The Lying Down Game That Conquered the Internet
Planking was one of the internet’s first global viral photo trends, involving people photographing themselves lying face-down with arms at their sides in unusual or precarious locations. Originating in 2009 but peaking in 2011, planking demonstrated social media’s power to turn absurd behavior into worldwide phenomena.
Origins & Peak (2009-2011)
The trend began in 2009 among friends in Somerset, England, calling it the “lying down game.” It spread to Australia where it was renamed “planking” and exploded on Facebook in early 2011. By May 2011, Facebook pages dedicated to planking had millions of followers.
Celebrities joined the craze: Justin Bieber, Katy Perry, Chris Brown, and even entire sports teams posted planking photos. The trend’s simplicity—no equipment, skills, or explanation needed—made it perfectly suited for social media virality.
Tragic Turn & Decline
The trend took a dark turn in May 2011 when 20-year-old Acton Beale fell to his death attempting to plank on a seventh-floor balcony railing in Brisbane, Australia. This tragedy sparked debates about dangerous social media challenges and led to official warnings from police.
Prime Minister Julia Gillard called planking “a bit of a joke that’s gotten out of hand.” The death marked planking’s rapid decline, though it had already begun transitioning into other lying-down trends like “owling” and “Tebowing.”
Legacy
Planking established the template for viral photo challenges: simple, replicable, escalating in absurdity, driven by social media shares. It paved the way for Ice Bucket Challenge, Mannequin Challenge, and countless TikTok trends, proving that internet fame could motivate millions to perform synchronized silliness.
Sources:
- BBC News: “Australian dies in ‘planking’ stunt” (May 2011)
- The Guardian: “Planking: the lying down craze sweeping the web” (2011)
- Know Your Meme: Planking comprehensive history