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sockpuppet
Sign in to saveAlso known as sock puppet, sockpuppets, sock puppets, sockpuppetry
online identity used for purposes of deception
~12 min read
Encyclopedic overview
In Internet terms, sock puppets are online identities used for disguised activity by the operator. A sock puppet, sock puppet account, or simply sock is a false online identity used for deceptive purposes. The term originally referred to a hand puppet made from a sock. Sock puppets include online identities created to praise, defend, or support a person or organization, to manipulate public opinion, or to circumvent restrictions such as viewing a social media account that a user is blocked from. Sock puppets are unwelcome in many online communities and forums.
History
Excerpted from Wikipedia’s “sockpuppet” article, available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence.