-trending-45888176 |title=Why has Twitter banned 1500 accounts and what are NPCs? - BBC News |date=October 17, 2018 |work=
BBC |access-date=December 26, 2019 |archive-date=October 17, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181017160854/https://www.bbc.com/news/blogs-trending-45888176 |url-status=live }}</ref> and ''[[The New York Times]]'', who called it a popular insult among "the pro-Trump internet" as well as a "collective [[mascot]] for the far-right commenters".<ref name="nytimes"/> The following month, ''[[InfoWars]]'' held a competition promoting the creation of NPC memes; the winning entry was endorsed by Trump on Twitter.<ref name="VergeAlexander"/>
==History==
In 2016, the concept was revived in a 4chan post by an anonymous user who initiated the NPC meme, titled "Are you an NPC?", detailing the behaviour of individuals acting similarly to non-player characters in video games by repeatedly using phrases such as "JUST BE YOURSELF",<ref name="kotaku">{{cite web |last=D'Anastasio|first=Cecilia|authorlink=Cecilia D'Anastasio|url=https://kotaku.com/how-the-npc-meme-tries-to-dehumanize-sjws-1829552261 |title=How The 'NPC' Meme Tries To Dehumanize 'SJWs' |date=October 5, 2018 |website=Kotaku|publisher=G/O Media |access-date=December 24, 2019 |archive-date=January 12, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210112095626/https://kotaku.com/how-the-npc-meme-tries-to-dehumanize-sjws-1829552261 |url-status=live }}</ref> and ended the post with the following description of people the NPC meme intends to depict.<ref name="knowyourmemenpc" />
{{Quote
|text=If you get in a discussion with them it's always the same [[buzzword]]s and hackneyed arguments. They're the kind of people who make a show of discomfort when you break the status quo like by breaking the normie barrier to invoke a real discussion. it's like in a [video game] when you accidentally talk to somebody twice and they give you the exact lines word for word once more.
|author=Anonymous
|title="Are you an NPC?"
|source=4chan (July 7, 2016)<ref name="knowyourmemenpc" /><ref name="kotaku" />{{efn|The text was accompanied by a drawing from a ''[[Frog and Toad]]'' story concerning a [[to-do list]], with below it "1. {{Strikethrough|Wake Up}}".}}
}}
The design of the NPC meme character is based on [[Wojak]],<ref name="knowyourmemenpc">{{cite web|date=July 29, 2019|title=NPC Wojak - Google Trends|url=https://trends.google.com/trends/explore?date=today%205-y&geo=US&q=npc%20wojak|access-date=August 19, 2020|website=Google Trends|archive-date=June 23, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200623070654/https://trends.google.com/trends/explore?date=today%205-y|url-status=live}}</ref> a meme created in [[Microsoft Paint]] in 2010.<ref name="knowyourmemewojak">{{Know Your Meme|wojak|Wojak}}. {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210112095619/https://knowyourmeme.com/memes/wojak |date=January 12, 2021}}. Retrieved December 31, 2019.</ref> Unlike the NPC meme, the Wojak meme (also known as Feels Guy<ref name="bbc" />) appeared first on the image hosting website vichan and has mainly been used for expression of feelings, most often melancholy or regret.<ref name="knowyourmemewojak" />
The NPC meme became popular in [[Far-right politics|far-right]] internet spaces, being used to describe those who do not share [[Conservatism|conservative]] political views—particularly [[Liberalism|liberal]]s.<ref name="nytimes"/><ref name="Sanders">{{cite web|url=https://eu.worcestermag.com/story/lifestyle/columns/2023/05/31/connell-sanders-only-a-game-right-a-troubling-role-in-real-life/70267221007/|title=Only a Game, Right?|last=Connell Sanders|first=Sarah|date=May 31, 2023|website=[[Worcester Magazine]]|access-date=October 9, 2023|quote=NPC... became popular in far-right spaces like 4chan.}}</ref><ref name="theindependent"/> Writing for ''[[The New York Times]]'', [[Kevin Roose]] called it a "collective [[mascot]] for the far-right commenters online."<ref name="nytimes"/> During the weeks leading up to the [[2018 United States elections|2018 midterm elections]] in the United States, the NPC meme gained remarkable attention, with relatively high media coverage, publication of new NPC memes online, and several noticeable events. A large number of animated videos based on the NPC meme were uploaded to YouTube in the second half of October 2018,<ref name="dailydot" /> and Google searches for the term "NPC Wojak" peaked around the same time.<ref name="knowyourmemenpc" /> In October 2018, a large number of [[Twitter]] accounts were created which presented themselves as NPCs, and more than 1,500 such accounts were subsequently banned by Twitter.<ref name="bbc" /> In November, the far-right ''[[InfoWars]]'' held a competition promoting the creation of NPC memes. The winning entry, by a Twitter user named "Carpe Donktum", was later retweeted by then-[[President of the United States|U.S. President]] [[Donald Trump]] in February 2019 before it was removed for copyright infringement.<ref name="VergeAlexander">{{Cite news|last=Alexander|first=Julia|date=15 February 2019|title=President of United States reposts video from winner of Infowars meme contest|work=[[The Verge]]|url=https://www.theverge.com/2019/2/15/18226716/trump-meme-twitter-infowars-winner|access-date=8 January 2022}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|last=Krause|first=Alexander|date=16 February 2019|title=Trump reposts video from winner of Infowars meme contest after first version removed for copyright violation|work=[[Insider Inc.|Insider]]|url=https://www.insider.com/trump-infowars-meme-removed-for-copyright-violation-2019-2|access-date=8 January 2022}}</ref> The re-election campaign for then-[[Iowa]] [[United States House of Representatives|Representative]] [[Steve King]] also tweeted an NPC meme around the same time, aimed at the sitting [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]] members of [[United States Congress|Congress]].<ref>{{Cite news|last=Jones|first=Sarah|date=23 January 2020|title=Steve King Is Building a Dank Fascist Meme Stash|work=[[New York (magazine)|New York]]|url=https://nymag.com/intelligencer/2020/01/steve-king-needs-help-building-dank-fascist-meme-stash.html|access-date=30 May 2022}}</ref>
The number of searches for the search term "NPC Wojak" remained relatively constant during 2019, though at a level significantly lower than its peak from early October through mid November 2018.<ref name="knowyourmemenpc" />
Although the NPC meme was created six years after the Wojak meme, the NPC meme rapidly gained attention in comparison with the Wojak meme. On the website of the meme community [[Know Your Meme]], the NPC meme had 858,000 page views, 33 videos, 597 images and 749 comments as of December 31, 2019.<ref name="knowyourmemenpc" /> This can be compared to the Wojak meme on which NPC is based, which had 787,000 page views, 6 videos, 332 images and 47 comments as of December 31, 2019.<ref name="knowyourmemewojak" />
In 2022, a variation of the NPC meme called "I Support The Current Thing" was popularized. According to ''[[Slate (magazine)|Slate]]'', the meme was mainly used by the political right to mock liberals for "perceived conformism, frivolousness, and distractibility" who "blindly flit from news story to news story, issue to issue, changing their Facebook profile pics and Twitter display names to 'support' whatever 'Current Thing' dominates news and commentary. The current thing has been [[Russian invasion of Ukraine|the Russian invasion of Ukraine]], [[essential workers]], the [[Women's March]], [[Notre-Dame de Paris|Notre Dame]] after it [[Notre-Dame de Paris fire|caught on fire]], etc." In March 2022, [[Elon Musk]] tweeted a version of the meme.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Read |first=Max |date=2022-05-09 |title=What Is "The Current Thing"? |url=https://slate.com/technology/2022/05/current-thing-meme-twitter-elon-musk-marc-andreessen.html |access-date=2022-05-13 |website=[[Slate (magazine)|Slate]] |language=en}}</ref>
==Characteristics==
In appearance, the NPC character is [[grey]] in colour, and usually short in stature<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.technologyreview.com/f/612312/twitter-has-released-more-than-10-million-tweets-linked-to-election-interference/ |title=Twitter has released more than 10 million tweets linked to election interference |date=October 17, 2018 |website=MIT Technology Review |access-date=December 30, 2019 |archive-date=January 12, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210112095620/https://www.technologyreview.com/2018/10/17/139722/twitter-has-released-more-than-10-million-tweets-linked-to-election-interference/ |url-status=live }}</ref> simple in its design,<ref name="theweek" /> with an expressionless face,<ref name="theindependent" /><ref name=":0">{{Citation|last=Demsky|first=Jeffrey|title=That Is Really Meme: Nazi Pepe the Frog and the Subversion of Anglo-American Holocaust Remembrance|date=2021|url=https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-030-79221-3_7|work=Nazi and Holocaust Representations in Anglo-American Popular Culture, 1945–2020: Irreverent Remembrance|pages=105–125|editor-last=Demsky|editor-first=Jeffrey|series=Palgrave Studies in Cultural Heritage and Conflict|place=Cham|publisher=Springer International Publishing|language=en|doi=10.1007/978-3-030-79221-3_7|isbn=978-3-030-79221-3|s2cid=238951868 |access-date=2022-01-19}}</ref> a triangular nose<ref name="nytimes" /> and a blank stare.<ref name="knowyourmemenpc" /> The shape of the NPC face resembles that of Wojak, and is drawn crudely.<ref name="nytimes" />
