sockpuppetry

Definitions

1. The use of sock puppets.
   uncountable
2. The use of pseudonymous online accounts for abuse.
   Internet, derogatory, uncountable

Examples

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

“Could a user simply award herself a pile of barnstars the way a mega-lomanical^([sic]) dictator can adorn himself with military ribbons? Yes, but that would defeat⟳ the point⟳—and would require⟳ a bit of prohibited “sock puppetry,” as the user would need⟳ to create⟳ alter identities so the page's edit history would show⟳ that the stars came from someone appearing to be other than the user herself.”

“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.”

CEFR level