Please Plank With Caution! (PHOTOS)

When I first saw the trending topic #planking coming across my Twitter timeline, not knowing what it was I decided to click anyway. After a few minutes of browsing, I knew this craze was about to begin.

As I browsed through the topic, as I do regularly now, I came across tons of hilarious photographs of people planking. From planking in a Wal-Mart check out line to hovering over urinals while someone is urinating, planking is the newest social media trend.

PHOTOS: What The Plank? Our Favorite Planking Moments

If you haven’t had the pleasure of seeing planking in action, planking consists of lying face down as stiff as a board in an unusual or absurd location mimicking a wooden plank. One of the funniest parts about planking is how the hands touch the side of the body appearing to be dead. Apparently, it has been a fad overseas for a few years, but has since spread and has become the hottest thing here in the United States over the past few days. Social medias never ceases to amaze me on how fast connections and trends can be built.

PHOTOS: Our Favorite Hip-Pop Celebs Get Their Plank On!

With the advent of technology, dance flash mobs and even planking receive much vigor from social media web sites. Social networking sites like Tumblr, Twitter and Facebook have become important with content sharing. Because of the easy accessibility, immediacy and reach, trends can penetrate the interest earning its way into popular culture.  For those who are not still believers in the power of social media, hopefully something as small as this trend triggers optimism.