According to the film, politics, power and violence, the self-censorship practiced by some internet users in mainland china, who are trying to avoid social pressure from neighbors or government interference by voluntarily not searching for controversial topics online, seems to function as a form of?

A form of Power.

Explanation:

According to Castells, this is a soft power phenomenon. The fear that comes from punishment motivates self-censorship. The government censorship states clearly that Internet users who would try to avoid censorship will be severely punished. This coercive use of power deters a non-coercive power or soft power. In this way, the normative deterrence traduces itself into self-censorship practices derived from a coercive power.

how do you know that

explanation:

answer; existed; limited;