sockpuppet
Hosiery hand toy
A sockpuppet is a fake online identity created to deceive—typically to manipulate discussions, create the illusion of support, or evade bans.
The term evokes a hand inside a sock, pretending to be a separate entity: The forum banned three accounts that turned out to be sockpuppets of the same user.
Also spelled sock puppet.
Disguised sponsored advocacy
- shillFraudster's fake customer
- disinformationIntentional deceptive falsehoods
- propagandaBiased information for influence
- botAutomated software agent
brigading · amplification · coordinated · inauthentic · planted · seeding · gaming
Pretending to be another
- catfishingDeceiving via false identity
- masqueradeDeceptive act or costume party
- pretenseDeceptive outward show
- shamFraudulent imitation
phony · hoax · duplicity · charade · persona · front · self-promotion · astroturf
Fictitious professional name
- aliasAdopted false name
- anonymousOf unknown origin
- throwawayDesigned for discard
- incognitoWith identity concealed
handle · covert · untraceable · disposable
astroturfing
Disguised sponsored advocacy
- shillFraudster's fake customer
- disinformationIntentional deceptive falsehoods
- propagandaBiased information for influence
bot · brigading · amplification · coordinated · inauthentic · planted · seeding · gaming
impersonation
Pretending to be another
- catfishingDeceiving via false identity
- masqueradeDeceptive act or costume party
- pretenseDeceptive outward show
sham · phony · hoax · duplicity · charade · persona · front · self-promotion · astroturf · manufactured
pseudonym
Fictitious professional name
incognito · handle · covert · untraceable · disposable
handmade
Created manually, not mechanically
fabric · yarn · performance · storytelling · toe · heel · DIY · playtime
- hidden identitiesanonymous, anonymity, pseudonym, alias, incognito
- Online Identityusername, screen name, handle, alias, display name
- online personastroll, bot, influencer, lurker, spammer
- online scamsphishing, scam, email scam, advance fee scam, Nigerian prince scam
- online usersnetizen, casual user, new user, follower, active user
- online trollingtrolling, trollface, bait, baiting, flame bait