Digital divide or digital opportunities: interrogating online news consumption pattern of Ghanaian tertiary students

Digital technologies are profoundly disrupting news production, distribution and consumption worldwide. Young people have been at the forefront of adopting new digital news sources, yet research on their evolving habits in developing countries is scarce. This study investigates online news motivations and behaviours among Ghanaian university students – an underrepresented demographic driving digital adoption. A survey of 1000 undergraduate students at the University for Development Studies found high degree of preference for digital online news due to its interactivity and easy accessibility over traditional platforms. The study suggest that Ghanaian students recognise the informative value of quality journalism online, but faced frustrations around connectivity, costs, skills gaps and questionable content. Findings also demonstrates Ghana’s ‘digital natives’ are actively navigating complex digital spaces to serve academic and civic needs, and not just entertainment. Policy and educational initiatives are recommended to improve infrastructure, digital literacy and access to empower students as informed online citizens. This study provides empirical evidence to advance theoretical understandings of technology domestication patterns in underrepresented Global South contexts. Findings offer practical guidance for providers and policymakers hoping to leverage digital online news innovations for democratic discourse.