There’s no denying the fact that social media today has the power to get our voice heard and the power to make a remarkable difference in society.  

The #MeToo movement, which was started over a decade ago by activist Tarana Burke to harness “empowerment through empathy” for victims of sexual assault got bigger and better this year after actor Alyssa Milano asked victims of sexual harassment and violence to let their voices be heard.

With each passing year, social media’s power is increasing exponentially and this year was a just an example of it, especially when it came to amplifying voices involved in various feminist movements. We’ve listed eight movement-hashtags that were trending this year and hopefully will trend until a significant change is brought about in the world.

#MeToo

The hashtag #MeToo was the biggest movement on social media this year. According to CBS News, in just 24 hours, the movement became popular all over Facebook, getting about 12 million posts, comments, and reactions by 4.7 million users around the world. Over 1.7 million tweets included the hashtag “#MeToo,” with 85 countries that had at least 1,000 #MeToo tweets in 10 days.

Alyssa Milano on Twitter

If you’ve been sexually harassed or assaulted write ‘me too’ as a reply to this tweet.

It is an anti-sexual violence movement, which was started in the wake of allegations of sexual misconduct by Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein. Actor Alyssa Milano tweeted to women to speak up if they have ever been sexually assaulted in any way using #MeToo, to let the world know that this is a serious issue. And the retweets and FB posts saw millions of women along with celebrities joining the movement.

Shenaz Treasury on Twitter

ME TOO. If all the women who have been sexually harassed wrote “Me too” as a status, we might give people a sense of the problem #metoo

Aditi on Twitter

Men,if you are not talking about your own experiences with the #MeToo hashtag then shut up and stop trying to police women who are. Kthnxbai

#IWillSpeakUp

The entire Harvey Weinstein episode ignited a fire within many individuals and communities to not stay silent anymore. Joyful Heart Foundation started the movement #IWillSpeakUp for men to pledge to use their platform to educate and promote a healthy, respectful idea of manhood.

Next Time (Cut 1) 30 Seconds

Most men are not abusive. But when they are silent about the abuse committed by other men, that silence is as much of a problem as the abuse itself. Say #IWILLSPEAKUP.

This campaign is asking men to speak to other boys and men in their lives about sexism, and speak out against the violence and abuse that women go through.

Joyful Heart on Twitter

Men: Join the campaign to speak up against sexual violence. Take the #IWILLSPEAKUP pledge now: https://t.co/flYlp15rDG https://t.co/UBLUq5WrI2

#LahuKaLagaan

Started by the non-profit organization She Says, it was a movement to make sanitary pads tax-free. Many celebrities joined the movement by asking Finance Minister Arun Jaitley to abolish the tax on sanitary products for women from the Goods and Services Tax System. The tax on sanitary pads is 14% under GST.

Aditi Rao Hydari on Twitter

Morning @arunjaitley 🙋🏻 sanitary napkins are a necessity not a luxury &more women should be able to afford them minus GST-pl🤢#LahuKaLagaan

Trisha Shetty on Twitter

Here’s our promise to our Govt, we will not stop till we have exhausted all resources to ensure tht women have guaranteed access to hygiene and sanitation. We have taken our #LahuKaLagaan fight to Bbay High Court-updates on PIL will be shared. https://t.co/Npc2j7b1BV

#WomensMarch

The day after Donald Trump was sworn in as the 45^th President of the United States, more than a million women marched against him. It was started by retired attorney Teresa Shook, who created a Facebook event to protest Trump’s inauguration and soon had thousands of people wanting to join in. The march was not an anti-Trump protest, instead its idea was to celebrate democracy and diversity, with people across the world coming together to support women’s rights and equality.

Hillary Clinton on Twitter

Thanks for standing, speaking & marching for our values @womensmarch. Important as ever. I truly believe we’re always Stronger Together.

Women’s March NZ on Twitter

So many great signs and banners today! #WomensMarch #WMNewZealand #whyIMarch #WM_global #WMW

#NeverthelessShePersisted

US Senator Elizabeth Warren was interrupted in the middle of her speech by attorney general nominee Senator Jeff Sessions. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell defended Jeff’s interruption by saying, “Sen. Warren was giving a lengthy speech. She had appeared to violate the rule. She was warned. She was given an explanation. Nevertheless, she persisted.” This created a sarcastic outrage on Twitter, mostly by women who reminded the world that they have been asked a million times to be “silent” and yet they have persisted and achieved what they had to.

Jessica Blum on Twitter

I hope @SenateMajLdr realizes he just gave us the best lady power slogan of all time #NeverthelessShePersisted #LetLizSpeak

Women related to the situation as it’s not the first time a woman was silenced while making a point. Soon, people applied McConnell’s sentences to any notable situation — historical or fictional — in which women had been silenced under #NeverthelessShePersisted.

John Aravosis on Twitter

She was warned. She was given an explanation. Nevertheless, she persisted.

Melissa McEwan on Twitter

Nevertheless she persisted” is the contemptible lament of every old white man who has tried and failed to silence an indomitable woman.

#WomenBoycottTwitter

October 13, 2017 was observed as #WomenBoycottTwitter in solidarity with actor Rose McGowan, whose account was suspended by Twitter. This happened after she came out publicly against Weinstein and claimed that he had raped her. This snowballed into a silent protest against Twitter’s not-so-safe safety rules for women, who face harassment by trolls on an everyday basis.

🤶🏻 Jingle Kells 🎄 on Twitter

WomenBoycottTwitter Friday, October 13th. In solidarity w @rosemcgowan and all the victims of hate and harassment Twitter fails to support. https://t.co/G0my9EyKpQ

It was started by a software engineer Kelly Ellis, and was soon joined by many Hollywood celebrities. Senior Indian journalist Barkha Dutt also joined the protest.

christine teigen on Twitter

Ladies. Let’s do this. #WomenBoycottTwitter. Not because of hate but because I love this platform and know it can be better.

barkha dutt on Twitter

Join this in solidarity and protest . We demand better anti harassment policies from @twitter & a more democratic space #WomenBoycottTwitter

#LoveIsLove

Australia witnessed a historic result of the survey for same-sex marriage and decided to pave the way to legalise it.

kylie minogue on Twitter

Aussies! #loveislove & it’s for everyone. Today is the final day to make sure you’re enrolled. Don’t wait! ❣️https://t.co/6FNRm0uNXJ

Before the survey, people tweeted to urge other people to come out in support for what they believe in and soon #LoveIsLove and #MarriageEquality started trending.

sia on Twitter

the Australian people have spoken loud and clear. #LoveIsLove 🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍🌈

Ellen DeGeneres on Twitter

It’s a g’day. Way to go Australia. #MarriageEquality

#HowIWillChange

One of the most heartwarming movements this year by men in support for women. Men from around the around came out in support for women who have been sexually harassed and responded to #MeToo with #HowIWillChange.

Jesse T. Smith on Twitter

HowIWillChange I will keep showing my 3 sons and one grandson how to honor & respect women. Guys – meaningful change starts in the home.

Mark Ruffalo on Twitter

I will never Cat call a woman again. Growing up we were taught from watching movies that a cat call was a compliment. I would do it to friends and girlfriends. Sunrise clued me in that it was totally inappropriate. Not cool. Not a compliment. Gross. #HowIWillChange

They tweeted to demonstrate how they will be better allies. It was first started by Benjamin Law.

Benjamin Law 🌈 on Twitter

Guys, it’s our turn. After yesterday’s endless #MeToo stories of women being abused, assaulted and harassed, today we say #HowIWillChange.