Investigating Astroturfing Detection: An Overview of its Domains, Mitigation Techniques and Future Perspectives

The term "astroturfing" has its origins in the brand product AstroTurf®, created by the "SportGroup" American subsidiary in the 1960s. AstroTurf® makes synthetic turf that looks like real grass and is used in sports arenas, lawns, and commercial spaces. Astroturfing is a carefully planned and executed strategy that involves the creation of fake online personas, social media accounts, and websites to promote a specific agenda. These fabricated personas are designed to appear as ordinary citizens who are passionate about a particular cause, product, or individual. The goal is to manipulate public opinion and sway public discourse by giving the false impression that there is widespread grassroots support for the desired outcome. In the present study, we primarily examine astroturfing in different domains, scrutinize the astroturfing characteristics, ascertain its risks, and categorize various methods to mitigate it. Diverging from prior surveys, we additionally deliberate on the extent of potential future advancements, including the detection of cross-domain astroturfing and safeguarding user privacy.