UCLA study finds young audiences crave complex spiritual characters

A new study titled ‘Future of Faith’ from The Center for Scholars & Storytellers at UCLA suggests that younger audiences, specifically Gen Z and Gen Alpha, are seeking more complex and realistic depictions of spirituality in media.

Research involving 2,000 participants aged 14 to 24 indicates a gap in current representation. Only approximately 40% of respondents felt that people with their specific beliefs or worldviews were accurately portrayed in media. Furthermore, 70% of religious respondents noted that the way their traditions are depicted on-screen influences how they are treated by others.

Participants expressed a desire for characters who grapple with faith, experience doubt, and navigate personal changes rather than being presented as perfect believers or caricatures. Yalda T. Uhls, founder and CEO of the Center for Scholars & Storytellers, noted that young people want to see the ‘ordinary side of beliefs’ and honest discussions regarding faith, moving away from performative religion or extreme stereotypes.