Planki

Planki is the Polish term used to refer to the internet meme commonly known as planking. The practice involves lying face down in public or unusual locations with a rigid, straight body and arms positioned at the sides. Participants typically photograph the pose and share the image online, often with a caption and location tag, to demonstrate a “plank” stance.

Origin and spread: Planking originated in the late 2000s in Australia under the name planking and gained international attention around 2011–2012 through user-generated photos and media coverage. In Polish-speaking communities, the meme was adopted as planki or plankowanie, with contributors posting images of themselves performing the pose in a variety of settings.

Cultural context: The meme was celebrated for its simplicity and humorous potential, encouraging creativity in choosing surfaces and backdrops. It also prompted discussions about safety and legality, as some placements risked trespassing or physical harm. Media coverage in several countries helped fuel its rapid spread during its peak.

Legacy: The planking craze declined after its peak in 2011–2012 but remains a reference point in discussions of early 2010s internet culture. The phenomenon influenced later meme formats and pose-based challenges, and the term planki is sometimes used in Polish-language discussions of internet memes to describe this particular trend.