A photo that shows US president Barack Obama caught in a young spiderman's imaginary web has become an internet sensation.

Snapped by White House Photographer Pete Souza, the photo has received over half a million "likes" since it was posted on Obama's official Facebook page.

Its caption reads: "President Barack Obama pretends to be caught in Spider-Man's web as he greets the son of a White House staffer in the Outer Oval Office, Oct. 26, 2012."

President Obama was named Time magazine's "Person of the Year" for the second time earlier today.

The photo was one of a series of the president featured on a LightBox page justifying the magazine's 2012 choice.

- nzherald.co.nz