The perception that older people prefer print versions of the Bible while younger people prefer digital media is not entirely accurate, according to recent data presented in the American Bible Society’s (ABS) latest State of the Bible (SOTB) report. The newest chapter of State of the Bible 2023, “Bible Use and Technology,” explores how American adults connect with the Bible and the role digital media plays in their lives.
“For a while now, we’ve tended to think of Bible technology as a single thing, something the young folks love and the older folks are having a hard time getting used to,” say the report’s preparers, Dr. Jeffery Fulks, Randy Petersen, and Dr. John Farquhar Plake. “It’s time to go deeper in exploring how the multiple and coexisting technologies might enhance our Bible experience and strengthen our connection with Scripture.”
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Moreover, the author’s write, we should consider “not only our experience, but the experience of those at the margins, those who might be curious about the Bible or about Jesus, and who are still waiting for something they can get excited about plugging into.”
State of the Bible: Bible Use Among the Generations
The American Bible Society, a nonprofit whose vision is to make “the Bible available to every person in a language and format each can understand and afford,” has been publishing the State of the Bible report annually since 2011. SOTB releases data throughout the year that evaluates Americans’ perceptions of the Bible, as well as how Americans relate to Scripture.
“The last half-century has…seen a Gutenberg-like transition in the technology of communication,” the authors say at the beginning of the newest chapter. “The challenge is the same as ever for churches and people of faith: How do we preserve the authentic power of God’s Word while facilitating connections with souls navigating in today’s context? Languages and media change, but the Word of the Lord endures forever.”
One of the report’s key findings has to do with the type of digital content people in different generations prefer to consume. The authors define the generations as follows:
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- Generation Z (1997–2012): Ages 11 to 26 in 2023. This study includes adults (19–26) in Generation Z.
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- Millennials (1981–1996): Ages 27 to 42 in 2023.
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- Generation X (1965–1980): Ages 43 to 58 in 2023.
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- Baby Boomers (1946–1964): Ages 59 to 77 in 2023.
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- Elders (1928–1945): Ages 78 to 95 in 2023. This study considers any respondent 77 years old or older to be in the Elders generation.
SOTB asked people in the different generations about their preferences for engaging with print versions of the Bible, Bible video, Bible audio/podcast, a reading plan, a Bible app, or an internet search. It will surprise few to hear that Elders (87%) overwhelmingly prefer print. However, the rest of the generations, while still showing a general preference for print, have an interest in various types of digital content, an interest that appears as an “escalator” effect in the data.
Boomers prefer print over digital Bible content (70%) but out of all the groups “are those most likely to watch a Bible program on video” (46%). Gen Xers prefer print to other forms of media as well (71%), but Gen Xers and Millennials are most likely to listen to a Bible podcast or to audio versions of the Bible.
Millennials prefer print and Bible apps in equal amounts (64%). Gen Zers prefer searching for Bible-related information on the internet out of any other category (64%) and prefer internet search more than any other generation. Gen Z showed a strong interest in Bible apps (62%), preferring an app to a print version of the Bible (59%).
