A new analysis of data from 81 countries finds greater internet access is associated with measurable declines in religious faith and practice, according to research published this week and reported by Deseret News.

The study examined longitudinal data on internet penetration and self-reported religiosity across diverse cultural and economic contexts. Researchers found the correlation held across Christian, Muslim, Hindu, and other religious populations, suggesting the effect is not unique to any one faith tradition.

The findings add to a growing body of research on how digital connectivity reshapes religious identity, giving individuals access to information, alternative worldviews, and communities outside their inherited traditions. For high-control religious groups—including some strains of evangelical Christianity, ultra-Orthodox Judaism, and Latter-day Saint communities—the internet has accelerated what scholars call "belief fragility," where exposure to critiques or alternative narratives undermines faith commitments.