sock puppet

• sockpuppet

• Audio (Southern England)

  (file)

sock puppet (plural sock puppets)

1. A puppet made from a sock placed over a hand.
2. Synonym of puppet: A person completely controlled by another.
3. (Internet, derogatory) An alternative pseudonymous online account, especially one used for abuse.

   Synonyms: sock, smurf account

   • 2009, Andrew Lih, The Wikipedia Revolution, page 303:

     Trying to prove that a new user is simply a previous user in a new sock puppet is quite hard for the ordinary user and even administrators.

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

     The Internet has created many opportunities for online voting. Unscrupulous people will create sock puppets in order to stuff online ballot boxes. In other cases, a sock puppeteer may create multiple identities to support arguments, voice opinions, or otherwise create the online illusion that may people support the sock puppeteer. This practice is called a "Sybil attack" […]

• meat puppet
• sock puppeteer
• sockpuppetry

sock puppet (third-person singular simple present sock puppets, present participle sock puppeting, simple past and past participle sock puppeted)

1. (Wikimedia jargon) To create or use a sock puppet (alternative user account).

• sock puppet on Wikipedia.Wikipedia
• internet sock puppet on Wikipedia.Wikipedia