The initial ''NPC'' refers to [[non-player character]], a term used in video-games for characters the player cannot control.<ref name=":0"/><ref>{{cite magazine|title=The Next Generation 1996 Lexicon A to Z: NPC (Nonplayer Character)|magazine=[[Next Generation (magazine)|Next Generation]]|issue=15 |date=March 1996|page=38}}</ref> A non-player character typically interacts with the player through simple and repetitive actions, such as saying the same sentence each time the player approaches the NPC. For example: "Greetings!" or "What's the gossip guys?". As such, NPCs have "no internality, agency, or capacity for critical thought",<ref name="kotaku" /> they rely on scripted lines<ref name="nytimes" /><ref name="hollywoodreporter" /> and do not think for themselves.<ref name="theindependent" /> Following the analogy of non-player characters, the NPC meme is used to mock individuals the maker perceives as lacking introspection, individual opinions, or critical thinking, generally political opponents. Due to NPC memes' greater popularity among the political right, the NPC is generally portrayed as parroting left-wing positions, but both left- and right-wing NPC variants exist.<ref name="theverge" /><ref name="theweek" /><ref name="kotaku" /><ref name=":0"/>
==Media coverage==
The NPC meme has been featured in major and minor news outlets alike, with frequent coverage during the peak of the NPCs popularity in fall 2018. According to ''The Verge'', a few articles (including one by ''[[The New York Times]]'' published on October 16, 2018) sparked a "domino effect" and led to increased spread of the meme on Twitter, YouTube and through articles.<ref name="theverge" />
==Notable events==
===Twitter mass ban===
In October 2018, users of [[r/The_Donald]], a large subreddit that supported United States President [[Donald Trump]],<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-48783866 |title=Reddit places pro-Donald-Trump forum in quarantine - BBC News |date=June 27, 2019 |website=BBC |access-date=December 27, 2019 |archive-date=June 30, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190630000313/https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-48783866 |url-status=live }}</ref> coordinated in creating accounts presented as NPCs on the microblogging and social networking service Twitter.<ref name="bbc" /> According to ''The Week'', the accounts spread "bland, politically correct messages intended to mimic and provoke liberal pronouncements".<ref name="theweek" /> Following the mass creation of NPC Twitter accounts, the term "NPC" was used over 30,000 times on Twitter in a time span of 24 hours.<ref name="bbc" /> Twitter responded to the event by banning more than 1,500 of its users presenting themselves as NPCs.<ref name="theweek" /> The created accounts typically used profile pictures of NPC with slight modifications, such as colorful hair or partially covering masks.<ref name="nytimes" /> According to one or more anonymous sources quoted by ''The Week'' and ''The New York Times'', the users were banned for violating a term of use by Twitter against "intentionally misleading election-related content", ahead of the United States 2018 midterm election.<ref name="nytimes" /><ref name="theweek" /> The claim that NPC memes were used to spread misinformation about the 2018 United States midterm election was also reported by other news agencies, including ''[[The Verge]]'',<ref name="theverge" /> ''[[BBC News|BBC]]''<ref name="bbc" /> and ''[[The Independent]]''.<ref name="theindependent" /> According to the BBC, the decision by Twitter to remove NPC accounts has upset many conservatives.<ref name="bbc" />
===Billboard defacing===
In 2019, the NPC meme was used in the modification of two existing billboards in the United States.<ref name="dailydot">{{cite web |url=https://www.dailydot.com/layer8/john-oliver-billboard-ad-meme/ |title=Guerrilla artists turn John Oliver billboard ad into right-wing meme |last=Gilmour |first=David |date=February 19, 2019 |website=[[The Daily Dot]] |access-date=December 27, 2019 |archive-date=January 12, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210112095623/https://www.dailydot.com/unclick/john-oliver-billboard-ad-meme/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
On January 13, 2019, the conservative street artist group ''The Faction'' modified a billboard featuring American comedian [[Bill Maher]] in [[West Hollywood]] using the NPC meme.<ref name="hollywoodreporter">{{cite web |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/bill-maher-labeled-npc-by-conservative-street-artists-1175703 |title=Bill Maher Billboard Targeted by Conservative Street Artists |last=Bond |first=Paul |date=January 13, 2019 |website=[[The Hollywood Reporter]] |access-date=December 27, 2019 |archive-date=January 14, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190114014951/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/bill-maher-labeled-npc-by-conservative-street-artists-1175703 |url-status=live }}</ref>
On February 19, 2019, a similar modification was performed on a billboard featuring English comedian [[John Oliver]] in [[Los Angeles]], in which the face of Oliver was replaced by that of an NPC, and text "''[[Last Week Tonight with John Oliver]]''" was replaced by "''The [[Donald Trump in popular culture#Orange man bad|Orange Man Bad]] Show with John Oliver''".<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/john-oliver-jussie-smollett-criticized-la-street-art-1187538 |title=John Oliver, Jussie Smollett Criticized in Hijacked Billboard, L.A. Street Art |last=Bond |first=Paul |date=February 18, 2019 |website=[[The Hollywood Reporter]] |access-date=December 27, 2019 |archive-date=January 12, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210112095623/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/john-oliver-jussie-smollett-criticized-la-street-art-1187538 |url-status=live }}</ref> The modified billboard also included the text "*MATRIX APPROVED NPC PROGRAMMING" and a [[speech balloon]] from the NPC containing words such as "[[Donald Trump in popular culture#Skin color|CHEETOH]]"{{sic}} and "[[Drumph|DRUMPH]]" with random symbols in green text, resembling [[Matrix digital rain|the text shown in ''The Matrix'']]. According to ''[[The Daily Dot]]'', the modification of the billboard featuring Oliver, also credited to ''The Faction'', was an attempt to counteract the media's supposed "[[Trump derangement syndrome]]".<ref name="dailydot" />
===2023 stabbing===
On March 22, 2023, in [[Mill Creek, Washington]], an 11-year-old boy was reportedly stabbed after ironically calling a 29-year-old man an NPC at a [[Dollar Tree]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Garrett |first1=Shawn |title=Man charged in Mill Creek stabbing of 11-year-old who called him an 'NPC' |url=https://www.kiro7.com/news/local/man-charged-mill-creek-stabbing-11-year-old-who-called-him-an-npc/P4GFLRTBZRBQXBAU2PKL7NO6HA/ |access-date=20 April 2023 |work=www.kiro7.com |agency=[[KIRO-TV]] |date=April 18, 2023}}</ref>
==See also==
{{Portal|Internet|Politics|Video games|Conservatism}}
* [[List of Internet phenomena]]
* [[Philosophical zombie]] – a philosophical thought experiment that imagines a being which appears to display consciousness but is actually not conscious.
* [[Dehumanization]]
==Notes==
{{Notelist}}
==References==
{{Reflist}}
==External links==
* {{Know Your Meme|npc-wojak|NPC}}
* [https://imgflip.com/memegenerator/NPC NPC Meme Generator]
* [https://www.reddit.com/r/NPCMemes/ NPC Memes] subreddit at Reddit
{{Generation Z slang}}
[[Category:Internet memes introduced in 2016]]
[[Category:Satire]]
[[Category:Politics of the United States]]
[[Category:4chan phenomena]]
[[Category:2010s fads and trends]]
[[Category:2020s fads and trends]]
[[Category:Political Internet memes]]
[[Category:Internet-related controversies]]
[[Category:Internet meme characters]]
[[Category:Alt-right]]
[[Category:Internet characters introduced in 2016]]' |
New page wikitext, after the edit (new_wikitext) | '{{short description|An insult that implies a person lacks critical thinking}}
{{Infobox character
| name = NPC (Mr. field kiddy toucher)
| image = NPC wojak meme.png
| alt = A drawing of a bald head with simplified special facial features in black, on a neon pink background
| caption = The NPC
| first_date = July 7, 2016
| creator = Anonymous [[4chan#/v/|/v/]] user<ref name="theverge" />
| based_on = [[Wojak]]
| alias =
}}
The '''NPC''' ({{IPAc-en|E|n|.|p|i|.|s|i|}}; also known as the '''NPC Wojak'''), derived from ''[[non-player character]]'', is an [[Internet meme]] that represents people deemed to not think for themselves; those who lack [[introspection]] or [[intrapersonal communication]]; those whose [[Identity (social science)|identity]] is deemed entirely determined by their surroundings and the information they consume, with no conscious [[Information processing (psychology)|processing]] whatsoever being done by the person themselves.<ref name="theverge">{{cite web |url=https://www.theverge.com/2018/10/23/17991274/npc-meme-4chan-press-coverage-viral |title=The NPC meme went viral when the media gave it oxygen - The Verge |date=October 23, 2018 |website=The Verge|publisher=[[Vox Media]] |access-date=December 23, 2019 |archive-date=December 20, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181220030609/https://www.theverge.com/2018/10/23/17991274/npc-meme-4chan-press-coverage-viral |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="nytimes">{{cite web |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/10/16/us/politics/npc-twitter-ban.html |title=What Is NPC, the Pro-Trump Internet's New Favorite Insult? |date=October 16, 2018 |website=[[The New York Times]]|last=Roose |first=Kevin |access-date=December 23, 2019 |archive-date=October 19, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181019033210/https://www.nytimes.com/2018/10/16/us/politics/npc-twitter-ban.html |url-status=live |quote=NPC Wojak... has become a kind of collective mascot for the far-right commenters online.}}</ref><ref name="theindependent">{{cite web |last=Sommerlad |first=Joe |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/npc-meme-right-wing-trolls-liberals-donald-trump-twitter-insults-republicans-a8588036.html |title=What is an NPC? The liberal-bashing meme sweeping social media ahead of the US midterms|date=October 17, 2018 |website=The Independent |publisher=Independent Digital News & Media Ltd |access-date=December 23, 2019 |archive-date=November 22, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191122041003/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/npc-meme-right-wing-trolls-liberals-donald-trump-twitter-insults-republicans-a8588036.