Epic Sock Puppet Theatre

Jennifer Gradecki and Derek Curry

Content warning: This work contains real examples of disinformation from verified online sock puppet accounts. The content includes strong language, references to racism, climate change denial and violence. The material is intended to educate and raise awareness on disinformation, not to endorse these views. 

Where do you get your news?

The digital sphere heaves with the never-ending scroll of live news, posts and information. Within all that content, it’s the emotional stuff that grabs our eyeballs. Sock puppets are imposter social media accounts whose goal is to polarise and divide the public by spreading disinformation. Exploiting our strongest feelings of belonging, hatred and pride – these accounts use identity-driven tactics to obscure the truth online. Interfering with democratic processes, targeting minority groups and spouting lies and half-truths – sock puppets are malicious, but with the right knowledge, they are recognisable. Fresh from the top drawer, these two are here to unmask their online counterparts and tell you how to recognise an impersonator.

What is truth on the internet?

BIOGRAPHIES

Derek Curry and Jennifer Gradecki (USA) are media artists who critique technological solutionism. Their artworks have helped the public understand and intervene in social media misinformation and disinformation, and have replicated open-source surveillance systems, financial technologies, and facial recognition systems to reveal their inner workings through interactive experiences.