Astroturfing
| Astroturfing is a term that refers to a way of participating in marketing and public relations messaging that conceal their genuine motivations in a grassroots group in order to establish trust and authenticity. Astroturfing allows companies or individuals to create a false sense of support for their product, service, or idea by enlisting the help of others to spread their message. This can be done by creating fake social media accounts or paying people to write positive reviews. The goal is to make it appear as though there is widespread support for the company or individual, when in reality, there may be very little. Astroturfing is considered to be unethical because it is misleading and deceptive. It can be difficult to spot, but there are some telltale signs, such as an unusually high number of positive reviews or social media posts from people with no prior connection to the company. If you suspect that you're being subjected to astroturfing, the best thing to do is to do your own research and make up your own mind. Don't be swayed by fake reviews or social media posts; instead, look for independent, objective information. |
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