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://observer.com/2018/11/maga-conservative-memes-dominate-why/ |title=MAGA Memes and The Right Still Dominate Social Media-Here's Why |date=November 5, 2018 |website=Observer |publisher=Joseph Meyer |access-date=December 23, 2019 |archive-date=January 3, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200103090422/https://observer.com/2018/11/maga-conservative-memes-dominate-why/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="theweek">{{cite web |url=https://www.theweek.co.uk/97291/what-are-npcs-and-why-has-twitter-banned-them |title=What are NPCs and why has Twitter banned them? |date=October 23, 2018 |website=The Week UK|publisher=Dennis Publishing Limited |access-date=December 26, 2019 |archive-date=January 3, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200103090421/https://www.theweek.co.uk/97291/what-are-npcs-and-why-has-twitter-banned-them |url-status=live }}</ref> The meme gained further viral status on [[TikTok]] in 2022, with the surge of "NPC Streamers".<ref>{{Cite web |last=Yomary |first=Tatayana |date=2022-05-18 |title=NPC Is the Latest Trending Acronym on TikTok, but What Does It Mean? |url=https://www.distractify.com/p/what-does-npc-mean-on-tiktok |access-date=2023-01-25 |website=Distractify |language=en-US}}</ref> The NPC meme, which graphically is based on the [[Wojak]] meme, was created in July 2016 by an anonymous author and first published on the [[imageboard]] [[4chan]], where the idea and inspiration behind the meme were introduced.<ref name="knowyourmemenpc" />
In terms of politics, it has often been used by those with [[anti-establishment]] views to describe those who fail to question authority, "[[groupthink]]", or a stance that would display conformity and obedience.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.distractify.com/p/what-does-npc-mean-on-tiktok|title=NPC Is the Latest Trending Acronym on TikTok, but What Does It Mean?|last=Yomary|first=Tatyana|website=Distractify|date=May 18, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.complex.com/life/a/tracewilliamcowen/npc-streaming-tiktok|title=NPC Streaming on TikTok, Explained|last=Cowen|first=Trace William|date=July 19, 2023|website=Complex.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bustle.com/life/what-does-npc-mean-tiktok-slang-term|title=What Does the 'NPC' slang Term Mean on TikTok?|website=Bustle|last= Giandurco|first=Jillian|date=March 22, 2023}}</ref>
The NPC gained widespread attention during the [[Presidency of Donald Trump|presidency]] of [[Donald Trump]].<ref name="nytimes"/><ref name="VergeAlexander"/> In October 2018 the meme was covered by numerous news outlets, including ''[[The Verge]]'',<ref name="theverge" /> the [[BBC]],<ref name="bbc">{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/blogs-trending-45888176 |title=Why has Twitter banned 1500 accounts and what are NPCs? - BBC News |date=October 17, 2018 |work=
BBC |access-date=December 26, 2019 |archive-date=October 17, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181017160854/https://www.bbc.com/news/blogs-trending-45888176 |url-status=live }}</ref> and ''[[The New York Times]]'', who called it a popular insult among "the pro-Trump internet" as well as a "collective [[mascot]] for the far-right commenters".<ref name="nytimes"/> The following month, ''[[InfoWars]]'' held a competition promoting the creation of NPC memes; the winning entry was endorsed by Trump on Twitter.<ref name="VergeAlexander"/>
==History==
In 2016, the concept was revived in a 4chan post by an anonymous user who initiated the NPC meme, titled "Are you an NPC?", detailing the behaviour of individuals acting similarly to non-player characters in video games by repeatedly using phrases such as "JUST BE YOURSELF",<ref name="kotaku">{{cite web |last=D'Anastasio|first=Cecilia|authorlink=Cecilia D'Anastasio|url=https://kotaku.com/how-the-npc-meme-tries-to-dehumanize-sjws-1829552261 |title=How The 'NPC' Meme Tries To Dehumanize 'SJWs' |date=October 5, 2018 |website=Kotaku|publisher=G/O Media |access-date=December 24, 2019 |archive-date=January 12, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210112095626/https://kotaku.com/how-the-npc-meme-tries-to-dehumanize-sjws-1829552261 |url-status=live }}</ref> and ended the post with the following description of people the NPC meme intends to depict.<ref name="knowyourmemenpc" />
{{Quote
|text=If you get in a discussion with them it's always the same [[buzzword]]s and hackneyed arguments. They're the kind of people who make a show of discomfort when you break the status quo like by breaking the normie barrier to invoke a real discussion. it's like in a [video game] when you accidentally talk to somebody twice and they give you the exact lines word for word once more.
|author=Anonymous
|title="Are you an NPC?"
|source=4chan (July 7, 2016)<ref name="knowyourmemenpc" /><ref name="kotaku" />{{efn|The text was accompanied by a drawing from a ''[[Frog and Toad]]'' story concerning a [[to-do list]], with below it "1. {{Strikethrough|Wake Up}}".}}
}}
The design of the NPC meme character is based on [[Wojak]],<ref name="knowyourmemenpc">{{cite web|date=July 29, 2019|title=NPC Wojak - Google Trends|url=https://trends.google.com/trends/explore?date=today%205-y&geo=US&q=npc%20wojak|access-date=August 19, 2020|website=Google Trends|archive-date=June 23, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200623070654/https://trends.google.com/trends/explore?date=today%205-y|url-status=live}}</ref> a meme created in [[Microsoft Paint]] in 2010.<ref name="knowyourmemewojak">{{Know Your Meme|wojak|Wojak}}. {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210112095619/https://knowyourmeme.com/memes/wojak |date=January 12, 2021}}. Retrieved December 31, 2019.</ref> Unlike the NPC meme, the Wojak meme (also known as Feels Guy<ref name="bbc" />) appeared first on the image hosting website vichan and has mainly been used for expression of feelings, most often melancholy or regret.<ref name="knowyourmemewojak" />
The NPC meme became popular in [[Far-right politics|far-right]] internet spaces, being used to describe those who do not share [[Conservatism|conservative]] political views—particularly [[Liberalism|liberal]]s.<ref name="nytimes"/><ref name="Sanders">{{cite web|url=https://eu.worcestermag.com/story/lifestyle/columns/2023/05/31/connell-sanders-only-a-game-right-a-troubling-role-in-real-life/70267221007/|title=Only a Game, Right?|last=Connell Sanders|first=Sarah|date=May 31, 2023|website=[[Worcester Magazine]]|access-date=October 9, 2023|quote=NPC... became popular in far-right spaces like 4chan.}}</ref><ref name="theindependent"/> Writing for ''[[The New York Times]]'', [[Kevin Roose]] called it a "collective [[mascot]] for the far-right commenters online."<ref name="nytimes"/> During the weeks leading up to the [[2018 United States elections|2018 midterm elections]] in the United States, the NPC meme gained remarkable attention, with relatively high media coverage, publication of new NPC memes online, and several noticeable events. A large number of animated videos based on the NPC meme were uploaded to YouTube in the second half of October 2018,<ref name="dailydot" /> and Google searches for the term "NPC Wojak" peaked around the same time.<ref name="knowyourmemenpc" /> In October 2018, a large number of [[Twitter]] accounts were created which presented themselves as NPCs, and more than 1,500 such accounts were subsequently banned by Twitter.<ref name="bbc" /> In November, the far-right ''[[InfoWars]]'' held a competition promoting the creation of NPC memes. The winning entry, by a Twitter user named "Carpe Donktum", was later retweeted by then-[[President of the United States|U.S. President]] [[Donald Trump]] in February 2019 before it was removed for copyright infringement.<ref name="VergeAlexander">{{Cite news|last=Alexander|first=Julia|date=15 February 2019|title=President of United States reposts video from winner of Infowars meme contest|work=[[The Verge]]|url=https://www.theverge.com/2019/2/15/18226716/trump-meme-twitter-infowars-winner|access-date=8 January 2022}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|last=Krause|first=Alexander|date=16 February 2019|title=Trump reposts video from winner of Infowars meme contest after first version removed for copyright violation|work=[[Insider Inc.|Insider]]|url=https://www.insider.com/trump-infowars-meme-removed-for-copyright-violation-2019-2|access-date=8 January 2022}}</ref> The re-election campaign for then-[[Iowa]] [[United States House of Representatives|Representative]] [[Steve King]] also tweeted an NPC meme around the same time, aimed at the sitting [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]] members of [[United States Congress|Congress]].<ref>{{Cite news|last=Jones|first=Sarah|date=23 January 2020|title=Steve King Is Building a Dank Fascist Meme Stash|work=[[New York (magazine)|New York]]|url=https://nymag.com/intelligencer/2020/01/steve-king-needs-help-building-dank-fascist-meme-stash.html|access-date=30 May 2022}}</ref>
The number of searches for the search term "NPC Wojak" remained relatively constant during 2019, though at a level significantly lower than its peak from early October through mid November 2018.<ref name="knowyourmemenpc" />
Although the NPC meme was created six years after the Wojak meme, the NPC meme rapidly gained attention in comparison with the Wojak meme. On the website of the meme community [[Know Your Meme]], the NPC meme had 858,000 page views, 33 videos, 597 images and 749 comments as of December 31, 2019.<ref name="knowyourmemenpc" /> This can be compared to the Wojak meme on which NPC is based, which had 787,000 page views, 6 videos, 332 images and 47 comments as of December 31, 2019.<ref name="knowyourmemewojak" />
