What does NPC mean in a text?

The literal meaning. In video games, an NPC is a character no player controls, says Merriam-Webster: the shopkeeper, the villager, the extra who repeats the same line.

The insult. Merriam-Webster's slang entry says NPC is also, and increasingly, used to describe "a person viewed as lacking any capacity for original thought." In a text, it's a quick way to call someone boring, predictable or a follower.

"NPC behavior." Merriam-Webster notes it is used dismissively about anyone acting like a sheep, so you'll also see it about an action rather than a person: doing the same thing as everyone else, or reacting in a canned way.

Our slang dictionary entry for NPC covers the word itself; this page is about how it shows up in your teen's texts, DMs and comments.

The abbreviation is decades old. Merriam-Webster dates NPC to the 1970s, in role-playing games such as Dungeons and Dragons, and later video games. The insulting use is much newer: Merriam-Webster dates it to the 2010s. In 2018, The New York Times reported on users of 4chan and Reddit using it as a political insult (as quoted by Merriam-Webster), and Merriam-Webster notes it is often used that way today.

About adults with catchphrases. Coaches, bus drivers and other adults who say the same thing every day are easy NPC targets.

About themselves. "I'm such an NPC" is self-teasing for being boring, quiet or following the crowd.

In comments. "NPC" under someone's post means "unoriginal." Under a video of someone who acts robotic on purpose, it can be a compliment to the bit.

About a classmate. This is the use that stings: it says the person doesn't really count.

It's an insult, so it's rude when aimed at someone, but how rude depends on the target. A joke about a coach's catchphrase or about yourself is harmless teasing. Aimed at the same kid every day, it tells them they don't count as a real person, and that is a bullying problem.

Our read: watch for repetition. One "NPC" in a group chat is banter. The same kid called an NPC in comments, over and over, is a pattern worth asking about.

If your teen calls themselves an NPC, take it lightly but listen. "Corner of the party, huh? Who was there?" can open up how they're really fitting in.

If they call someone else an NPC, ask who and why, without accusing: "Is that a joke about an adult, or about a kid?" If it's a classmate, ask how they'd feel being treated like a background extra. If your teen is the one being called an NPC, take it seriously and ask whether it happens a lot.

• NPC in the slang dictionary: the full slang entry for the word.
• GYAT: another word that can turn into a pile-on in comments.
• 67: the meaningless number joke teens chant at each other.
• GRWM: "get ready with me," another code from teen feeds.
• Teen texting decoded: every emoji and code on one page.
• The Lowkey slang dictionary: every word, not just the texts.