Joe Manna

My Perspective on Business, Social Media & Community

  • Home
  • About Me
  • Contact Me

June 29, 2011

Why We Go #Planking

Surely by now you’ve heard of the fad that’s sweeping the globe – “Planking” – as it’s called where people photograph themselves acting like a wood plank in seemingly unexpected places. I want to share my thoughts on why people do this and why it’s popular.

Aside from the occasional Planking injury, the phenomenon is harmless when participants employ common sense. That is, avoiding steep falls, machinery and anything that could cause direct harm is a must. That aside, the Planking trend is outright hilarious. See below.

Planking at Wal-MartCredit: @rellyOnSMASH

It is my hypothesis that we all desire to be a part of something big. Look at the Internet (minus the commercialization). Look at Twitter. Look at Facebook. Even MySpace circa 2004. They are all “big” networks  and once they catch on (or, cross the chasm), it provides a sense of satisfaction to join the movement. Revolution, eh, not so much, but a movement would best describe the Planking craze.

It’s also incredible that without mass media supporting Planking, it has spread globally. It started from Australia as the “lying down game” from a couple Rugby players and spread virally across the globe. Pretty cool. It epitomizes the power of our peer-to-peer communication in today’s times.

While we poke fun at Planking and dismiss it as an immature act, consider the fact that people are actually doing something from what they witnessed on the Internet. When a message is invoking enough, people will carry it on. This ‘sport’ is played silently, through photos.

There’s very little separating peer-to-peer syndication of recreational activities and philanthropy. Money isn’t the answer to every non-profit. Many times, the challenge is awareness. I would love if we could carry on a message for one non-profit and share that. There is nothing stopping people except the will of the people. Kind of like how we donated to Red Cross, but perhaps more meaningful. Sending a text isn’t action. Going out and volunteering is.

Maybe we can all tell a short story about a homeless person. Maybe we can all photograph communities in need. (We have the tools.) Maybe we could actually help one another and brag about it. While I have no examples of this, it’s something I’m strongly intrigued by – using social media to better our social actions.

 

Last modified: June 29, 2011

Recent Posts

  • More thoughts on Progressive Snapshot
  • The future of cars and driving
  • Is Ubuntu Linux ready for small businesses?
  • How to not get duped by fake news
  • Hack your way to a better credit score

Popular Posts

  • What Every Driver Needs to Know about Progressive Snapshot
  • More thoughts on Progressive Snapshot
  • Pros and Cons of Using Unroll.me
  • How to Get Out of a Photo Radar Ticket
  • 7 Automotive Performance Mods that Actually Work

Powered by
WP Engine

Built with
Studiopress

Copyright © 2023 Joe Manna. Content is licensed under Creative Commons [CC BY-SA 3.0].