In 2022, a variation of the NPC meme called "I Support The Current Thing" was popularized. According to ''[[Slate (magazine)|Slate]]'', the meme was mainly used by the political right to mock liberals for "perceived conformism, frivolousness, and distractibility" who "blindly flit from news story to news story, issue to issue, changing their Facebook profile pics and Twitter display names to 'support' whatever 'Current Thing' dominates news and commentary. The current thing has been [[Russian invasion of Ukraine|the Russian invasion of Ukraine]], [[essential workers]], the [[Women's March]], [[Notre-Dame de Paris|Notre Dame]] after it [[Notre-Dame de Paris fire|caught on fire]], etc." In March 2022, [[Elon Musk]] tweeted a version of the meme.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Read |first=Max |date=2022-05-09 |title=What Is "The Current Thing"? |url=https://slate.com/technology/2022/05/current-thing-meme-twitter-elon-musk-marc-andreessen.html |access-date=2022-05-13 |website=[[Slate (magazine)|Slate]] |language=en}}</ref>
==Characteristics==
In appearance, the NPC character is [[grey]] in colour, and usually short in stature<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.technologyreview.com/f/612312/twitter-has-released-more-than-10-million-tweets-linked-to-election-interference/ |title=Twitter has released more than 10 million tweets linked to election interference |date=October 17, 2018 |website=MIT Technology Review |access-date=December 30, 2019 |archive-date=January 12, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210112095620/https://www.technologyreview.com/2018/10/17/139722/twitter-has-released-more-than-10-million-tweets-linked-to-election-interference/ |url-status=live }}</ref> simple in its design,<ref name="theweek" /> with an expressionless face,<ref name="theindependent" /><ref name=":0">{{Citation|last=Demsky|first=Jeffrey|title=That Is Really Meme: Nazi Pepe the Frog and the Subversion of Anglo-American Holocaust Remembrance|date=2021|url=https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-030-79221-3_7|work=Nazi and Holocaust Representations in Anglo-American Popular Culture, 1945–2020: Irreverent Remembrance|pages=105–125|editor-last=Demsky|editor-first=Jeffrey|series=Palgrave Studies in Cultural Heritage and Conflict|place=Cham|publisher=Springer International Publishing|language=en|doi=10.1007/978-3-030-79221-3_7|isbn=978-3-030-79221-3|s2cid=238951868 |access-date=2022-01-19}}</ref> a triangular nose<ref name="nytimes" /> and a blank stare.<ref name="knowyourmemenpc" /> The shape of the NPC face resembles that of Wojak, and is drawn crudely.<ref name="nytimes" />
The initial ''NPC'' refers to [[non-player character]], a term used in video-games for characters the player cannot control.<ref name=":0"/><ref>{{cite magazine|title=The Next Generation 1996 Lexicon A to Z: NPC (Nonplayer Character)|magazine=[[Next Generation (magazine)|Next Generation]]|issue=15 |date=March 1996|page=38}}</ref> A non-player character typically interacts with the player through simple and repetitive actions, such as saying the same sentence each time the player approaches the NPC. For example: "Greetings!" or "What's the gossip guys?". As such, NPCs have "no internality, agency, or capacity for critical thought",<ref name="kotaku" /> they rely on scripted lines<ref name="nytimes" /><ref name="hollywoodreporter" /> and do not think for themselves.<ref name="theindependent" /> Following the analogy of non-player characters, the NPC meme is used to mock individuals the maker perceives as lacking introspection, individual opinions, or critical thinking, generally political opponents. Due to NPC memes' greater popularity among the political right, the NPC is generally portrayed as parroting left-wing positions, but both left- and right-wing NPC variants exist.<ref name="theverge" /><ref name="theweek" /><ref name="kotaku" /><ref name=":0"/>
==Media coverage==
The NPC meme has been featured in major and minor news outlets alike, with frequent coverage during the peak of the NPCs popularity in fall 2018. According to ''The Verge'', a few articles (including one by ''[[The New York Times]]'' published on October 16, 2018) sparked a "domino effect" and led to increased spread of the meme on Twitter, YouTube and through articles.<ref name="theverge" />
==Notable events==
===Twitter mass ban===
In October 2018, users of [[r/The_Donald]], a large subreddit that supported United States President [[Donald Trump]],<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-48783866 |title=Reddit places pro-Donald-Trump forum in quarantine - BBC News |date=June 27, 2019 |website=BBC |access-date=December 27, 2019 |archive-date=June 30, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190630000313/https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-48783866 |url-status=live }}</ref> coordinated in creating accounts presented as NPCs on the microblogging and social networking service Twitter.<ref name="bbc" /> According to ''The Week'', the accounts spread "bland, politically correct messages intended to mimic and provoke liberal pronouncements".<ref name="theweek" /> Following the mass creation of NPC Twitter accounts, the term "NPC" was used over 30,000 times on Twitter in a time span of 24 hours.<ref name="bbc" /> Twitter responded to the event by banning more than 1,500 of its users presenting themselves as NPCs.<ref name="theweek" /> The created accounts typically used profile pictures of NPC with slight modifications, such as colorful hair or partially covering masks.<ref name="nytimes" /> According to one or more anonymous sources quoted by ''The Week'' and ''The New York Times'', the users were banned for violating a term of use by Twitter against "intentionally misleading election-related content", ahead of the United States 2018 midterm election.<ref name="nytimes" /><ref name="theweek" /> The claim that NPC memes were used to spread misinformation about the 2018 United States midterm election was also reported by other news agencies, including ''[[The Verge]]'',<ref name="theverge" /> ''[[BBC News|BBC]]''<ref name="bbc" /> and ''[[The Independent]]''.<ref name="theindependent" /> According to the BBC, the decision by Twitter to remove NPC accounts has upset many conservatives.<ref name="bbc" />
===Billboard defacing===
In 2019, the NPC meme was used in the modification of two existing billboards in the United States.<ref name="dailydot">{{cite web |url=https://www.dailydot.com/layer8/john-oliver-billboard-ad-meme/ |title=Guerrilla artists turn John Oliver billboard ad into right-wing meme |last=Gilmour |first=David |date=February 19, 2019 |website=[[The Daily Dot]] |access-date=December 27, 2019 |archive-date=January 12, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210112095623/https://www.dailydot.com/unclick/john-oliver-billboard-ad-meme/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
On January 13, 2019, the conservative street artist group ''The Faction'' modified a billboard featuring American comedian [[Bill Maher]] in [[West Hollywood]] using the NPC meme.<ref name="hollywoodreporter">{{cite web |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/bill-maher-labeled-npc-by-conservative-street-artists-1175703 |title=Bill Maher Billboard Targeted by Conservative Street Artists |last=Bond |first=Paul |date=January 13, 2019 |website=[[The Hollywood Reporter]] |access-date=December 27, 2019 |archive-date=January 14, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190114014951/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/bill-maher-labeled-npc-by-conservative-street-artists-1175703 |url-status=live }}</ref>
On February 19, 2019, a similar modification was performed on a billboard featuring English comedian [[John Oliver]] in [[Los Angeles]], in which the face of Oliver was replaced by that of an NPC, and text "''[[Last Week Tonight with John Oliver]]''" was replaced by "''The [[Donald Trump in popular culture#Orange man bad|Orange Man Bad]] Show with John Oliver''".<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/john-oliver-jussie-smollett-criticized-la-street-art-1187538 |title=John Oliver, Jussie Smollett Criticized in Hijacked Billboard, L.A. Street Art |last=Bond |first=Paul |date=February 18, 2019 |website=[[The Hollywood Reporter]] |access-date=December 27, 2019 |archive-date=January 12, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210112095623/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/john-oliver-jussie-smollett-criticized-la-street-art-1187538 |url-status=live }}</ref> The modified billboard also included the text "*MATRIX APPROVED NPC PROGRAMMING" and a [[speech balloon]] from the NPC containing words such as "[[Donald Trump in popular culture#Skin color|CHEETOH]]"{{sic}} and "[[Drumph|DRUMPH]]" with random symbols in green text, resembling [[Matrix digital rain|the text shown in ''The Matrix'']]. According to ''[[The Daily Dot]]'', the modification of the billboard featuring Oliver, also credited to ''The Faction'', was an attempt to counteract the media's supposed "[[Trump derangement syndrome]]".<ref name="dailydot" />
===2023 stabbing===
On March 22, 2023, in [[Mill Creek, Washington]], an 11-year-old boy was reportedly stabbed after ironically calling a 29-year-old man an NPC at a [[Dollar Tree]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Garrett |first1=Shawn |title=Man charged in Mill Creek stabbing of 11-year-old who called him an 'NPC' |url=https://www.kiro7.com/news/local/man-charged-mill-creek-stabbing-11-year-old-who-called-him-an-npc/P4GFLRTBZRBQXBAU2PKL7NO6HA/ |access-date=20 April 2023 |work=www.kiro7.com |agency=[[KIRO-TV]] |date=April 18, 2023}}</ref>
==See also==
{{Portal|Internet|Politics|Video games|Conservatism}}
* [[List of Internet phenomena]]
* [[Philosophical zombie]] – a philosophical thought experiment that imagines a being which appears to display consciousness but is actually not conscious.
