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This awkward John Green photo is now a full-fledged Twitter meme

Is #johning the new #planking?

 

Gavia Baker-Whitelaw

Internet Culture

Posted on May 2, 2014   Updated on May 31, 2021, 9:26 am CDT

The upcoming The Fault in Our Stars movie means that mainstream news organizations are having to find ways to write about John Green’s “Internet fame,” and oh boy, are they off to a good start.

In the first of what will probably be many magazine photoshoots, the Hollywood Reporter made John Green pretend to be writing on his laptop in the least comfortable pose imaginable. Please take note of his technique, aspiring novelists and vlog superstars.

Photo via edwardspoonhands/Tumblr

This awkward photo quickly caught the attention of John Green’s friends and fans, with fellow vlogbrother Hank Green posting a selfie of himself in the same pose.

Yes, this is how Internet People look like when they’re working. We now have photographic proof.

Photo via edwardspoonhands/Tumblr

Had to wait until I got home from work to try #Johning https://t.co/69fkzHWQln

— elmify (@elmify) May 1, 2014

#johnning Cause I can. @realjohngreen pic.twitter.com/Ks9i81G5N9

— Staci Woolley (@StaciWoolley) May 2, 2014

#johnning pic.twitter.com/2BHhnS9Tc9

— KP (@the1kim) May 2, 2014

Due credit: @emilydianaruth came up with the initial idea for #Johning. We’re very happy that it took over twitter while we slept.

— Charlie McDonnell (@coollike) May 2, 2014

#Johning pic.twitter.com/B2HKITL31E

— Ryan (@ryedth) May 1, 2014

The puppy jumps in on the latest craze. #johning @realjohngreen pic.twitter.com/XQQeFJz2MT

— Susan Porteous (@Manzanita917) May 2, 2014

@coollike @realjohngreen the first rule of #Johning is safety first, please don’t make my mistake: pic.twitter.com/ybNBnijSzj

— Emily Diana Ruth (@emilydianaruth) May 1, 2014

Even toddlers are #Johning @realjohngreen pic.twitter.com/die6HdT7RL

— Sarah Waters (@scarahhhh) May 1, 2014

Am I doing it right? #Johning pic.twitter.com/6U1i5jfpR3

— Annie (@doitlots) May 1, 2014

ICYMI, Wesley got in on the latest twitter craze: #Johning “I’m writing a book about farts.” pic.twitter.com/c3K3Ah3YdG

— Zoot (@misszoot) May 2, 2014

Is #johnning (or #johning) the new planking? Probably not, but we can almost certainly expect more awkward, supposedly Internet-themed photoshoots in John Green’s future.

Photo via edwardspoonhands/Tumblr

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*First Published: May 2, 2014, 9:47 am CDT