In 1985, the term “astroturfing” was coined by Texas Senator Lloyd Millard Bentsen, referring to the American artificial turf brand AstroTurf. It describes a practice of conducting political or marketing campaigns designed to create the illusion of genuine popular support. While masquerading as participatory democracy, this strategy is more akin to propaganda and manipulation, using underhanded means to influence public opinion without transparency or ethical standards. The rise of social media and microblogging platforms has significantly facilitated this insidious infiltration.