* [[Dehumanization]]
==Notes==
{{Notelist}}
==References==
{{Reflist}}
==External links==
* {{Know Your Meme|npc-wojak|NPC}}
* [https://imgflip.com/memegenerator/NPC NPC Meme Generator]
* [https://www.reddit.com/r/NPCMemes/ NPC Memes] subreddit at Reddit
{{Generation Z slang}}
[[Category:Internet memes introduced in 2016]]
[[Category:Satire]]
[[Category:Politics of the United States]]
[[Category:4chan phenomena]]
[[Category:2010s fads and trends]]
[[Category:2020s fads and trends]]
[[Category:Political Internet memes]]
[[Category:Internet-related controversies]]
[[Category:Internet meme characters]]
[[Category:Alt-right]]
[[Category:Internet characters introduced in 2016]]' |
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<div class="shortdescription nomobile noexcerpt noprint searchaux" style="display:none">Fictional character</div>
<style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1237879389">.mw-parser-output .infobox-subbox{padding:0;border:none;margin:-3px;width:auto;min-width:100%;font-size:100%;clear:none;float:none;background-color:transparent}.mw-parser-output .infobox-3cols-child{margin:auto}.mw-parser-output .infobox .navbar{font-size:100%}body.skin-minerva .mw-parser-output .infobox-header,body.skin-minerva .mw-parser-output .infobox-subheader,body.skin-minerva .mw-parser-output .infobox-above,body.skin-minerva .mw-parser-output .infobox-title,body.skin-minerva .mw-parser-output .infobox-image,body.skin-minerva .mw-parser-output .infobox-full-data,body.skin-minerva .mw-parser-output .infobox-below{text-align:center}@media screen{html.skin-theme-clientpref-night .mw-parser-output .infobox-full-data:not(.notheme)>div:not(.notheme)[style]{background:#1f1f23!important;color:#f8f9fa}}@media screen and (prefers-color-scheme:dark){html.skin-theme-clientpref-os .mw-parser-output .infobox-full-data:not(.notheme) div:not(.notheme){background:#1f1f23!important;color:#f8f9fa}}@media(min-width:640px){body.skin--responsive .mw-parser-output .infobox-table{display:table!important}body.skin--responsive .mw-parser-output .infobox-table>caption{display:table-caption!important}body.skin--responsive .mw-parser-output .infobox-table>tbody{display:table-row-group}body.skin--responsive .mw-parser-output .infobox-table tr{display:table-row!important}body.skin--responsive .mw-parser-output .infobox-table th,body.skin--responsive .mw-parser-output .infobox-table td{padding-left:inherit;padding-right:inherit}}</style><style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1250682069">.mw-parser-output .ib-character{border-spacing:2px 5px}.mw-parser-output .ib-character .infobox-above,.mw-parser-output .ib-character .infobox-header{background-color:#DEDEE2}.mw-parser-output .ib-character .infobox-image img{background-color:#f8f9fa}@media screen{html.skin-theme-clientpref-night .mw-parser-output .ib-character .infobox-above,html.skin-theme-clientpref-night .mw-parser-output .ib-character .infobox-header{background:hsl(240,6%,20%);color:inherit}}@media screen and (prefers-color-scheme:dark){html.skin-theme-clientpref-os .mw-parser-output .ib-character .infobox-above,html.skin-theme-clientpref-os .mw-parser-output .ib-character .infobox-header{background:hsl(240,6%,20%);color:inherit}}</style><table class="infobox ib-character"><tbody><tr><th colspan="2" class="infobox-above notheme">NPC (Mr. field kiddy toucher)</th></tr><tr><td colspan="2" class="infobox-image"><span class="mw-default-size" typeof="mw:File/Frameless"><a href="/enwiki/wiki/File:NPC_wojak_meme.png" class="mw-file-description"><img alt="A drawing of a bald head with simplified special facial features in black, on a neon pink background" src="/upwiki/wikipedia/en/1/1b/NPC_wojak_meme.png" decoding="async" width="200" height="198" class="mw-file-element" data-file-width="200" data-file-height="198" /></a></span><div class="infobox-caption">The NPC</div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label">First appearance</th><td class="infobox-data">July 7, 2016</td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label">Created by</th><td class="infobox-data">Anonymous <a href="/enwiki/wiki/4chan#/v/" title="4chan">/v/</a> user<sup id="cite_ref-theverge_1-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-theverge-1"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>1<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label">Based on</th><td class="infobox-data"><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Wojak" title="Wojak">Wojak</a></td></tr></tbody></table>
<p>The <b>NPC</b> (<span class="rt-commentedText nowrap"><span class="IPA nopopups noexcerpt" lang="en-fonipa"><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Help:IPA/English" title="Help:IPA/English">/<span style="border-bottom:1px dotted"><span title="/ɛ/: 'e' in 'dress'">ɛ</span><span title="'n' in 'nigh'">n</span><span title="/./: syllable break">.</span><span title="'p' in 'pie'">p</span><span title="/i/: 'y' in 'happy'">i</span><span title="/./: syllable break">.</span><span title="'s' in 'sigh'">s</span><span title="/i/: 'y' in 'happy'">i</span></span>/</a></span></span>; also known as the <b>NPC Wojak</b>), derived from <i><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Non-player_character" title="Non-player character">non-player character</a></i>, is an <a href="/enwiki/wiki/Internet_meme" title="Internet meme">Internet meme</a> that represents people deemed to not think for themselves; those who lack <a href="/enwiki/wiki/Introspection" title="Introspection">introspection</a> or <a href="/enwiki/wiki/Intrapersonal_communication" title="Intrapersonal communication">intrapersonal communication</a>; those whose <a href="/enwiki/wiki/Identity_(social_science)" title="Identity (social science)">identity</a> is deemed entirely determined by their surroundings and the information they consume, with no conscious <a href="/enwiki/wiki/Information_processing_(psychology)" title="Information processing (psychology)">processing</a> whatsoever being done by the person themselves.<sup id="cite_ref-theverge_1-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-theverge-1"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>1<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-nytimes_2-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-nytimes-2"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>2<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-theindependent_3-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-theindependent-3"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>3<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-4" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-4"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>4<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-theweek_5-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-theweek-5"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>5<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> The meme gained further viral status on <a href="/enwiki/wiki/TikTok" title="TikTok">TikTok</a> in 2022, with the surge of "NPC Streamers".<sup id="cite_ref-6" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-6"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>6<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> The NPC meme, which graphically is based on the <a href="/enwiki/wiki/Wojak" title="Wojak">Wojak</a> meme, was created in July 2016 by an anonymous author and first published on the <a href="/enwiki/wiki/Imageboard" title="Imageboard">imageboard</a> <a href="/enwiki/wiki/4chan" title="4chan">4chan</a>, where the idea and inspiration behind the meme were introduced.<sup id="cite_ref-knowyourmemenpc_7-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-knowyourmemenpc-7"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>7<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup>
</p><p>In terms of politics, it has often been used by those with <a href="/enwiki/wiki/Anti-establishment" title="Anti-establishment">anti-establishment</a> views to describe those who fail to question authority, "<a href="/enwiki/wiki/Groupthink" title="Groupthink">groupthink</a>", or a stance that would display conformity and obedience.<sup id="cite_ref-8" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-8"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>8<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-9" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-9"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>9<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-10" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-10"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>10<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup>
The NPC gained widespread attention during the <a href="/enwiki/wiki/Presidency_of_Donald_Trump" title="Presidency of Donald Trump">presidency</a> of <a href="/enwiki/wiki/Donald_Trump" title="Donald Trump">Donald Trump</a>.<sup id="cite_ref-nytimes_2-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-nytimes-2"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>2<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-VergeAlexander_11-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-VergeAlexander-11"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>11<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> In October 2018 the meme was covered by numerous news outlets, including <i><a href="/enwiki/wiki/The_Verge" title="The Verge">The Verge</a></i>,<sup id="cite_ref-theverge_1-2" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-theverge-1"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>1<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> the <a href="/enwiki/wiki/BBC" title="BBC">BBC</a>,<sup id="cite_ref-bbc_12-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-bbc-12"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>12<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> and <i><a href="/enwiki/wiki/The_New_York_Times" title="The New York Times">The New York Times</a></i>, who called it a popular insult among "the pro-Trump internet" as well as a "collective <a href="/enwiki/wiki/Mascot" title="Mascot">mascot</a> for the far-right commenters".<sup id="cite_ref-nytimes_2-2" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-nytimes-2"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>2<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> The following month, <i><a href="/enwiki/wiki/InfoWars" title="InfoWars">InfoWars</a></i> held a competition promoting the creation of NPC memes; the winning entry was endorsed by Trump on Twitter.<sup id="cite_ref-VergeAlexander_11-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-VergeAlexander-11"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>11<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup>
</p>
<div id="toc" class="toc" role="navigation" aria-labelledby="mw-toc-heading"><input type="checkbox" role="button" id="toctogglecheckbox" class="toctogglecheckbox" style="display:none" /><div class="toctitle" lang="en" dir="ltr"><h2 id="mw-toc-heading">Contents</h2><span class="toctogglespan"><label class="toctogglelabel" for="toctogglecheckbox"></label></span></div>
<ul>
<li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-1"><a href="#History"><span class="tocnumber">1</span> <span class="toctext">History</span></a></li>
<li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-2"><a href="#Characteristics"><span class="tocnumber">2</span> <span class="toctext">Characteristics</span></a></li>
<li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-3"><a href="#Media_coverage"><span class="tocnumber">3</span> <span class="toctext">Media coverage</span></a></li>
<li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-4"><a href="#Notable_events"><span class="tocnumber">4</span> <span class="toctext">Notable events</span></a>
<ul>
<li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-5"><a href="#Twitter_mass_ban"><span class="tocnumber">4.1</span> <span class="toctext">Twitter mass ban</span></a></li>
<li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-6"><a href="#Billboard_defacing"><span class="tocnumber">4.2</span> <span class="toctext">Billboard defacing</span></a></li>
<li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-7"><a href="#2023_stabbing"><span class="tocnumber">4.3</span> <span class="toctext">2023 stabbing</span></a></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-8"><a href="#See_also"><span class="tocnumber">5</span> <span class="toctext">See also</span></a></li>
<li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-9"><a href="#Notes"><span class="tocnumber">6</span> <span class="toctext">Notes</span></a></li>
<li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-10"><a href="#References"><span class="tocnumber">7</span> <span class="toctext">References</span></a></li>
<li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-11"><a href="#External_links"><span class="tocnumber">8</span> <span class="toctext">External links</span></a></li>
</ul>
</div>
<div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="History">History</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/enwiki/w/index.php?title=NPC_(meme)&action=edit&section=1" title="Edit section: History"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div>
