Astroturfing is a practice where organizations or individuals create a false impression of grassroots support for a cause, product, or political agenda. This is often done by using fake social media accounts, paid commenters, or orchestrated campaigns that appear to be spontaneous public opinion. The term comes from the brand name of synthetic grass, suggesting that the support is not genuine. The goal of astroturfing is to manipulate public perception and influence decision-making without revealing the true source of the support. It can be used in various contexts, including politics, marketing, and social movements, making it difficult for the public to discern authentic opinions from manufactured ones.