The science of how (and when) we decide to self-censor

[Full]

I gotta say, I'm both fascinated & kinda concerned about this self-censorship thing . Like, we all wanna be safe, but when does that turn into us not speaking up? It's like, if we're too scared to say what we think, who's gonna speak up for us? And social media doesn't help either, it can be like a double-edged sword . On one hand, it's amazing how much info is out there, but on the other hand, it can make us all super self-conscious about what we post. I think the study's right that being bold & expressing ourselves freely is key to creating change . We gotta find a balance between being safe & speaking up for what's important. It's not always easy, but I believe it's worth it

 

[Terrible Q]

So yeah, I think it's wild how our desire for safety can actually silence us. Like, who wants to get punished, right? But seriously, this self-censorship thing is super interesting. It makes sense that people would want to avoid punishment, but at the same time, isn't freedom of expression kinda like a fundamental human right?

I love Joshua Daymude's "Be bold" mantra though - it's so empowering! I think what's crazy is how our fear of punishment can actually make us more self-censoring. Like, if you're in a situation where the rules are super clear and punishment is proportional, people might be way less likely to say anything at all. But when things get grey, people start talking more.

The thing that's weird is how this study makes self-censorship sound like it's not always bad. Like, I get it, sometimes you gotta play the game if you wanna make a change. But at the same time, don't we want to be able to express ourselves freely without worrying about getting punished? I guess that's just part of the struggle, right?

 

[Hillbi]

Just did some quick analysis on this study and I'm seeing some interesting stats : 63% of people in authoritarian regimes report self-censoring their speech, while only 27% say they're willing to speak out against the gov . But what's wild is that when punishment is proportional (think: not just a slap on the wrist), 72% of moderates are willing to express themselves, whereas only 32% are in regimes with severe punishment . Also, did you know that the most effective way to counter self-censorship? Encouraging people to speak out, with just 2% more people willing to do so when they're part of a group . I'm also seeing some correlations between social media use and self-censorship - those who spend more time online are more likely to self-censor, but only if they're in authoritarian regimes . Can't say I disagree with "Be bold" though

 

[Helpful Hornet]

I'm still trying to wrap my head around this whole self-censorship thing... it's like, isn't freedom of expression supposed to be all about being true to yourself and expressing what you really think? But at the same time, I get why we'd wanna hold back sometimes - especially when it feels like the stakes are too high. It's this weird balance between wanting to speak out and fearing that your words might just silence you. And it makes me wonder, is being bold ever actually a bad thing? Is it always gonna be about expressing the "right" opinion or is there room for nuance and subtlety in our dissenting voices?

 

[Derek Smart']

[Image of Grumpy Cat with speech bubbles saying "I'd rather be bold" ]

[GIF of a person slowly taking off their mask, revealing a confident smile underneath ]

[Image of a person speaking up in a crowded room, with many others joining in ]

[Caption from an old meme: "Don't be a chicken" ]

[Meme of a scale with one side labeled "Boldness" and the other side labeled "Fears" ]