<p>In 2016, the concept was revived in a 4chan post by an anonymous user who initiated the NPC meme, titled "Are you an NPC?", detailing the behaviour of individuals acting similarly to non-player characters in video games by repeatedly using phrases such as "JUST BE YOURSELF",<sup id="cite_ref-kotaku_13-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-kotaku-13"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>13<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> and ended the post with the following description of people the NPC meme intends to depict.<sup id="cite_ref-knowyourmemenpc_7-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-knowyourmemenpc-7"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>7<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup>
</p>
<style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1244412712">.mw-parser-output .templatequote{overflow:hidden;margin:1em 0;padding:0 32px}.mw-parser-output .templatequotecite{line-height:1.5em;text-align:left;margin-top:0}@media(min-width:500px){.mw-parser-output .templatequotecite{padding-left:1.6em}}</style><blockquote class="templatequote"><p>If you get in a discussion with them it's always the same <a href="/enwiki/wiki/Buzzword" title="Buzzword">buzzwords</a> and hackneyed arguments. They're the kind of people who make a show of discomfort when you break the status quo like by breaking the normie barrier to invoke a real discussion. it's like in a [video game] when you accidentally talk to somebody twice and they give you the exact lines word for word once more.</p><div class="templatequotecite">— <cite>Anonymous, "Are you an NPC?", 4chan (July 7, 2016)<sup id="cite_ref-knowyourmemenpc_7-2" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-knowyourmemenpc-7"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>7<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-kotaku_13-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-kotaku-13"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>13<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-14" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-14"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>a<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup></cite></div></blockquote>
<p>The design of the NPC meme character is based on <a href="/enwiki/wiki/Wojak" title="Wojak">Wojak</a>,<sup id="cite_ref-knowyourmemenpc_7-3" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-knowyourmemenpc-7"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>7<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> a meme created in <a href="/enwiki/wiki/Microsoft_Paint" title="Microsoft Paint">Microsoft Paint</a> in 2010.<sup id="cite_ref-knowyourmemewojak_15-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-knowyourmemewojak-15"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>14<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> Unlike the NPC meme, the Wojak meme (also known as Feels Guy<sup id="cite_ref-bbc_12-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-bbc-12"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>12<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup>) appeared first on the image hosting website vichan and has mainly been used for expression of feelings, most often melancholy or regret.<sup id="cite_ref-knowyourmemewojak_15-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-knowyourmemewojak-15"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>14<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup>
</p><p>The NPC meme became popular in <a href="/enwiki/wiki/Far-right_politics" title="Far-right politics">far-right</a> internet spaces, being used to describe those who do not share <a href="/enwiki/wiki/Conservatism" title="Conservatism">conservative</a> political views—particularly <a href="/enwiki/wiki/Liberalism" title="Liberalism">liberals</a>.<sup id="cite_ref-nytimes_2-3" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-nytimes-2"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>2<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-Sanders_16-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Sanders-16"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>15<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-theindependent_3-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-theindependent-3"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>3<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> Writing for <i><a href="/enwiki/wiki/The_New_York_Times" title="The New York Times">The New York Times</a></i>, <a href="/enwiki/wiki/Kevin_Roose" title="Kevin Roose">Kevin Roose</a> called it a "collective <a href="/enwiki/wiki/Mascot" title="Mascot">mascot</a> for the far-right commenters online."<sup id="cite_ref-nytimes_2-4" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-nytimes-2"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>2<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> During the weeks leading up to the <a href="/enwiki/wiki/2018_United_States_elections" title="2018 United States elections">2018 midterm elections</a> in the United States, the NPC meme gained remarkable attention, with relatively high media coverage, publication of new NPC memes online, and several noticeable events. A large number of animated videos based on the NPC meme were uploaded to YouTube in the second half of October 2018,<sup id="cite_ref-dailydot_17-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-dailydot-17"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>16<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> and Google searches for the term "NPC Wojak" peaked around the same time.<sup id="cite_ref-knowyourmemenpc_7-4" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-knowyourmemenpc-7"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>7<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> In October 2018, a large number of <a href="/enwiki/wiki/Twitter" title="Twitter">Twitter</a> accounts were created which presented themselves as NPCs, and more than 1,500 such accounts were subsequently banned by Twitter.<sup id="cite_ref-bbc_12-2" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-bbc-12"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>12<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> In November, the far-right <i><a href="/enwiki/wiki/InfoWars" title="InfoWars">InfoWars</a></i> held a competition promoting the creation of NPC memes. The winning entry, by a Twitter user named "Carpe Donktum", was later retweeted by then-<a href="/enwiki/wiki/President_of_the_United_States" title="President of the United States">U.S. President</a> <a href="/enwiki/wiki/Donald_Trump" title="Donald Trump">Donald Trump</a> in February 2019 before it was removed for copyright infringement.<sup id="cite_ref-VergeAlexander_11-2" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-VergeAlexander-11"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>11<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-18" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-18"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>17<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> The re-election campaign for then-<a href="/enwiki/wiki/Iowa" title="Iowa">Iowa</a> <a href="/enwiki/wiki/United_States_House_of_Representatives" title="United States House of Representatives">Representative</a> <a href="/enwiki/wiki/Steve_King" title="Steve King">Steve King</a> also tweeted an NPC meme around the same time, aimed at the sitting <a href="/enwiki/wiki/Democratic_Party_(United_States)" title="Democratic Party (United States)">Democratic</a> members of <a href="/enwiki/wiki/United_States_Congress" title="United States Congress">Congress</a>.<sup id="cite_ref-19" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-19"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>18<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup>
</p><p>The number of searches for the search term "NPC Wojak" remained relatively constant during 2019, though at a level significantly lower than its peak from early October through mid November 2018.<sup id="cite_ref-knowyourmemenpc_7-5" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-knowyourmemenpc-7"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>7<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup>
</p><p>Although the NPC meme was created six years after the Wojak meme, the NPC meme rapidly gained attention in comparison with the Wojak meme. On the website of the meme community <a href="/enwiki/wiki/Know_Your_Meme" title="Know Your Meme">Know Your Meme</a>, the NPC meme had 858,000 page views, 33 videos, 597 images and 749 comments as of December 31, 2019.<sup id="cite_ref-knowyourmemenpc_7-6" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-knowyourmemenpc-7"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>7<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> This can be compared to the Wojak meme on which NPC is based, which had 787,000 page views, 6 videos, 332 images and 47 comments as of December 31, 2019.<sup id="cite_ref-knowyourmemewojak_15-2" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-knowyourmemewojak-15"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>14<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup>
</p><p>In 2022, a variation of the NPC meme called "I Support The Current Thing" was popularized. According to <i><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Slate_(magazine)" title="Slate (magazine)">Slate</a></i>, the meme was mainly used by the political right to mock liberals for "perceived conformism, frivolousness, and distractibility" who "blindly flit from news story to news story, issue to issue, changing their Facebook profile pics and Twitter display names to 'support' whatever 'Current Thing' dominates news and commentary. The current thing has been <a href="/enwiki/wiki/Russian_invasion_of_Ukraine" title="Russian invasion of Ukraine">the Russian invasion of Ukraine</a>, <a href="/enwiki/wiki/Essential_workers" class="mw-redirect" title="Essential workers">essential workers</a>, the <a href="/enwiki/wiki/Women%27s_March" title="Women's March">Women's March</a>, <a href="/enwiki/wiki/Notre-Dame_de_Paris" title="Notre-Dame de Paris">Notre Dame</a> after it <a href="/enwiki/wiki/Notre-Dame_de_Paris_fire" class="mw-redirect" title="Notre-Dame de Paris fire">caught on fire</a>, etc." In March 2022, <a href="/enwiki/wiki/Elon_Musk" title="Elon Musk">Elon Musk</a> tweeted a version of the meme.<sup id="cite_ref-20" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-20"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>19<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup>
</p>
<div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Characteristics">Characteristics</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/enwiki/w/index.php?title=NPC_(meme)&action=edit&section=2" title="Edit section: Characteristics"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div>
<p>In appearance, the NPC character is <a href="/enwiki/wiki/Grey" title="Grey">grey</a> in colour, and usually short in stature<sup id="cite_ref-21" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-21"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>20<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> simple in its design,<sup id="cite_ref-theweek_5-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-theweek-5"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>5<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> with an expressionless face,<sup id="cite_ref-theindependent_3-2" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-theindependent-3"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>3<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-:0_22-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-:0-22"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>21<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> a triangular nose<sup id="cite_ref-nytimes_2-5" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-nytimes-2"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>2<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> and a blank stare.<sup id="cite_ref-knowyourmemenpc_7-7" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-knowyourmemenpc-7"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>7<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> The shape of the NPC face resembles that of Wojak, and is drawn crudely.<sup id="cite_ref-nytimes_2-6" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-nytimes-2"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>2<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup>
