The phrase “ice cream so good” has been all over TikTok lately as more and more people discover NPC livestreams. But what exactly are they? Here’s everything you need to know.
You must be living under the rock if you claim to be a TikTok user or creator and have no idea about this new craze.
Content creators like PINKYDOLL has been known to be doing it the most and her live streams permeated the Twitter barrier earlier in August 2023.
The young woman is always seen repeating phrases on an apparent loop. Recently, rapper Nicki Minaj joined the trend.
It has been discovered they are being paid to use TikTok’s sticker function and the phrases corresponded to the stickers people paid for.
But, what is this whole new trend about; who started it, why are they doing it and do they make any money from it? Read on for more about NPC trend.
TIKTOK: PINKYDOLL
What is TikTok’s viral NPC fetish?
Video game NPCs are Non-Player-Characters that are not controlled by any human operative. They mostly regurgitate scripted lines giving tasks or information and work to make the world feel lived in.
NPC streamers, most commonly found on TikTok, seemingly work to emulate the characteristics of video game NPCs primarily through repetitive actions and dialogue. Aesthetics in the medium are sometimes appropriated from other forms of entertainment like sci-fi or anime.
In a way reminiscent of AI in media depictions, NPC streamers give the appearance of being human shells without emotion or personality. This appears to be the core appeal to viewers who engage with these streams, to act as programmers in control.
In exchange for token payments via TikTok’s stickers, performers like pinkydoll will regurgitate phrases like “ice cream so good” or “gang gang” on repeat for hours on end. There’s no denying the stamina and performance skill that would be required to maintain this for extended periods of time but Twitter users have noticed a palpable sexual undercurrent to the content.
Since the content found its way into the wider public eye, many have suggested that people with control or coercion kinks may be using the content to fulfill certain desires. Particularly the idea of controlling their own doll or video game character.
It has been compared by commenters to online sex work like Fansly and OnlyFans being published on a platform readily accessible by children. Others are saying it’s dehumanizing to the creators and expressing concern.
It’s important to note that streamers like pinkydoll and cherrycrush_tv are willing participants and likely know about the nature of certain viewers. They’re seemingly fine with it and are making a bag in being so.
Regardless of how you feel about it, the content is already proving massively popular with pinkydoll’s TikTok sitting climbing to 261K followers in the past few days, and cherry_crush TV just ahead at 300K. Tens of thousands of viewers are tuning into their live streams and the proceeds are sure to be substantial.
This recent step into the public spotlight has only caused their reach to grow with pinkydoll’s follower count growing over 10K in the last week alone and continuing to skyrocket at the time of writing.
FAQs about NPC fetish trend
What is the NPC trend on TikTok?
The all-new social media trend, NPC, is a livestream trend where viewers can buy ‘gifts’ for the creators within the livestream, which pop up on screen. When the creator sees it, they respond with their ‘pre-programmed’ response.
What does the hashtag NPC mean?
The NPC is an abbreviation of “non-player character.” According to NetInfluencer, a person who lacks originality, imagination, and independent thinking is called an “NPC.” It describes people who think and act mechanically, without distinct personalities or beliefs.
Who started the NPC trend?
Japanese streamer Natuecoco, whose real name is Natsue Coco, is said to be the original NPC streamer on TikTok after going viral in 2021 for her NPC videos with fellow TikToker Satoyu727.
Natuecoco started her online career on Twitch and Instagram in 2019, with the majority of her content revolving around her cosplays.
How much do NPC Tiktoks make?
How much money can TikTok NPC streamers make? Creators that specialize in NPCs may make several thousand dollars daily. PinkyDoll recently told the New York Times that she gets $2,000 to $3,000 every stream and up to $7,000 daily from her videos.
What does NPC mean for a girl?
“NPC” stands for “Non-Player Character” and is used as a metaphor to describe someone who is perceived as lacking independent thought or blindly following trends.
What does NPC girlfriend stand for?
In video games, an NPC is a non-playable character. In slang terms, an NPC is someone who doesn’t think for themselves or behaves very predictably. If someone is acting like an NPC in real life, they might repeat the opinions of others or be very predictable in conversations.
Who is the NPC girl?
Although she wasn’t the originator, a creator known as Pinkydoll is the young woman who made it gain immense traction on social media. Most of Pinkydoll’s live streams boast hundreds of thousands of viewers who send her “gifts,” digital tokens like roses, ice cream cones, cowboy hats, and other miscellaneous emojis. Pinkydoll reacts to these tokens with preprogrammed, repetitive responses, much like a real NPC would.
Why are people acting like NPC on TikTok?
A new TikTok trend has creators acting like non-playable, video game characters — or NPCs. NPC streams can be lucrative, as viewers gift creators to control their actions. The trend is exemplified by Pinkydoll, who has gone viral in the last few weeks.
How do NPC streamers make money?
Creators can earn “tips” from viewers, who are able to buy virtual coins to spend on cartoon gifts that can be converted into real money. During NPC streams, gifts activate specific phrases or actions — performed with the same automated-sounding tones and motions every time.
Who is the ice cream so good TikTok girl?
Pinkydoll is a character by creator Fedha Sinon who has become the face of the trend. She does a series of odd things in response to her viewers’ “gifts”. Famously, she repeats “ice-cream so good” in a robotic tone, with her tongue out, licking a pretend-cone, when sent an ice-cream token.
Why are NPC streams popular?
Plenty of commentators have argued that the underlying appeal is rooted in kink: as TikTok user eBaum’s World suggested, these videos appeal to people with a ‘control fetish’, who take pleasure in commanding other people as though they are characters in video games.
What is the ice cream thing on TikTok?
TikTok live allows viewers to donate money to a streamer, with donations appearing onscreen as a “gift,” like an ice cream cone. NPC streamers react to each gift with a predetermined phrase or movement; Pinkydoll, for example, reacts to the ice cream emoji with “ice cream so good.”
How much has Pinkydoll made on TikTok?
While there is no official confirmation on her online earnings, people have speculated it could be anywhere from $1-5K per stream. However, in an interview with the New York Times, the star claims to make “$7,000 per day” to be exact. Not bad for a day’s work.
Who is Pinkydoll on TikTok?
Pinkydoll’s real name is Fedha Sinon. She is 27 years old and lives in Montreal. On TikTok, her account is called Pinkydollreal; she has more than 750,000 followers. She’s also an adult content creator.
Who is the popular NPC streamer?
Pinkydoll is a Montréal-based social media creator who has become the face of TikTok’s latest trend: NPC streaming. The trend draws its name from the non-playable characters (NPCs) of video games. Think of background characters that might perform a few preprogrammed lines or actions.