From papal tweets to faith-based influencers, social media is reshaping how religious communities communicate, engage, and understand themselves. But its effects extend well beyond those within the fold: These same dynamics are also influencing how religion, and the people who practice it, are perceived by those outside of it.
In this way, social media is not simply transforming religious life. The implications are far-reaching, touching everything from how moral authority is established to how communities form, fracture, and interact in the public square.
Social media is not simply transforming religious life. The implications are far-reaching, touching everything from how moral authority is established to how communities interact in the public square.
“Even well-intentioned communication can be repurposed to fuel division or undermine democratic norms,” said UVA religious studies professor Nichole Flores, who is an expert on Catholic theology, ethics, and culture. “So, while social media creates a greater reach, it also increases the potential for distortion.”
For scholars like Flores, the intersection of religion, media, and democracy is not just theoretical. It’s unfolding in real time across platforms like X, TikTok, and Instagram. These changes bring both opportunity and risk: They can broaden access to moral voices and shared values, but they also can deepen polarization and misinformation.
We recently spoke with Flores to explore what religion’s online presence could mean for democracy.
Q: How has social media changed the way religious communities participate in democratic life?
Flores: It’s a complex question because religious communities are incredibly diverse in how they’re structured and how they understand their relationships with public life. Some have centralized leadership, while others are more decentralized. Those differences shape how they engage with digital platforms.
In the classes I teach, we often look at examples like how Pope Francis used Twitter or religious trad wives on TikTok. These cases show how authority and representation can shift online. A pope tweeting directly to the public changes how people experience religious leadership. At the same time, influencers—who may not have formal religious authority—also can shape how religious traditions are perceived.
A pope tweeting directly to the public changes how people experience religious leadership. At the same time, influencers—who may not have formal religious authority—also can shape how religious traditions are perceived.
Q: What role does that play in the political polarization seen in the United States today?
Flores: Social media has made religious communication more immediate and accessible, but that accessibility can also amplify polarization. More broadly, these platforms can create surprising alliances and divisions. You might see some atheists or agnostics agreeing with papal statements on issues like poverty or immigration at the same time that some Catholics disagree with the Church’s position on those issues.
Digital media can simultaneously bridge and deepen divides.
Q: Religion and democracy both center on truth and moral responsibility. Where do they overlap?
Flores: We tend to assume that our sources are trustworthy and that misinformation affects “other people.” But the reality is that algorithms shape everyone’s information environment.
Religious institutions are trying to respond to this issue, though often slowly and deliberately. That said, many religious publications are engaging these issues in real time. But much of the social media space remains a free-for-all, where comment sections can encourage contempt rather than genuine dialogue across religious and political differences. In that environment, moral and religious commitments to truth can easily be overshadowed by the pursuit of influence or power.
Much of the social media space remains a free-for-all...an environment where moral and religious commitments to truth can easily be overshadowed by the pursuit of influence or power.
Q: In strengthening dialogue with followers, does social media make large religious institutions more nimble?
Flores: On one hand, leaders can quickly share messages about what they see as true, good, and beautiful. On the other hand, the speed of communication increases the risk of misunderstanding. A brief statement can be taken out of context or interpreted in ways that don’t reflect its original intent.
There’s ongoing deliberation in many religious tradition about how to balance issues of clarity, speed, and responsibility when communicating in digital spaces.
Q: How do the algorithms come into play?
Flores: Algorithms are designed to show us content with which we are most likely to engage, which often reinforces our existing beliefs, including moral and religious perspectives. We end up with a feed that aligns with our values and rarely encounterviewpoints that challenge them.
My own social media feed once briefly showed me content from a very different perspective than my own. It was disorienting, but it was also illuminating. It offered a glimpse into how differently others experience the same digital platforms. In a democracy, exposure to content with which we disagree could be valuable, especially in understanding the perspectives of others.
In a democracy, exposure to content with which we disagree could be valuable, especially in understanding the perspectives of others.
Q: Looking ahead, what role can religion play in rebuilding trust in democratic institutions and information?
Flores: One of the most important steps is simply improving public understanding of religion. Many people don’t have a strong grasp of what different religious traditions actually teach or value, and that can lead to misunderstandings or missed opportunities for collaboration.
As a religious studies professor, I’m biased. But universities can play a key role here by helping students engage with religion in a thoughtful and informed way. That kind of education doesn’t have to be about belief. It’s more about understanding.
At their best, religious traditions can emphasize community, moral responsibility, and the common good, all of which are values essential to a healthy democracy. Historically, we’ve seen religious institutions served as gathering places for people of divergent backgrounds and perspectives to form community, as well as playing significant roles in movements for social change.
Q: Does understanding a variety of religious traditions create a stronger democracy?
Flores: Greater understanding won’t eliminate disagreement, but it can make those disagreements more constructive. It helps people see where others are coming from, which is essential for democratic engagement.
Understanding religious perspectives can help us articulate our own positions more clearly and listen more carefully, which is essential—whether we’re talking about policy debates or broader questions about how we live together.