Astroturfing

Astroturfing refers to the deceptive practice where the true initiators or sponsors of a message or campaign disguise their involvement to make it appear as though it originates from grassroots participants. It’s a strategy used to create an illusion of widespread support or authentic customer satisfaction that doesn’t truly exist. For instance, a company might compensate individuals to post fabricated reviews or comments from seemingly genuine accounts, aiming to enhance their reputation or influence public opinion online.