</p><p>The initial <i>NPC</i> refers to <a href="/enwiki/wiki/Non-player_character" title="Non-player character">non-player character</a>, a term used in video-games for characters the player cannot control.<sup id="cite_ref-:0_22-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-:0-22"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>21<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-23" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-23"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>22<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> A non-player character typically interacts with the player through simple and repetitive actions, such as saying the same sentence each time the player approaches the NPC. For example: "Greetings!" or "What's the gossip guys?". As such, NPCs have "no internality, agency, or capacity for critical thought",<sup id="cite_ref-kotaku_13-2" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-kotaku-13"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>13<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> they rely on scripted lines<sup id="cite_ref-nytimes_2-7" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-nytimes-2"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>2<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-hollywoodreporter_24-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-hollywoodreporter-24"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>23<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> and do not think for themselves.<sup id="cite_ref-theindependent_3-3" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-theindependent-3"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>3<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> Following the analogy of non-player characters, the NPC meme is used to mock individuals the maker perceives as lacking introspection, individual opinions, or critical thinking, generally political opponents. Due to NPC memes' greater popularity among the political right, the NPC is generally portrayed as parroting left-wing positions, but both left- and right-wing NPC variants exist.<sup id="cite_ref-theverge_1-3" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-theverge-1"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>1<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-theweek_5-2" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-theweek-5"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>5<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-kotaku_13-3" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-kotaku-13"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>13<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-:0_22-2" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-:0-22"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>21<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup>
</p>
<div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Media_coverage">Media coverage</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/enwiki/w/index.php?title=NPC_(meme)&action=edit&section=3" title="Edit section: Media coverage"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div>
<p>The NPC meme has been featured in major and minor news outlets alike, with frequent coverage during the peak of the NPCs popularity in fall 2018. According to <i>The Verge</i>, a few articles (including one by <i><a href="/enwiki/wiki/The_New_York_Times" title="The New York Times">The New York Times</a></i> published on October 16, 2018) sparked a "domino effect" and led to increased spread of the meme on Twitter, YouTube and through articles.<sup id="cite_ref-theverge_1-4" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-theverge-1"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>1<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup>
</p>
<div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Notable_events">Notable events</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/enwiki/w/index.php?title=NPC_(meme)&action=edit&section=4" title="Edit section: Notable events"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div>
<div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Twitter_mass_ban">Twitter mass ban</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/enwiki/w/index.php?title=NPC_(meme)&action=edit&section=5" title="Edit section: Twitter mass ban"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div>
<p>In October 2018, users of <a href="/enwiki/wiki/R/The_Donald" title="R/The Donald">r/The_Donald</a>, a large subreddit that supported United States President <a href="/enwiki/wiki/Donald_Trump" title="Donald Trump">Donald Trump</a>,<sup id="cite_ref-25" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-25"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>24<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> coordinated in creating accounts presented as NPCs on the microblogging and social networking service Twitter.<sup id="cite_ref-bbc_12-3" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-bbc-12"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>12<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> According to <i>The Week</i>, the accounts spread "bland, politically correct messages intended to mimic and provoke liberal pronouncements".<sup id="cite_ref-theweek_5-3" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-theweek-5"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>5<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> Following the mass creation of NPC Twitter accounts, the term "NPC" was used over 30,000 times on Twitter in a time span of 24 hours.<sup id="cite_ref-bbc_12-4" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-bbc-12"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>12<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> Twitter responded to the event by banning more than 1,500 of its users presenting themselves as NPCs.<sup id="cite_ref-theweek_5-4" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-theweek-5"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>5<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> The created accounts typically used profile pictures of NPC with slight modifications, such as colorful hair or partially covering masks.<sup id="cite_ref-nytimes_2-8" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-nytimes-2"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>2<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> According to one or more anonymous sources quoted by <i>The Week</i> and <i>The New York Times</i>, the users were banned for violating a term of use by Twitter against "intentionally misleading election-related content", ahead of the United States 2018 midterm election.<sup id="cite_ref-nytimes_2-9" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-nytimes-2"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>2<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-theweek_5-5" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-theweek-5"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>5<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> The claim that NPC memes were used to spread misinformation about the 2018 United States midterm election was also reported by other news agencies, including <i><a href="/enwiki/wiki/The_Verge" title="The Verge">The Verge</a></i>,<sup id="cite_ref-theverge_1-5" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-theverge-1"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>1<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> <i><a href="/enwiki/wiki/BBC_News" title="BBC News">BBC</a></i><sup id="cite_ref-bbc_12-5" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-bbc-12"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>12<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> and <i><a href="/enwiki/wiki/The_Independent" title="The Independent">The Independent</a></i>.<sup id="cite_ref-theindependent_3-4" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-theindependent-3"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>3<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> According to the BBC, the decision by Twitter to remove NPC accounts has upset many conservatives.<sup id="cite_ref-bbc_12-6" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-bbc-12"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>12<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup>
</p>
<div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Billboard_defacing">Billboard defacing</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/enwiki/w/index.php?title=NPC_(meme)&action=edit&section=6" title="Edit section: Billboard defacing"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div>
<p>In 2019, the NPC meme was used in the modification of two existing billboards in the United States.<sup id="cite_ref-dailydot_17-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-dailydot-17"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>16<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup>
</p><p>On January 13, 2019, the conservative street artist group <i>The Faction</i> modified a billboard featuring American comedian <a href="/enwiki/wiki/Bill_Maher" title="Bill Maher">Bill Maher</a> in <a href="/enwiki/wiki/West_Hollywood" class="mw-redirect" title="West Hollywood">West Hollywood</a> using the NPC meme.<sup id="cite_ref-hollywoodreporter_24-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-hollywoodreporter-24"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>23<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup>
</p><p>On February 19, 2019, a similar modification was performed on a billboard featuring English comedian <a href="/enwiki/wiki/John_Oliver" title="John Oliver">John Oliver</a> in <a href="/enwiki/wiki/Los_Angeles" title="Los Angeles">Los Angeles</a>, in which the face of Oliver was replaced by that of an NPC, and text "<i><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Last_Week_Tonight_with_John_Oliver" title="Last Week Tonight with John Oliver">Last Week Tonight with John Oliver</a></i>" was replaced by "<i>The <a href="/enwiki/wiki/Donald_Trump_in_popular_culture#Orange_man_bad" title="Donald Trump in popular culture">Orange Man Bad</a> Show with John Oliver</i>".<sup id="cite_ref-26" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-26"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>25<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> The modified billboard also included the text "*MATRIX APPROVED NPC PROGRAMMING" and a <a href="/enwiki/wiki/Speech_balloon" title="Speech balloon">speech balloon</a> from the NPC containing words such as "<a href="/enwiki/wiki/Donald_Trump_in_popular_culture#Skin_color" title="Donald Trump in popular culture">CHEETOH</a>" [<i><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Sic" title="Sic">sic</a></i>] and "<a href="/enwiki/wiki/Drumph" class="mw-redirect" title="Drumph">DRUMPH</a>" with random symbols in green text, resembling <a href="/enwiki/wiki/Matrix_digital_rain" title="Matrix digital rain">the text shown in <i>The Matrix</i></a>. According to <i><a href="/enwiki/wiki/The_Daily_Dot" title="The Daily Dot">The Daily Dot</a></i>, the modification of the billboard featuring Oliver, also credited to <i>The Faction</i>, was an attempt to counteract the media's supposed "<a href="/enwiki/wiki/Trump_derangement_syndrome" title="Trump derangement syndrome">Trump derangement syndrome</a>".<sup id="cite_ref-dailydot_17-2" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-dailydot-17"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>16<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup>
</p>
<div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="2023_stabbing">2023 stabbing</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/enwiki/w/index.php?title=NPC_(meme)&action=edit&section=7" title="Edit section: 2023 stabbing"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div>
<p>On March 22, 2023, in <a href="/enwiki/wiki/Mill_Creek,_Washington" title="Mill Creek, Washington">Mill Creek, Washington</a>, an 11-year-old boy was reportedly stabbed after ironically calling a 29-year-old man an NPC at a <a href="/enwiki/wiki/Dollar_Tree" title="Dollar Tree">Dollar Tree</a>.<sup id="cite_ref-27" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-27"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>26<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup>
</p>
<div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="See_also">See also</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/enwiki/w/index.php?title=NPC_(meme)&action=edit&section=8" title="Edit section: See also"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div>
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<div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Notes">Notes</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/enwiki/w/index.php?title=NPC_(meme)&action=edit&section=9" title="Edit section: Notes"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div>
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<li id="cite_note-14"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-14">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">The text was accompanied by a drawing from a <i><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Frog_and_Toad" title="Frog and Toad">Frog and Toad</a></i> story concerning a <a href="/enwiki/wiki/To-do_list" class="mw-redirect" title="To-do list">to-do list</a>, with below it "1. <s>Wake Up</s>".</span>
</li>
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<div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="References">References</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/enwiki/w/index.php?title=NPC_(meme)&action=edit&section=10" title="Edit section: References"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div>
