Study: Young People Want More Authentic Portrayals of Faith and Spirituality in Media

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A new UCLA study finds that although young people seek religious content and spirituality online, many believe mainstream media is portraying these beliefs inaccurately.

The study, titled “The Future of Faith: Young People, Media, & Spirituality,” surveyed more than 2,000 people ages 16–24 and included focus groups with nearly 100 people ages 14–24. The study mentions that those involved in the survey were encouraged to provide answers "in their own words about how they encounter and connect to faith, spirituality, and community in the media."

The study, which was conducted between Feb. and April 2026, involved respondents from various belief systems, including Evangelical Christian, Muslim, Jewish, Sikh, mainline Protestant, Hindu, as well as agnostic, atheist and spiritual nonreligious, just to name a few,  The Christian Post reported.

Among the study's findings, about 40 percent of respondents across nearly every religious and nonreligious group believed the media portrayed their faith or worldview accurately, while 70 percent said that media portrayals of religion and spirituality influence how others treat them.

Meanwhile, 68 percent of religious respondents said they developed connections with friends or peers online through religious or spiritual content. Although there is heavy engagement online, more than 60 percent of respondents noted that their core faith practice takes place in traditional religious spaces or in both traditional and online settings.

The study also found that more than 60 percent of respondents felt uncomfortable expressing their religious beliefs due to encountering media content. Additionally, more than half of respondents from the religious groups surveyed said consuming religious content resulted in conflict or tension with a family member, friend or peer.

Although those who participated in the study acknowledged and viewed social media was a better, more authentic source of positive religious and spiritual representation than TV or film, they still want everyone involved to do a better job, to step up their efforts. They desire greater, more authenticity when it comes to depictions of spirituality and faith in the media and to move beyond stereotypical, simplistic portrayals of faith and spirituality.

Another interesting finding from the study was how those polled, both religious and non-religious, admitted to being impacted by religious material.

"More than 97% of religious respondents and 80% of non-religious respondents said a piece of media had spiritually moved, inspired or comforted them," according to the study. 

“Gen Z and Gen Alpha are redefining what religion and spirituality look like in the digital age, and they have an appetite for authentic content that reflects and amplifies their beliefs and practices,” Yalda T. Uhls, the study’s senior author, said in a statement. “There is a real opportunity for media creators to step up and develop content that will spark curiosity, foster connection and open new pathways for young people to explore their faith in a safe environment.”

Photo Credit: ©Tim Mossholder/Unsplash

Milton Quintanilla is a freelance writer and content creator. He is a contributing writer for CrosswalkHeadlines and the host of the For Your Soul Podcast, a podcast devoted to sound doctrine and biblical truth. He holds a Masters of Divinity from Alliance Theological Seminary.