Overview
- YouGov, which apologized Thursday, said its 2024 online survey included fraudulent and ineligible respondents after key anti-fraud checks were not activated.
- The Bible Society withdrew its 2025 report that had claimed monthly churchgoing rose to 12% of adults and to 16% for 18–24s, saying the figures cannot be relied on.
- Methodology concerns centered on opt-in panels, which experts say are vulnerable to duplicate, overseas, or inattentive responses compared with probability-based surveys.
- Independent researchers noted the bold claims conflicted with church headcounts and national surveys that show a modest post-Covid recovery still below pre-2019 levels.
- Humanists UK called the reversal vindication, while many Christian leaders cited rising Bible sales, adult baptisms, and Alpha participation as reasons to watch for new data, with YouGov set to rerun the poll and the Bible Society planning broader research.