A new study is revealing that most young people are dissatisfied with media’s portrayal of faith. The study, entitled “The Future of Faith: Young People, Media, & Spirituality,” was conducted by UCLA under the leadership of Yalda T. Uhls, an adjunct professor in Psychology and supported by the Center for Scholars and Storytellers. The study conducted 24 virtual focus groups with 86 young people aged 14 to 24 from February 1, 2026 to April 11, 2026. In May of 2026, the group conducted another survey of 2,001 young people aged 16 to 24. Questions focused on respondents’ spirituality and faith practices. Respondents came from various faith practices, ranging from Christian to Muslim and Hindu, to even “spiritual but not religious,” agnostic, and atheist.

When responding to the way respondents felt media portrayed their faith, only 40% stated they believed media portrayed their faith accurately. Seventy percent stated they believed those portrayals impacted the ways others perceived them. Sikhs were the highest group to believe their faith was portrayed accurately through media, coming in at 69%. Evangelical Christians came in around 35%, Muslims at 42%, and “spiritual but not religious” came at the lowest level at 16%. Researchers noted that accurate representation is important for creating empathy amongst those outside of the respondents’ faith. Researchers also noted that 70% of those from minority religious groups shared that media portrayals of their faith had made them less comfortable or safe practicing their faith at least somewhat. For those in so-called “embedded” faiths, that number came in at 60%.

Despite their issues with media portrayal, respondents did note that online spiritual content had had a positive impact on them. Ninety-seven percent of religious respondents stated they had been spiritually moved, inspired or comforted by online content while 80% of nonreligious respondents said the same. Sixty-seven percent of religious respondents and 78% of nonreligious respondents said online content had helped them discover new spiritual or religious ideas and practices. Uhls said the study revealed just how important media and online content are to encouraging younger generations in their faith. “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,” said Uhls. “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.”