"I Thought It Was Just Me" - How Social Media Is Changing Women's Lives For many women, social media has become a private space for comparison - and, increasingly, a public space for recognition, says Dr Stephen Whitehead. 31 March 2026 From protest marches in Kolkata to viral feminist comedy in Beijing, social media is giving women something powerful: a sense they are not alone, says sociologist Dr Stephen Whitehead. Social Media Credit: Andrea Piacquadio/Pexels There's a moment that happens to women online - you've probably felt it.