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<li id="cite_note-theindependent-3"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">^ <a href="#cite_ref-theindependent_3-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-theindependent_3-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-theindependent_3-2"><sup><i><b>c</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-theindependent_3-3"><sup><i><b>d</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-theindependent_3-4"><sup><i><b>e</b></i></sup></a></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFSommerlad2018" class="citation web cs1">Sommerlad, Joe (October 17, 2018). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/npc-meme-right-wing-trolls-liberals-donald-trump-twitter-insults-republicans-a8588036.html">"What is an NPC? The liberal-bashing meme sweeping social media ahead of the US midterms"</a>. <i>The Independent</i>. Independent Digital News & Media Ltd. <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191122041003/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/npc-meme-right-wing-trolls-liberals-donald-trump-twitter-insults-republicans-a8588036.html">Archived</a> from the original on November 22, 2019<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">December 23,</span> 2019</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=unknown&rft.jtitle=The+Independent&rft.atitle=What+is+an+NPC%3F+The+liberal-bashing+meme+sweeping+social+media+ahead+of+the+US+midterms&rft.date=2018-10-17&rft.aulast=Sommerlad&rft.aufirst=Joe&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.independent.co.uk%2Fnews%2Fworld%2Famericas%2Fus-politics%2Fnpc-meme-right-wing-trolls-liberals-donald-trump-twitter-insults-republicans-a8588036.html&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ANPC+%28meme%29" class="Z3988"></span></span>
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<li id="cite_note-4"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-4">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://observer.com/2018/11/maga-conservative-memes-dominate-why/">"MAGA Memes and The Right Still Dominate Social Media-Here's Why"</a>. <i>Observer</i>. Joseph Meyer. November 5, 2018. <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20200103090422/https://observer.com/2018/11/maga-conservative-memes-dominate-why/">Archived</a> from the original on January 3, 2020<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">December 23,</span> 2019</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=unknown&rft.jtitle=Observer&rft.atitle=MAGA+Memes+and+The+Right+Still+Dominate+Social+Media-Here%27s+Why&rft.date=2018-11-05&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fobserver.com%2F2018%2F11%2Fmaga-conservative-memes-dominate-why%2F&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ANPC+%28meme%29" class="Z3988"></span></span>
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<li id="cite_note-theweek-5"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">^ <a href="#cite_ref-theweek_5-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-theweek_5-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-theweek_5-2"><sup><i><b>c</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-theweek_5-3"><sup><i><b>d</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-theweek_5-4"><sup><i><b>e</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-theweek_5-5"><sup><i><b>f</b></i></sup></a></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.theweek.co.uk/97291/what-are-npcs-and-why-has-twitter-banned-them">"What are NPCs and why has Twitter banned them?"</a>. <i>The Week UK</i>. Dennis Publishing Limited. October 23, 2018. <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20200103090421/https://www.theweek.co.uk/97291/what-are-npcs-and-why-has-twitter-banned-them">Archived</a> from the original on January 3, 2020<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">December 26,</span> 2019</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=unknown&rft.jtitle=The+Week+UK&rft.atitle=What+are+NPCs+and+why+has+Twitter+banned+them%3F&rft.date=2018-10-23&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.theweek.co.uk%2F97291%2Fwhat-are-npcs-and-why-has-twitter-banned-them&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ANPC+%28meme%29" class="Z3988"></span></span>
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<li id="cite_note-6"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-6">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFYomary2022" class="citation web cs1">Yomary, Tatayana (2022-05-18). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.distractify.com/p/what-does-npc-mean-on-tiktok">"NPC Is the Latest Trending Acronym on TikTok, but What Does It Mean?"</a>. <i>Distractify</i><span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">2023-01-25</span></span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=unknown&rft.jtitle=Distractify&rft.atitle=NPC+Is+the+Latest+Trending+Acronym+on+TikTok%2C+but+What+Does+It+Mean%3F&rft.date=2022-05-18&rft.aulast=Yomary&rft.aufirst=Tatayana&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.distractify.com%2Fp%2Fwhat-does-npc-mean-on-tiktok&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ANPC+%28meme%29" class="Z3988"></span></span>
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<li id="cite_note-knowyourmemenpc-7"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">^ <a href="#cite_ref-knowyourmemenpc_7-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-knowyourmemenpc_7-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-knowyourmemenpc_7-2"><sup><i><b>c</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-knowyourmemenpc_7-3"><sup><i><b>d</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-knowyourmemenpc_7-4"><sup><i><b>e</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-knowyourmemenpc_7-5"><sup><i><b>f</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-knowyourmemenpc_7-6"><sup><i><b>g</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-knowyourmemenpc_7-7"><sup><i><b>h</b></i></sup></a></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://trends.google.com/trends/explore?date=today%205-y&geo=US&q=npc%20wojak">"NPC Wojak - Google Trends"</a>. <i>Google Trends</i>. July 29, 2019. <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20200623070654/https://trends.google.com/trends/explore?date=today%205-y">Archived</a> from the original on June 23, 2020<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">August 19,</span> 2020</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=unknown&rft.jtitle=Google+Trends&rft.atitle=NPC+Wojak+-+Google+Trends&rft.date=2019-07-29&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Ftrends.google.com%2Ftrends%2Fexplore%3Fdate%3Dtoday%25205-y%26geo%3DUS%26q%3Dnpc%2520wojak&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ANPC+%28meme%29" class="Z3988"></span></span>
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<li id="cite_note-9"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-9">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFCowen2023" class="citation web cs1">Cowen, Trace William (July 19, 2023). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.complex.com/life/a/tracewilliamcowen/npc-streaming-tiktok">"NPC Streaming on TikTok, Explained"</a>. <i>Complex.com</i>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=unknown&rft.jtitle=Complex.com&rft.atitle=NPC+Streaming+on+TikTok%2C+Explained&rft.date=2023-07-19&rft.aulast=Cowen&rft.aufirst=Trace+William&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.complex.com%2Flife%2Fa%2Ftracewilliamcowen%2Fnpc-streaming-tiktok&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ANPC+%28meme%29" class="Z3988"></span></span>
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<li id="cite_note-10"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-10">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFGiandurco2023" class="citation web cs1">Giandurco, Jillian (March 22, 2023). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.bustle.com/life/what-does-npc-mean-tiktok-slang-term">"What Does the 'NPC' slang Term Mean on TikTok?"</a>. <i>Bustle</i>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=unknown&rft.jtitle=Bustle&rft.atitle=What+Does+the+%27NPC%27+slang+Term+Mean+on+TikTok%3F&rft.date=2023-03-22&rft.aulast=Giandurco&rft.aufirst=Jillian&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.bustle.com%2Flife%2Fwhat-does-npc-mean-tiktok-slang-term&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ANPC+%28meme%29" class="Z3988"></span></span>
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<li id="cite_note-VergeAlexander-11"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">^ <a href="#cite_ref-VergeAlexander_11-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-VergeAlexander_11-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-VergeAlexander_11-2"><sup><i><b>c</b></i></sup></a></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFAlexander2019" class="citation news cs1">Alexander, Julia (15 February 2019). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.theverge.com/2019/2/15/18226716/trump-meme-twitter-infowars-winner">"President of United States reposts video from winner of Infowars meme contest"</a>. <i><a href="/enwiki/wiki/The_Verge" title="The Verge">The Verge</a></i><span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">8 January</span> 2022</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=article&rft.jtitle=The+Verge&rft.atitle=President+of+United+States+reposts+video+from+winner+of+Infowars+meme+contest&rft.date=2019-02-15&rft.aulast=Alexander&rft.aufirst=Julia&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.theverge.com%2F2019%2F2%2F15%2F18226716%2Ftrump-meme-twitter-infowars-winner&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ANPC+%28meme%29" class="Z3988"></span></span>
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</li>
</ol></div></div>
<div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="External_links">External links</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/enwiki/w/index.php?title=NPC_(meme)&action=edit&section=11" title="Edit section: External links"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div>
<ul><li><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://knowyourmeme.com/memes/npc-wojak">NPC</a> entry at <a href="/enwiki/wiki/Know_Your_Meme" title="Know Your Meme">Know Your Meme</a></li>
<li><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://imgflip.com/memegenerator/NPC">NPC Meme Generator</a></li>
<li><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.reddit.com/r/NPCMemes/">NPC Memes</a> subreddit at Reddit</li></ul>
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href="/enwiki/wiki/List_of_Generation_Z_slang" title="List of Generation Z slang">slang</a></div></th></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Slang</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"></div><table class="nowraplinks navbox-subgroup" style="border-spacing:0"><tbody><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">2000s</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em">
<ul><li>"<a href="/enwiki/wiki/Ghosting_(behavior)" title="Ghosting (behavior)">Ghosting</a>"</li>
<li>"<a href="/enwiki/wiki/Basic_(slang)" title="Basic (slang)">Basic</a>"</li>
<li>"<a href="/enwiki/wiki/-ussy" title="-ussy">-ussy</a>"</li>
<li>"<a href="/enwiki/wiki/Uwu" title="Uwu">uwu</a>"</li></ul>
</div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">2010s</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em">
<ul><li>"<a href="/enwiki/wiki/Delulu" title="Delulu">Delulu</a>"</li>
<li>"<a href="/enwiki/wiki/The_ick" title="The ick">The ick</a>"</li>
<li><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Ligma_joke" title="Ligma joke">"Ligma" joke</a></li>
<li>"<a class="mw-selflink selflink">NPC</a>"</li>
<li>"<a href="/enwiki/wiki/OK_boomer" title="OK boomer">OK boomer</a>"</li>
<li>"<a href="/enwiki/wiki/Sigma_male" title="Sigma male">Sigma male</a>"</li>
<li>"<a href="/enwiki/wiki/Girlboss" title="Girlboss">Girlboss</a>"</li></ul>
</div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">2020s</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em">
<ul><li>"<a href="/enwiki/wiki/Rizz" title="Rizz">Rizz</a>"</li>
<li>"<a href="/enwiki/wiki/Gyatt" title="Gyatt">Gyatt</a>"</li></ul>
</div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Other</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em">
<ul><li>"<i><a href="/enwiki/wiki/Simp" title="Simp">Simp</a></i>"</li></ul>
</div></td></tr></tbody></table><div></div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Related</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em">
<ul><li>"<a href="/enwiki/wiki/Dab_(dance)" title="Dab (dance)">Dabbing</a>"</li>
<li>"<a href="/enwiki/wiki/Looksmaxxing" title="Looksmaxxing">Looksmaxxing</a>"
<ul><li>"<a href="/enwiki/wiki/Mewing_(orthotropics)" title="Mewing (orthotropics)">Mewing</a>"</li></ul></li></ul>
</div></td></tr></tbody></table></div></div>' |
