How does self-censorship differ from government-imposed censorship?

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censorship Pericles, detail of a marble herm; in the Vatican Museum.

Self-censorship is the act of refraining from expressing thoughts or beliefs that one anticipates others might find objectionable. This is a personal decision, often driven by a desire to avoid negative reactions or consequences.1

Government-imposed censorship, on the other hand, involves an external authority, such as a government or institution, actively suppressing information or expression. This can take the form of prior restraint (preventing publication before it occurs) or post-publication sanctions (punishing after publication). While self-censorship is an internal act of restraint, government censorship is an external imposition of control.23