The Future of Faith

Young People, Media, & Spirituality

About the Study

The Center for Scholars & Storytellers (CSS) presents this new sweeping study that explores how U.S. adolescents and young adults are shaping their spiritual and religious identities in a media-saturated world.

Between January and April 2026, CSS conducted 24 virtual focus groups with 86 participants ages 14–24, followed by a May 2026 national survey of 2,001 participants ages 16–24. Together, these methods reveal how young people use media to explore, nurture, and express belief, spirituality, and belonging across religious, spiritual, and non-religious identities. The study was approved by Sterling IRB and supported by the Templeton World Charity Foundation.

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Key Takeaways

Young people find comfort, connection, and opportunities to explore their ideas through religious and spiritual online content.
- More than 97% of religious respondents and 80% of non-religious respondents said a piece of media had spiritually moved, inspired, or comforted them.
- About 68% of religious respondents said they connect with peers or friends online over spiritual or religious content.
Religious and spirituality based online content supports young people’s faith practices, but does not replace in-person community.
- More than 60% of religious young people said their practice remains rooted in traditional spaces (e.g., churches, mosques, temples, in person community/gathering around shared values) or combines traditional practice with media use.
- Nearly 80% of religious young people use apps specifically designed for spiritual or religious purposes at least occasionally.
Representations of religious and spiritual traditions and people in TV/film and online content affect young people’s sense of safety, treatment, and belonging.
- Fewer than half (about 40%) felt that people who hold beliefs or worldviews like theirs were accurately represented in the media.
- Around 70% of all religious respondents said the way their religion or spirituality is portrayed in the media affects how others treat them.
What young people want from content creators and storytellers: Community online and more authentic representation on screen.
- Respondents across the survey and focus groups more often pointed to social media than TV or film as a source of authentic or positive religious and spiritual representation.
- Young people want less extreme, flattened representations of their faith/spirituality, and more authentic, deeper portrayals of their beliefs and communities on screen.

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How to Cite This Report:

Alhassen, M., Garcia, A., Puretz, M., Hines, A. J., & Uhls, Y. T. (2026). The Future of faith: Young People, Media, & Spirituality. Center for Scholars & Storytellers. https://www.scholarsandstorytellers.com/future-of-faith

Acknowledgements

Special Thanks to:

Thank you to Bonnie Zahl, whose belief in this project and expertise in stewarding us through the grant process, was invaluable. Very grateful for her feedback and connections along the way.

To our brilliant consultants, Sarah Schnitker and Rebekah Richert, whose expertise and careful attention sharpened our thinking at every stage of this study.

To our project advisors, whose guidance and generosity with their time strengthened this work from framing to final report:

Khalid Latif, Jessica Moss, Rosie Shawver, Varun Soni, Arielle Levites, Mark Miller, JC Das, Steve Argue, Hala Khouri, Sara Benin King, Jim Burklo, Amrita Kular

To our phenomenal graphic designer, Whitney Jackson, whose eye and skill elevates our research to the next level.

To our excellent director of special projects, Nina Linhales Barker, who is a huge asset to our team, coordinating the project and connecting us with key people.

To everyone who shared our study with their circles and to the educators and mentors who brought it to their students, your willingness to pass it along is why this sample reached the breadth it did.

To the staff of the Center for Scholars and Storytellers, whose support on this project and passion for youth representation are unparalleled.

And finally, to each and every adolescent participant who took part in our survey. Your words are what guide us, and we couldn't be more grateful you chose to share your thoughts and opinions with our team. We hope to make a change that you are proud of.

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