Presented Our Research on Technology and Faith at CSCW

On October 12, 2026, I presented our paper, "Between Scaffolding and Self-Direction: Technology Use in Young Adults' Religious Practice," at CSCW Companion '26 in Salt Lake City, Utah. It was a great opportunity to share this work with researchers who study how people and technology shape one another.

The paper was written with my BYU co-authors Spencer Taylor, Tayzia Slade, Hannah Taylor, Gracee Putnam, Xinru Page, and Amanda Lee Hughes. It is available online

What the talk was about

Think of how a good teacher works: enough support to get you started, then room to do it yourself. Growing up, many young adults had that kind of support in their religious lives from family, parents, and a home congregation. Once they leave home, they have to build their own routines, and technology often becomes part of that rebuilding.

In five workshops, 35 young adults told us where technology helps and where it gets in the way. They wanted help protecting time for prayer and study, a single place to find trustworthy study materials, an easy and low-pressure way to join a new congregation, and clear limits on what AI should and should not do in their spiritual lives. Their paper sketches included a habit tracker for spiritual goals, a tool for finding nearby congregations, and AI guidance placed inside an official, trusted religious platform.

I am grateful to my co-authors, the workshop participants, and everyone who stopped by to ask questions and share ideas.