Ever wonder why someone would steal or hack your social media account?

We’ve all seen posts or replies on social media that seem to make sense at first glance but lack any real substance. Sometimes they parrot talking points, push outrage, or fuel arguments without adding anything meaningful to the conversation. More often than not, these posts come from Sockpuppet or Astroturfing accounts—fake or repurposed profiles designed to manipulate discussions, spread propaganda, or simply cause chaos.

These accounts don’t exist to engage in good-faith discussions. Instead, they serve as tools for controlling narratives, swaying public opinion, or amplifying controversy. Whether it’s politics, sports rivalries, or pop culture feuds, Sockpuppets and Astroturfers are working behind the scenes to make opinions seem more popular or widespread than they actually are.

The Early Days of Online Trolls

I’ve been posting online since 1986—yes, I’m old. Back then, online communities looked very different. Message boards were single-hosted sites that you dialed into with your phone line using a modem. These bulletin board systems (BBS) were the predecessors of today’s social media, allowing users to post chats, share files, and play text-based games.

Even in those early days, trolls existed. They were the pranksters, the troublemakers, the ones who would stir up fights just for fun. But their reach was limited. If they got banned from a board, they had to find another one or create a new identity from scratch. This network of users was small compared to today’s internet, and online reputations mattered.

Fast-forward to today, and the troll game has changed entirely. The sheer scale of social media means that trolls no longer act alone. They’ve evolved, weaponizing technology to create waves of influence through fake accounts, bot farms, and coordinated campaigns.

The Evolution: Sockpuppets and Astroturfing

With the rise of platforms like Twitter, Facebook, and Reddit, the internet became a battleground for opinions, debates, and misinformation. Trolls had to adapt to stay relevant, leading to the widespread use of Sockpuppets and Astroturfing.

Sockpuppets: The Art of Digital Deception

A Sockpuppet account is a fake identity created by a real person to disguise their true identity online. These accounts can be used to:

• Agree with or support their main account to make it seem like more people share their opinions.
• Attack others anonymously without consequences to their main profile.
• Spread misinformation without revealing the real source.

Sockpuppets are often used in political discussions, fandom disputes, and corporate reputation management. A single person may control dozens (or even hundreds) of sockpuppet accounts, making it seem like a particular viewpoint has overwhelming support.

Astroturfing: Fake Grassroots Movements

While Sockpuppets are usually the work of individuals, Astroturfing is a coordinated effort, often by organizations, governments, or PR firms, to create the illusion of widespread public support.

The term comes from AstroTurf, the fake grass used in stadiums—it looks real from a distance, but up close, it’s artificial. The same applies to online campaigns that appear organic but are actually carefully orchestrated.

Astroturfing is used in:

• Political campaigns to make candidates seem more popular.
• Corporate marketing to generate fake reviews or hype.
• Social movements to push an agenda that may not have real grassroots support.

Trolls in the Age of AI and Bots

What makes modern trolling even more dangerous is automation. AI-powered bots can now generate realistic posts, engage in discussions, and even “argue” convincingly. These bots can spread disinformation at an unprecedented scale, making it harder than ever to tell real users from fake ones.

Some bad actors even steal real social media accounts—hijacking dormant profiles to make them look legitimate before using them to push their narrative. If an old friend’s account suddenly starts posting strange political takes, there’s a good chance it’s been compromised.

How to Spot and Stop Trolls

While trolls, Sockpuppets, and Astroturfers aren’t going away anytime soon, there are ways to fight back:

1. Check the profile – Does the account have a history, or was it just created? Sockpuppets often have generic names, stock photos, and minimal personal activity.
2. Look for patterns – If multiple accounts are pushing the same message at the same time, it’s likely coordinated.
3. Engage wisely – Trolls feed on engagement. If an account seems off, don’t waste your energy arguing.
4. Report and block – Most platforms offer ways to report fake or abusive accounts. Use them.
5. Stay skeptical – If a post feels like bait, it probably is. Fact-check before sharing.

Ghost Job Postings

While trolls use sockpuppets and astroturfing misinformation campaigns to manipulate public opinion, businesses and recruiters have their own form of online deception: Ghost Job Postings.

A Ghost Job Posting is a job listing that looks legitimate but isn’t actually intended to result in a hire. Companies use these for several reasons:

• Maintaining an illusion of growth – Some businesses want to appear as if they’re expanding, even if they have no real hiring plans.
• Building a talent pipeline – They collect résumés and candidate information for potential future hiring but aren’t actively filling the role.
• Keeping investors happy – By posting fake job listings, companies can make it seem like they’re scaling up operations.
• Avoiding internal pay raises – Some employers post jobs they never plan to fill to justify denying promotions or raises, claiming they’re looking for “better” candidates.

Growing Social Media Accounts with Ghost Job Postings

Another deceptive tactic businesses use is posting Ghost Jobs to artificially boost their social media presence. By listing fake job openings on LinkedIn, Facebook, or company websites, they attract engagement from job seekers who like, follow, and share the post in hopes of securing an opportunity.

Here’s how it works:

• Increased Visibility: When job seekers engage with a post—liking, sharing, or commenting—it signals to social media algorithms that the post is relevant, pushing it to more people’s feeds.
• More Followers: Many applicants follow company pages to stay updated on job opportunities, unknowingly inflating the company’s follower count based on a position that doesn’t actually exist.
• Enhanced Credibility: A company with frequent job postings can appear more successful, attracting not only job seekers but also potential clients, partners, or investors who assume the business is growing.
• Data Collection: Some businesses use these engagements to gather email addresses, resumes, or even social media analytics for marketing purposes, rather than for actual hiring.

For unsuspecting job seekers, this practice can be frustrating and misleading, making it harder to distinguish real opportunities from engagement-bait job posts. If a company constantly posts new positions but never seems to hire, chances are they’re more interested in boosting their social media metrics than filling roles.

Ghost job postings flood job boards and LinkedIn, frustrating job seekers who apply and never hear back. Just like Sockpuppets and Astroturfing manipulate public perception, ghost job postings distort the reality of the job market, wasting time and energy for those who are genuinely looking for work.

How to Spot a Ghost Job Posting

Not all job postings are real, and recognizing red flags can help avoid wasted effort:

1. The job has been posted for months – If a listing has been active for an unusually long time, it may be a ghost posting.
2. No real urgency to hire – If interviews never happen or progress stalls indefinitely, the company may have never planned to hire.
3. The same listing appears repeatedly – Some companies cycle the same job post every few weeks to make it seem like they’re always hiring.
4. Vague job descriptions – Lack of clear responsibilities or requirements can be a sign that the company isn’t serious about hiring.
5. No responses from recruiters – If a company never acknowledges applications or follow-ups, it’s likely not a real opportunity.

The Digital Battlefield: From Trolls to Fake Job Markets

Whether it’s Sockpuppet accounts spreading misinformation, Astroturfing campaigns shaping public opinion, or Ghost Job Postings misleading job seekers, the internet has become a battlefield for controlling narratives. Understanding these tactics helps us navigate online spaces more effectively and avoid falling into digital traps.

So next time you’re scrolling social media or job boards, ask yourself: Is this real, or is it just another digital illusion?