Sockpuppet (Internet)

As a Sock Puppet (English sock puppet, even fake account or Multiaccount, German multi- account ) is called the net jargon another user account that is created for various reasons: it can serve to protect the privacy, have the purpose of opinions within an online community with several " voices" to represent, or about undermining the rules of the community are used.

The term first used in 1993 in the Usenet alludes to a ventriloquist who talks to his hand puppet. In contrast, meat puppet called " meat puppet " in accordance with the sock puppet account of another owner who acts on behalf of the first to influence articles and discussions specifically in its meaning. The term of William Gibson was used for the first time in his novel Neuromancer trilogy in 1984.

Sock puppets on the one hand serve to protect the privacy, so that the main account can not be associated with specific topics. In particular, when linking the main account with the real name of the user will make use of sock puppets. However sock puppets can also be created in the abusive sense to discredit other users or their arguments or, more generally, to pursue illegitimate purposes. Here is the supposed protection of a "double anonymity " exploited by one or more sub-accounts are used for opinion- building measures or pure disruptive actions in addition to the mostly already pseudonymous so applied under a nickname and thus no real names or account holders allocable main account to another artificial identities leave to act. With sock puppets and individual opinions or suggestions can be amplified so that they are a majority. So you can also be used to influence opinion.

2011 reported the British The Guardian about a commissioned software that will allow the U.S. military to manipulate via sock puppets social media. In this case, up to 50 military personnel ever be able to control up to 10 separate identities. The aim should therefore be to counteract unwelcome opinions and produce false consensus in non-English online forums.