Final answer:
Astroturfing is the creation of a website or group that appears to be a grassroots initiative but is actually organized and promoted by an entity with a particular goal, often backed by wealthier interests.
Step-by-step explanation:
Creating a website or group that appears to originate from the grassroots efforts of concerned citizens when it is actually driven by an organization with a specific agenda is known as astroturfing. This is distinct from genuine grassroots movements that arise organically from a broad base of individuals or the community. Astroturfing is a strategy used by some interest groups to simulate public support for their cause, employing tactics that imitate the appearance of a movement arising spontaneously from the public, when in reality, it is orchestrated by the group itself, often with the backing of wealthy interests or elites.
Examples of grassroots lobbying include organizing marches or demonstrations, but it is important to differentiate these authentic activities from those of an astroturf movement which might employ similar methods but lacks the genuine public backing.