Key takeaways
- The adolescents surveyed are consuming digital content that supports their faith or spirituality but continue to turn to parents and religious leaders as their most trusted sources for religious and spiritual guidance — in person and in spaces where they feel safe.
- 97% of religious respondents and 80% of nonreligious respondents said they had been spiritually moved, inspired or comforted by online content; 67% of religious respondents and 78% of nonreligious respondents said online content has helped them discover new spiritual or religious ideas and practices.
- More than 60% of all respondents said something they saw online or in a film or television series made them feel less safe expressing their religious beliefs; over half of respondents from most religious groups said content they encountered about beliefs or worldviews contributed to conflict or tension with a family member, friend or peer.
- Over half of religious respondents indicated they wish content creators, influencers and TV/filmmakers would do a better job building an online community for their spiritual/religious group.
Social media, music, religious-focused apps and other online spiritual content have become popular ways for adolescents to find comfort and connection — and explore ideas related to faith, religion and spirituality, according to a new report from the Center for Scholars & Storytellers at UCLA (CSS). However, they still prioritize in-person spaces such as churches, mosques or synagogues in their faith practice and turn to family and faith leaders for spiritual and religious guidance.
The findings come from the first Future of Faith study from CSS, a nonprofit organization founded by Yalda T. Uhls, who is an adjunct professor in UCLA's department of psychology. The study aims to bridge the gap between psychology research and content creators to inform and drive development of media that helps young people thrive.
