sockenin

Sockenin is a term that emerged from online communities, particularly in the context of gaming and social media. It generally refers to the act of creating and using multiple online accounts or personas, often for strategic or deceptive purposes. The term is a portmanteau derived from "sock puppet," which traditionally describes an anonymous online identity used to manipulate public opinion or mislead others.

The motivations behind sockenining can vary widely. In gaming, it might be used to gain an unfair advantage, such as having multiple accounts to boost a player's score or to bypass in-game limitations. On social media platforms, sockenin can be employed to artificially inflate a post's popularity, to spread disinformation or propaganda, or to harass other users by creating a false sense of consensus or by using multiple accounts to attack an individual.

Platforms often have terms of service that prohibit sockenining, as it can undermine the integrity of online interactions and discussions. Identifying sockenin accounts can be challenging, as users may employ various tactics to conceal their multiple identities, such as using different IP addresses or creating distinct behavioral patterns. While the term is informal, it describes a real phenomenon with significant implications for online communities.