Sockpuppet

A sockpuppet (or "sock") is a false online identity created and operated by someone for deceptive purposes. The term references a hand puppet made from a sock, evoking a person secretly speaking through a fake persona. Originally it described someone who created an alternate account to talk about or praise themselves while pretending to be a different person; the meaning has since broadened to cover accounts used to manufacture the appearance of independent support, manipulate discussion, evade bans or suspensions, or otherwise mislead a community about who is really speaking.

On Reddit, sockpuppet accounts are central to several forms of abuse the platform tries to police, including vote manipulation, ban evasion, harassment, and astroturfing. Because accounts are pseudonymous and easy to create, a single person can run many "socks" to upvote their own posts, simulate consensus in an argument, or return after being banned. Reddit's content policy prohibits ban evasion and manipulation, and the company uses automated detection and account actions against networks of linked accounts. Sockpuppetry matters because it undermines the integrity of voting and discussion, making a handful of operators appear to be many independent voices.