What’s astroturfing? The deceptive campaign strategy, explained

Astroturfing is the deceptive practice of creating the illusion of public support for a person or policy. It plays on human psychology by amplifying manufactured support, often through social media and comment sections. The term originated in the 1980s with concerns over corporate influence. Today, both political campaigns and activist groups use astroturfing. Automated Twitter accounts, "persona management software," and paid individuals create fake profiles to generate support or opposition. Political advertising remains a legal gray area for astroturfing in the United States. The anonymity of the internet enables astroturfing by making it difficult to distinguish between real and fake support. Influencers and other individuals are also paid to create and post content that favors a particular candidate or policy. Despite the illusion of widespread support, astroturfing often masks a lack of genuine public backing. It is essential to be skeptical of online content and recognize the potential for manipulated support.