If you’ve spent five minutes near a middle schooler lately, you’ve probably heard the term NPC. In the gaming world (think Minecraft or Roblox), an NPC is a "Non-Player Character"—those digital villagers who just stand there repeating the same three lines of dialogue. They aren't "real" in the context of the game; they are just there to serve the player’s journey.

The problem? Kids have started using "NPC" to describe real people. The guy at the grocery store? NPC. The teacher giving a lecture? NPC. Anyone who isn't "in" on the current joke or doesn't fit the "vibe" is dismissed as a background extra in the kid’s life.

This is the dark side of Main Character Energy. While we want our kids to have confidence, the digital world—specifically TikTok and YouTube Shorts—is designed to make them feel like the literal center of the universe. When every video is served specifically to their tastes and every "like" validates their existence, it becomes harder to remember that other people have complex, messy, "main character" lives of their own.

The algorithms on Instagram and TikTok aren't designed to show us different perspectives. They are designed to show us more of ourselves. If your teen watches one video about a specific hobby or political take, the algorithm serves up ten more just like it.

This creates a "digital bubble" where kids rarely encounter people who think, look, or act differently than they do. When they finally do see someone "different" in the real world, they don't see a human—they see an "NPC" who doesn't fit their feed.

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The best way to fight this isn't to take the phone away (though a break never hurts); it’s to diversify their "content diet" with stories that center on the experiences of others. Here are some of the best tools for the job.

Ages 7-12 This book (and the recent movie) is a masterclass in empathy. It follows Roz, a robot who has to learn how to survive in the wilderness by observing and helping animals. It’s a beautiful look at how "different" doesn't mean "lesser" and how we have to adapt to understand the needs of others.

Ages 6+ While the first movie was about understanding your own emotions, the sequel dives deep into the "Anxiety" of social fitting-in. It’s a great conversation starter about how everyone else in the room—even the "cool kids"—is dealing with their own internal console of chaotic emotions.

Ages 10+ If your kid is a gamer, skip the competitive shooters for a week and have them play this. You play as a "ferrymaster" to the deceased. Your entire job is to listen to the stories of your passengers, take care of them, and eventually let them go. It’s impossible to play this game and still see people as "NPCs."

Ages 8-13 A classic for a reason. By switching the narrator's perspective between multiple characters, it forces kids to see how the same event can be experienced differently by everyone involved. It’s the ultimate "anti-NPC" curriculum.

Ages 12+ For the older kids who think they’re too cool for "moral lessons," this show is a stealthy way to teach ethics and philosophy. It’s hilarious, but it fundamentally asks: What do we owe to each other?

Understanding that other people have feelings (Theory of Mind) is a developmental milestone, but the digital age has pushed the goalposts.

At this age, it’s about Perspective Taking. Kids are naturally self-centered. Use shows like Bluey to point out how Bingo might feel when Bluey takes over a game.

This is the "NPC" danger zone. Middle schoolers use irony as a shield. They might say someone is "living in Ohio" (meaning they are weird or cringey).

By now, the algorithm has likely set in. Teens are often stuck in echo chambers.

If you sit them down for a lecture on "empathy," their eyes will roll so far back they’ll see their own brains. Instead, try the "Perspective Pivot" during normal activities.

1. The "Background Character" Game When you’re people-watching at a park or mall, pick a random person and try to imagine their "Main Character" story. "See that woman with the three bags? I bet she’s a world-class baker on her way to a high-stakes competition." It turns "NPCs" into complex humans.

2. Call out the "Main Character" Tropes When you’re watching a movie together, point out when a side character is treated poorly just to help the hero. "Man, the hero really just stole that guy's car and didn't even say thank you. That guy probably had a really important meeting to get to."

3. Address the "NPC" Comment Directly If your kid calls someone an NPC, don't get angry. Just ask: "What makes them an NPC to you?" Usually, the answer is "they're boring" or "they're just doing their job." Follow up with: "What do you think their life looks like when they aren't standing behind that counter?"

Learn more about the 'NPC' trend and how to handle it

Main Character Energy isn't necessarily a character flaw—it’s a predictable result of a digital world that treats our children as the center of a data-driven universe. The antidote isn't more screen time or less screen time; it's intentional screen time.

By choosing games, books, and shows that highlight the "inner world" of others, we can help our kids realize that while they are the lead in their own story, everyone else is the lead in theirs, too.

Ask Screenwise for a personalized perspective-building media list for your family