Is it ok to hold your poop if you're in a socially awkward place?

Sometimes you have: Sometimes you have to. If this is a recurring problem you may discuss this with your physician to clarify if there are intestinal issues or not.

For a little while.: It's not toxic to your body, in the grand scheme of things, to hold onto stool for a little while if you're in a situation that's not conducive to your interrupting proceedings to go to the bathroom. The colon is meant to be a storage vessel for stool, if you will. Just remember that generally speaking, when you gotta go...you gotta go! Don't wait too long.

Yes: If you are able to postpone having a bowel movement without much distress then it is totally safe and appropriate to hold it in until the time and place is right. Of course, sometimes you just gotta go...