Social media has made sharing intimate details of life easier and more accepted than ever before, but Alex McFarland, a religion and culture analyst, says young people tend to share only certain details that avoid ridicule or criticism.
One thing they choose to keep quiet is their faith.
According to a 2022 Barna Group study, 56% of U.S. Christians consider their spiritual lives entirely private; they are less likely to prioritize spiritual growth and regular time with God.
Most (82%) believe friends should challenge one another to grow in healthy ways, suggesting that intentional Christian friendships and discipleship relationships can help foster spiritual growth.
That contrast highlights a challenge facing Christians who want to encourage one another in their faith: While many recognize the value of spiritual accountability, more than half keep their own spiritual lives private.
McFarland, whose ministry focuses on Christian apologetics, evangelism and discipleship, equipping believers — particularly young people — to defend their faith, understand biblical truth and share the gospel, says young people have traded facts for feelings.
He says the numbers indicate "faith should be a private matter, and we shouldn't speak about it to others or disagree about it or try to influence others."
Considering the unraveling of the family, he says it is no accident that society has moved from objective truth and conviction to fluid subjectivism.
"In a tribal culture, which is really where we are, it's not a culture of right versus wrong or true versus false; it's a culture of shame versus honor," McFarland observes. "Every day, your worth and value and your mental well-being is only as good as your most recent batch of likes and thumbs up."
In a family, love and acceptance are unconditional. Though the world does not operate that way, he says that is where young people are turning.
