astroturfing

See also: Astroturfing

English

Etymology

From AstroTurf (“a synthetic substitute for grass”), a play on grass roots, as in “fake grass roots”. Attributed to U.S. Senator Lloyd Bentsen in an unidentified 1985 public statement: "[A] fellow from Texas can tell the difference between grassroots and Astroturf."[1]

Noun

astroturfing (uncountable)

  1. (originally US politics, now social media, marketing) The disguising of an orchestrated campaign as a "grass-roots" event, i.e., a spontaneous upwelling of public opinion.

Synonyms

Translations

References

  1. ^ Henry Young (2 November 2009) “Astroturf Lobbying Organizations: Do Fake Grassroots Need Real Regulation”, in Illinois Business Law Journal‎[1], archived from the original on 27 March 2010
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