Study Finds Young People Distrust Media Portrayals of Faith

A new study from the Center for Scholars & Storytellers at UCLA, titled The Future of Faith: Young People, Media, & Spirituality, reveals that most religious youth feel media representations of their beliefs are inaccurate. Researchers surveyed over 2,000 individuals aged 16 to 24 and conducted focus groups with nearly 100 participants from diverse religious and non-religious backgrounds. The findings indicate that while 70% of respondents believe media portrayals influence how they are treated by others, less than 40% feel these depictions accurately reflect their faith.

Despite the prevalence of online religious content, the study highlights that young people still prioritize local faith leaders and parents as their most trusted sources for spiritual guidance. Over 60% of religious respondents emphasized that their core faith practice remains rooted in traditional settings or a hybrid of physical and digital spaces. Furthermore, the research notes that many young people report feeling less safe expressing their beliefs due to media content, with a majority of religious participants noting that online material sometimes creates tension or conflict regarding their faith.