Title

Astroturfing global warming: It isn’t always greener on the other side of the fence

Summary

This study investigates the phenomenon of astroturf organizations—corporate-sponsored groups that mimic grassroots movements to promote their interests, particularly in the context of global warming. Through an experiment, the research reveals that individuals exposed to astroturf websites became more uncertain about the causes of global warming and the human role in it, compared to those engaging with genuine grassroots organizations. The findings highlight the effectiveness of astroturfing in undermining environmental advocacy and raising serious ethical concerns about its impact on public perception and the legitimacy of authentic grassroots movements.

 

َAuthor

Cho C. H., Martens M. L., Kim H., Rodrigue M.

Year

2011

َThematic Area

Climate Change

Topic

Climate change and Rumors

Country

Global

Region

Global

Misinformation Combatting

Misinformation Source

Place Published

APA 7th End Text Citation

Cho C. H., Martens M. L., Kim H., Rodrigue M. (2011). Astroturfing global warming: It isn’t always greener on the other side of the fence. Journal of Business Ethics, 104, 571–587. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10551-011-0950-6