Trends in Sexual Harassment in the United States: Analysis of the 2018 and 2024 #MeToo Surveys.

Abstract

<b>Objectives.</b> To evaluate change in past-year sexual harassment from 2018 to 2024. <b>Methods.</b> #MeToo surveys assessed past-year sexual harassment with US adults (n = 5293) recruited via phone and online in 2018 and 2024. Logistic regression analysis estimated the odds of reporting past-year sexual harassment in 2024 relative to 2018, adjusting for sociodemographics. <b>Results.</b> Reported past-year sexual harassment doubled, from 10.7% in 2018 to 24.3% in 2024 (men: 6.7% to 15.2%; women: 14.3% to 31.8%; <i>P</i> < .001). The odds of reporting past-year sexual harassment were nearly 3 times higher in 2024 than in 2018 (adjusted odds ratio = 2.80; 95% confidence interval = 2.35, 3.33). <b>Conclusions.</b> Reported past-year sexual harassment in the United States increased from 2018 to 2024, indicating either an increase in sexual harassment or an increase in disclosure rates after the #MeToo movement. Although prior evidence indicates that awareness and policy protections for workplace harassment have improved since the #MeToo movement, this has not led to declines in sexual harassment. Future policies should expand protection from sexual harassment to include public and online spaces and support stronger accountability structures. (<i>Am J Public Health</i>. Published online ahead of print July 23, 2026:e1-e5. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2026.308577).