The Influence of Christian Faith Sharing through Social Media on Christian and Non-Christian Young Adults

Authors

• Glen Bowman, Freed-Hardeman UniversityFollow
• Ruben Williams, Amridge UniversityFollow
• Tyler Sheppard, Grand Canyon UniversityFollow

Abstract

This paper explores the influence of Christian faith sharing through social media on young adults, both Christian and non-Christian. Drawing on two qualitative descriptive studies using semi-structured interviews and focus groups, the research synthesized codes and identified key themes regarding positively oriented Christian content on social media. The content generally appealed to young adults and frequently enhanced their spiritual thinking, motivation, and behavior. However, posts with a negative tone, poor scriptural use, or perceived hypocrisy tend to provoke adverse reactions, including negative thoughts about Christianity and “fight-or-flight” behavioral responses. The findings also reveal that young adults often underestimate the influence that these posts have on their beliefs and actions. These results, along with the detailed codes describing the data presented in this article, offer valuable insights that may help Christians engage more effectively online with young adults to foster positive influences while minimizing the risk of alienation through offensive faith-sharing practices.

Recommended Citation

Bowman, Glen; Williams, Ruben; and Sheppard, Tyler (2026) "The Influence of Christian Faith Sharing through Social Media on Christian and Non-Christian Young Adults," Witness: Vol. 40: Iss. 1, Article 5.
Available at: https://place.asburyseminary.edu/witness_aete/vol40/iss1/5