sockpuppetaccounts

Sockpuppet accounts are online profiles created and controlled by a single individual but presented as separate, independent identities. They are used to influence discussions, manipulate voting, or evade bans by appearing to represent diverse or independent opinions.

Common purposes include amplifying favorable viewpoints, sowing discord, simulating broad support, or coordinating posts in a deceptive way. They can also be used to bypass rate limits, harass opponents, or disguise a user’s activity across platforms.

Sockpuppetry appears across many environments, including discussion forums, social media, and collaborative wikis. In some contexts it is treated as deceptive behavior that undermines trust, manipulates consensus, or distorts governance within communities.

Not all multiple accounts are sockpuppets. A user may maintain more than one account for privacy, testing, or content separation. A sockpuppet, however, is specifically an identity used to mislead others about authorship, affiliation, or the extent of support for a position.

Platforms combat sockpuppetry through terms of service, moderation, and automated detection that looks for patterns such as clustered account creation, overlapping IP usage, or coordinated posting. Enforcement can include warnings, suspensions, or permanent bans, and removal of coordinated content.

The use of sockpuppet accounts can undermine trust, distort debate, and damage reputations. It is a concern for researchers and policymakers examining online disinformation, platform governance, and the integrity of digital discourse.

See also: astroturfing, brigading, online identity, disinformation.