sockpuppet

A sockpuppet is an online persona used to conceal the identity of a user and to manipulate discussions by presenting the persona as independent. Sockpuppets are often deployed to lend credibility to a viewpoint, to praise or defend it, or to attack opponents without revealing the real author. They can also be used to bypass bans or to create the illusion of broad support or opposition.

The term derives from the image of a hand puppet placed inside a sock, used to disguise the puppeteer. In internet culture, a sockpuppet refers to an account or set of accounts controlled by a single person but presented as separate individuals or as a distinct group.

In practice, sockpuppets appear in forums, comment sections, wikis, review sites, and social networks. They may be single accounts or part of a network of coordinated accounts (often called a sockpuppet network) that post similarly or coordinate in time to amplify messages, a tactic sometimes described as astroturfing. Tactics include posting favorable or critical content, manipulating votes or ratings, discrediting other users, and cross-platform messaging to simulate genuine consensus.

Detection and policy vary by platform but commonly prohibit sockpuppetry. Methods for identifying sockpuppets include cross-link analysis of accounts, IP and device data, posting timing and behavioral patterns, and linguistic analysis. Major online communities, including wikis and social networks, maintain policies to suspend or ban puppet accounts and to mitigate manipulation.

Ethical and practical impacts include distortion of discussion, erosion of trust, and unfair influence over opinions or decision-making. In some contexts, deception intended to influence politics, finance, or commercial outcomes can raise legal or regulatory concerns. Related concepts include astroturfing, trolling, and coordinated inauthentic behavior.