sockpuppetry

English

Etymology

From sock puppet +‎ -ry, under influence from puppetry.

Pronunciation

• Audio (UK):

  (file)

Noun

sockpuppetry (uncountable)

1. The use of sock puppets, especially (Internet, derogatory) the use of pseudonymous online accounts for abuse.
   • 2007, Jonathon Keats, Control + Alt + Delete: A Dictionary of Cyberslang:

     The facelessness of the internet makes sockpuppetry all too tempting for many.

   • 2014, Timothy R. Levine, Encyclopedia of Deception, Vol. II, s.v. Sockpuppetry:

     On the Internet, the new form of false identities is termed sock puppetry... the term came to be applied to people who would assume a false identity and then join an Internet group. The term has been extended to include people who use false identities on the Internet in order to deceive others.

Related terms

• sock puppeteer