Performing Censorship

Focussing in on how authors can censor themselves in digitally social spaces, this chapter highlights the interplay between external control and self-regulation. Online interactions among authors and readers are influenced by cultural norms, platform guidelines, and individual self-censorship. Within this, there are distinctions between hard censorship, soft censorship, and self-censorship, and how these forms shape the performance of authorship. This chapter also considers the role of algorithmic moderation by social media platforms and the impact of public censorship, where community norms and user reports can suppress voices. Through case studies and examples, the chapter reveals how authors navigate these challenges, often engaging in self-censorship to avoid backlash and maintain their public personas.