Astroturfing refers to the deceptive practice of creating a false sense of grassroots support or public opinion for a particular cause, product, or organization. This is typically done by using fake social media accounts, paid individuals, or other covert methods to artificially boost the appearance of widespread support. The term is derived from the idea of artificial turf, which mimics the appearance of natural grass but is not actually real. Astroturfing is often used as a manipulative tactic to sway public perception and influence decision-making, and can be difficult to detect as it is designed to appear organic and genuine. However, it ultimately undermines the authenticity of genuine grassroots movements and undermines the trust of the public.