The NPC meme, a variation of the Wojak character, first emerged on 4chan in 2018. It features an expressionless, gray-skinned version of Wojak designed to represent a 'Non-Player Character'—a video game term for characters controlled by computer scripts rather than players. In internet culture, the meme is used to satirize individuals perceived as lacking independent thought or blindly adhering to mainstream social and political narratives. While it began as a tool for political commentary, it has since evolved into a global symbol for mocking conformity and predictable behavior across all social media platforms.