From pews to profiles : the impact of Facebook on church attendance

Abstract

This study utilizes 2012 New Family Structure Survey data to inspect the observed simultaneity of rising social media usage and declining religiosity among US adults. A linear probability model explaining whether or not an individual attends church in a year is estimated by means of an instrumental variable methodology to instrument for social tendencies expected to endogenously affect whether or not an individual has a Facebook account. Results indicate that having an active Facebook account negatively impacts the probability that an individual attends church in a year, potentially highlighting socialization or spiritual substitutability between Facebook usage and religious service attendance. Such insight could prove useful for religious leaders seeking to maximize membership, attendance, and recruitment during a marked downturn in American religiosity.