Earlier this year, TikTok livestreamers began mimicking lifeless "nonplayable characters," or NPCs, by repeating motions and phrases like in a video game. Then, people started paying them to keep doing it.
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Credits: This episode was produced by Ben Brock Johnson and Dean Russell. Mixing and so ... Show More
Aug 21
'Turn Bluetooth off, or we're turning around.'
The 190 passengers of a United Airlines flight from Newark, New Jersey to Palma de Mallorca, Spain had settled into their seats for their overnight flight when the captain gave an announcement: everyone had to turn off their Bluetooth devices — or he was going to turn around the ... Show More
28m 28s
Aug 14
Fruit of the Loom: Horn of Lies
The brand Fruit of the Loom is almost ubiquitous in the world of underwear and casual wear. You have likely seen its logo, if not on your own body, on store racks or at least in ads. Now, in your mind's eye, picture it. What do you see? For years, countless people have been takin ... Show More
44m 45s
Aug 2023
TikTok's NPC Ice Cream So Good Meme Explained
E38: Some TikTok Live streamers, like Pinkydoll, are making tens of thousands of dollars a month streaming themselves reacting to monetary gifts with canned responses, like a video game NPC. The TikTok NPC trend gives a lot to learn. It shows just how big the market is and how mu ... Show More
8m 59s
Oct 2025
TikTok’s Trojan Horse Strategy
When TikTok videos started to go viral on Instagram and Reddit, TikTok turned to professional sound designers to protect their content.More and more companies are paying to develop a “sonic identity” – a series of sounds, songs, and micro-jingles to help maintain a unified brand. ... Show More
25m 3s