A #hashtag used on Twitter, Facebook at other social media that is conceived by a business or organization to promote a product, issue, event position, or goal in a way that seems to have been spawned by a "grass roots" movement.
Sometimes called "astroturf tags," these symbolic tokens are often created by professional public relations firms or their media consultants as part of a broader public awareness (or propaganda) campaign. Many social media users, generally interested in the topics that the tags seem to represent, will often start using the tags in their own messages, unaware of the corporate, private, or other agendas that may lie behind them.
Sometimes called "astroturf tags," these symbolic tokens are often created by professional public relations firms or their media consultants as part of a broader public awareness (or propaganda) campaign. Many social media users, generally interested in the topics that the tags seem to represent, will often start using the tags in their own messages, unaware of the corporate, private, or other agendas that may lie behind them.
The Grass Tag #energyTomorrow was created by the American Petroleum Institute to spam twitter with pro-energy industry propaganda.
by shoqvalue October 18, 2010
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A generic follower—or citizen—of a social network "stream" of people and information, who often dislike being called a "friend" or "follower." They are simply members of a community stream, and thus, "streamizens."
A generic follower—or citizen—of a social network "stream" of people and information, who often dislike being called a "friend" or "follower." They are simply members of a community stream, and thus, "streamizens."
@JohnPublic's stream was rich with diversity. He was proud to have doctors, lawyers, artists, educators, and prostitutes among his thousands of talented or interesting streamizens.
by shoqvalue June 30, 2010
Get the Streamizen mug.A political message posted to Twitter (or other social network), which is written by skilled writers working for political organizations, and meant to appear as if it was generated as spontaneous political expression by ordinary citizens.
The attacks on the Congressman were not sincere posts by citizens, but rather, the output of a well orchestrated astrotweet campaign.
by shoqvalue January 11, 2011
Get the Astrotweet mug.An organized political tactic or strategy aimed at exposing and promoting the actual facts about a political candidate, their positions, or their record.
A play on "Swiftboating," where baseless allegations are widely promoted to smear a candidate (often with funding provided by outside groups),"Truthboating" is designed to discredit a candidate or their positions based on well documented facts or the public record.
While some might consider telling the truth about a candidate to be a "dirty trick," others feel the practice may actually make an important contribution to electoral politics.
A play on "Swiftboating," where baseless allegations are widely promoted to smear a candidate (often with funding provided by outside groups),"Truthboating" is designed to discredit a candidate or their positions based on well documented facts or the public record.
While some might consider telling the truth about a candidate to be a "dirty trick," others feel the practice may actually make an important contribution to electoral politics.
Mitt Romney called it "disgusting" that the Obama campaign was citing actual facts about when he worked at Bain Capital. Such truthboating is expected to escalate as the presidential election approaches.
by shoqvalue July 18, 2012
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