Young Adults, Digital Media, and Religion. Broadening the Scope

Abstract

Looking at youth and young adults when researching religion and media is an approach that can lead to important results. Young people are often on the forefront of media developments and are likely to impact how religious groups utilize and incorporate media in their practices. Building on the findings of an international project and earlier research, this paper highlights three interconnected areas worthy of more attention in the study of religion and media: the limitation of most studies to specific settings and university students and the need to expand the demographic of explored subjects; the importance of studying online and offline religion as interconnected and related; the need to study not only religion and media but also how media might contribute to individuals leaving their religious identity behind and providing spaces for atheist identities and communities.