The movement against sexual harassment that went viral on social media in October 2017 was #MeToo.
The hashtag became a global rallying cry after extensive reporting on sexual-abuse allegations against film producer Harvey Weinstein. On October 15, 2017, actress Alyssa Milano encouraged people on Twitter to post “Me Too” if they had experienced sexual harassment or assault. The phrase quickly spread as millions of people shared their experiences or expressed solidarity.
The movement’s roots go back further than the 2017 viral hashtag. Activist Tarana Burke had used “me too” in 2006 while working with survivors, especially young women and girls from marginalized communities. Milano’s post helped bring the phrase to worldwide attention, but Burke’s earlier activism is an essential part of the movement’s history.
#MeToo is often confused with #TimesUp, which launched in 2018 as a related initiative focused especially on workplace harassment and legal support. #BelieveWomen is a separate slogan, while #NotOkay was used in other anti-harassment campaigns. The two-word phrase is written as “Me Too,” while the social-media hashtag is conventionally styled “#MeToo.”