Non-Player Characters: One of the Four Horsemen of Nihilism
There is a new addiction emerging. Something akin to OnlyFans. However, this is not explicitly sexualized. Meet the Non-Player Characters (NPCs).
Where did Non-Player Characters Come from?
The term NPC refers to scripted video game characters not controlled by the player.
The genre of real humans spoofing NPCs popped up on YouTube and the, now defunct, short-format video service Vine around 2012. Content creators would often spoof characters from Rockstar Games’ LA Noire and Grand Theft Auto franchises.
TikTok is now the primary platform where these videos go viral. Prerecorded videos as well as live streamers are generating revenue by performing as NPCs.
The top 3 NPC streamers killing the algorithm on TikTok are:
Reportedly, Pinky Doll has been able to earn seven-thousand dollars per day on her streams.
During these streams, there are tokens or emojis that people buy and gift to the streamer. Upon seeing these emojis during the stream, the actors say nonsensical catchphrases based on the token received.
How is this Phenomenon Similar to Only Fans?
There is an intimacy between supporters of NPCs and OnlyFans creators.
Sending money, via these emojis and getting the creator to respond specifically to you produces a dopamine-hit.
While not all OnlyFans creators respond directly to a “fan’s” monetary contributions, many do, making this process very similar.
Adult webcam girls are another interaction for payment model, I hear about during sessions with my clients.
The highest spender gets the most attention. This breeds a competitive factor for the streamer’s attention.
With NPCs the competition and sexuality, is not so overt. But the sexual undertones are definitely there.
The Non-Player Characters genre of content is also a platform for promotion. Two of the three streamers above have OnlyFans accounts. The third has a Japanese market version of an OnlyFans site.
No, I won’t be linking those.
Despite the unusual content, this type of self-promotion is not new. Models on Facebook and Instagram have been doing this for years.
For more insights into therapeutic themes in movies and TV, check out my podcast, Watch This with Eli here on my website or wherever you find your favorite podcasts!
Non-Player Characters and the Economy
I fear this will become just another “job” in the attention economy that these giant social media corporations have built.
Consequently, this drives a concern I have about young adults avoiding trade schools or colleges for a chance to become an “influencer.”
Additionally, I am concerned that these “jobs” could compound mental health issues or cause personality disorders to worsen.
In my darkest nightmares, I foresee this digitally-driven, hyper-connected populace causing the economy to change and shift towards a “Black Mirror-esque” social economy.
The race to make a buck by any means necessary, is going to haunt these poor souls forever.
An Inside Look at Making an NPC Video
I saw a video the other day. A young woman tried to make an NPC video. The video I watched was her disclosure of why people shouldn’t make these Non-Player Characters videos.
She stated it was “…a miserable and embarrassing experience.”
The only people that watched her NPC video were her friends. She put on a punk/emo costume and regretted it.
She had a moment of reflection, lamenting, “Why am I doing this? This is stupid.”
Afterwards, making a video disclosing her experience and why people shouldn’t indulge in NPC culture.
While this woman’s experience is anecdotal, it could be the most common. These results could lead people to feeling inadequate. I fear there could be a storm of nihilism on the horizon.
Non-Player Characters and the Coming Storm
Nihilism is defined as a “a rejection of all religious and moral principles in the belief that life is meaningless” according to Oxford Languages.
I feel more people are leaning this way because they’re trying to do more outlandish or shocking things for fame and recognition.
The beginning of the pandemic started a free fall decline for American Capitalism. The failure of the system to provide a lifeline created a golden age for OnlyFans and similar sites.
Sex sells, but at what cost? This quick cash for a flash will lead many into deeper psychological issues.
Where could one find meaning in a meaningless pursuit of attention? Where is the line drawn?
We can feed any of our demons on the internet.
But what do we do now that the desire to reach beyond the screen for sustenance is dwindling?
What will happen when our lives mean more inside the virtual world than in the real world?
Are you or a loved one struggling with addiction, intrusive thoughts, or inappropriate sexual behavior? Schedule an appointment with Eli through Sexual Addiction Treatment Services.
