Alex has become the latest average Joe or Jane to inadvertently become a star of the interwebs, after a photo of him packing shopping was posted online. 

YOOOOOOOOOO pic.twitter.com/eknsxBlx38 — rims (@auscalum) November 2, 2014

Needless to say the picture went viral and Alex was no longer simply Alex. He was Alex from Target - the accidental subject of hundreds of memes. 

He saved my groceries�� #alexfromtarget pic.twitter.com/xdycZmBaUd — alex from target (@ryanftgrier) November 3, 2014

STEAL HIS LOOK: ALEX FROM TARGET shirt: $29.99 Target pants: $35.99 Target watch: $19.99 Target bags: $0.05 Target pic.twitter.com/FxV2cWUKWy — Dream Closet (@TheDreamCIoset) November 3, 2014

Couldn't stop laughing�������� #alexfromtarget pic.twitter.com/pmpOpBmhj6 — Jasmine From Target (@GilinskysHighAf) November 3, 2014

A dedicated Tumblr was started and vines were duly made.

 

The teen also became the leading man in at least one piece of rather unfortunate fan faction.

Here is an excerpt from chapter one:

"I walked in and greeted my manager and I see this hot boy goddamn the fangirl in me wants me to embarrass myself.

'Ms Marie meet Mr Alex,' he said.

'Hi, I'm Marie and I'll be training you,' I smiled."

We'll leave that there.

Even talk-show host and comedian Ellen DeGeneres hitched her star to the Alex bandwagon.

Hey, #AlexFromTarget, it's #EllenFromEllen — Ellen DeGeneres (@TheEllenShow) November 3, 2014

And a special mention goes out to this guy who wrote a song about him.

 

According to social analytics website Topsy, in the past hour alone more than 21,000 Tweets using the phrase "Alex from Target" were posted.

Of course, this must all be very exciting for Target's PR team. It is quite possibly the most exciting thing involving Target that has ever happened.

We heart Alex, too! #alexfromtarget pic.twitter.com/LvA7qc5RfS — Target (@Target) November 3, 2014

In fact, it was only Alex from Target himself who appeared to have any questions about his new-found fame. 

Am i famous now? — DGM_Alex (@acl163) November 2, 2014

But what happens to young Alex now? Will the next time we see him be on celebrity Big Brother or an E! Entertainment one-hour special on child stars gone wrong?

Will he go the way of Garfi or the woman who wore a home-made Hazmat suit to a US airport, both of whose fleeting moments of online fame were captured by this reporter?

As this Washington Post blogger points out, Alex might be internet famous but the internet owns him and his fans. He has had no agency in his new-found stardom (other than perhaps keeping himself well groomed). It will be interesting to see how, or even if, he uses the fame that has been bestowed on him.

At the moment he seems to just be enjoying his more than 400,000 new Twitter followers.

You guys are amazing... goodnight �� — DGM_Alex (@acl163) November 3, 2014

When Alex's moment in the spotlight fades, there are at least a host of other hard-working employees around the world who internet users are ready to turn into stars, including Betty from Walmart and Kieran from T-Mobile.

Kieran from T-Mobile. pic.twitter.com/sbb8e1JM4K — Tweet Like A Girl (@TweetLikeAGirI) November 3, 2014

GUYS DONT FORGET ABOUT BETTY FROM WALMART! pic.twitter.com/mJ2WYCOqAl — 卌Jenna Nicole卌 (@JennaOfficial_) November 3, 2014