A Sockpuppet is a Fake Online Identity which is typically used to create the impression of multiple people that share similar views, opinions, and or beliefs. The term comes from the earliest uses of the practice where a sockpuppet identity would be set up so that a member of an internet community could speak about himself in the third person, similar to a ventriloquist having a conversation with his dummy or “sockpuppet”

The definition of sockpuppets has now been expanded beyond a second or third identity of someone already participating in a forum to include other purposes for using misleading online identities. The New York Times recently published an article defining the act of "sockpuppeting"  "...the act of creating a fake Online Identity to praise, defend or create the illusion of support for one's self, allies, or company." The key difference between a sockpuppet and a regular pseudonym is that the sockpuppet is set up to create the impression that the real identity has support within that forum from one or a multiple of third parties. In the case of sockpuppeting that support is being manufactured from a single source, usually the person pulling the strings on each puppet.

The practice has evolved to the point where sock puppets engage in threads that last for days while each sockpuppet plays a defined role. Roles can include the “wise” participants who agree with each other’s point of view, “students” sitting at knee of the wise participants, and even a naysayer who poses objections which are easily shot down by the smart sockpuppets. &nbsp

Another use of sockpuppets is to publish multiple Negative Reviews to smear a competitor. These sockpuppets can refer to similar complaints such as product defects, bad service, etc. while praising the business of the puppeteer. If you suddenly see a rash of negative reviews where none had appeared before you could be the intended target of someone sockpuppeting you for their own gain. For more information, visit www.reputationmanagementllc.com