Self-censorship

Self-censorship is the act of censoring or classifying one's own discourse. This is done out of fear of, or deference to, the sensibilities or preferences (actual or perceived) of others and often without overt pressure from any specific party or institution of authority. Self-censorship is often practiced by film producers, film directors, publishers, news anchors, journalists, musicians, and other kinds of authors including individuals who use social media.

Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights guarantees freedom of speech from all forms of censorship. Article 19 explicitly states that "everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers."^[1]

The practice of self-censorship, like that of censorship itself, has a long history.^[2]^[3]^[4]

^ University of Salzburg, Journalism Self-Censorship, Global Self-Censorship Struggles: Lebanon, Mexico, China, Hong Kong and Slovakia Archived December 9, 2014, at the Wayback Machine
^ Baltussen, Han; Davis, Peter J. (2015-07-27). The Art of Veiled Speech: Self-Censorship from Aristophanes to Hobbes. University of Pennsylvania Press. ISBN 978-0-8122-9163-6. Archived from the original on 2024-06-30. Retrieved 2021-05-15.
^ Baltussen, Han; Davis, Peter J. (2015-07-27). The Art of Veiled Speech: Self-Censorship from Aristophanes to Hobbes. University of Pennsylvania Press. ISBN 978-0-8122-9163-6. Archived from the original on 2024-06-30. Retrieved 2021-05-15.
^ Richard L. Williams (2016). "Censorship and Self-censorship in Late Sixteenth-century English Book Illustration". In Michael Hunter (ed.). Printed Images in Early Modern Britain Essays in Interpretation. Routledge. doi:10.4324/9781315246048. ISBN 978-1-315-24604-8. Archived from the original on 2021-05-14. Retrieved 2021-05-14.

[1] University of Salzburg, Journalism Self-Censorship, Global Self-Censorship Struggles: Lebanon, Mexico, China, Hong Kong and Slovakia Archived December 9, 2014, at the Wayback Machine

[2] Baltussen, Han; Davis, Peter J. (2015-07-27). The Art of Veiled Speech: Self-Censorship from Aristophanes to Hobbes. University of Pennsylvania Press. ISBN 978-0-8122-9163-6. Archived from the original on 2024-06-30. Retrieved 2021-05-15.

[3] Baltussen, Han; Davis, Peter J. (2015-07-27). The Art of Veiled Speech: Self-Censorship from Aristophanes to Hobbes. University of Pennsylvania Press. ISBN 978-0-8122-9163-6. Archived from the original on 2024-06-30. Retrieved 2021-05-15.

[4] Richard L. Williams (2016). "Censorship and Self-censorship in Late Sixteenth-century English Book Illustration". In Michael Hunter (ed.). Printed Images in Early Modern Britain Essays in Interpretation. Routledge. doi:10.4324/9781315246048. ISBN 978-1-315-24604-8. Archived from the original on 2021-05-14. Retrieved 2021-05-14.

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