Planking: The Facebook Craze Sweeping the Globe

By Karolyn Castaldo on October 30, 2011

Recently, I logged onto my Facebook and noticed something strange as I scrolled through. I clicked on the photos and could not believe my eyes. It was an album entirely compiled of a friend of mine and a few other people lying flat as a board on various objects. Confused, I decided to do some research. I consulted the ever-trusty Urban Dictionary and found that this new Facebook craze was called planking.

Photo by ND Strupler on flickr.com

In millions of photo albums on the popular social networking site, people are experimenting with this crazy fad where you pose for pictures lying completely straight, as if you are a plank of wood across various objects, varying from carpets, to couches, and even camels.

Popularizing itself in Australia, planking has become a worldwide sensation. As can be seen with many popular Facebook trends, such as Farmville, “selfies” (pictures you take of yourself at awkward angles or in the mirror), and LMS (liking someone’s status so that they answer questions about you), it started out slow and then progressively grew and grew until people all over the world, either seriously or to mock it, tried planking at least once and posted a picture of it.

If I haven’t convinced you yet, give it a try! However, if you’re wondering how to get started, here are some helpful hints.

  • Lay completely flat on your stomach with your arms by your side and your hands facing upwards. Make sure you point your toes and look directly down.
  • Practice on a large, flat surface like the floor or your kitchen table.
  • Once you’ve got the hang of the position, check your surroundings for more challenging surfaces, such as the arm of a chair to try as your next feat.
  • If you feel up to it, work your way up to more exciting surfaces, like one Facebook planker who was able to balance on top of four beer bottles (if you’re 21 or older!)
  • Most importantly, be careful! Planking can be extremely dangerous when done improperly or in unsafe conditions, so proceed with caution.

So, whether you simply peruse the pictures on Facebook or try it out yourself, I wish you a safe and happy planking!

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