The abbreviation "OC" primarily stands for two concepts in digital communication: Original Character and Original Content. Understanding the context is key to discerning the meaning.
1. Original Character (Common in Fandom)
This is the most frequent meaning within creative and fan communities:
- Refers to a fictional character entirely created by a specific artist or writer, not based on existing copyrighted works.
- Often used when sharing fan art, stories, or role-playing to distinguish the creator's unique characters from established ones (e.g., characters from a book, movie, or game).
- Example context: "Posted my new fantasy OC, Elara, with her backstory!"
2. Original Content (Social Media & Sharing)
Increasingly popular, especially on visual platforms:
- Indicates that the post (image, video, artwork, music, written piece) is created by the person sharing it, not reposted from someone else.
- Used to claim ownership, encourage engagement with the creator's work, and comply with platform rules about reposting.
- Example context: "Sharing my latest painting! OC - appreciate feedback." or "All art here is my OC."
Less Common Meanings:
- In older internet slang or specific groups, OC might rarely mean "Officer in Charge" or "Own Character" (similar to Original Character).
- Can occasionally be mistaken for "out of control," though this is less common today.
Key Takeaway: Determine if the context involves creative creation (Original Character) or ownership of shared material (Original Content). In online discussions today, these are overwhelmingly the dominant interpretations.
