Digital Parenting Strategies in Low Socio-Economic Contexts: Evidence from Ghana

Abstract

The rise of digital technologies presents complex challenges for parent-child relationships everywhere, yet the experiences of parents in low socio-economic contexts remain underrepresented in digital parenting research. This study explores the digital parenting practices of parents of adolescents in New Fadama, a low-income suburb in Ghana, using a qualitative single case study design. Data were collected through in-depth interviews with twelve purposively selected parents. Findings indicate that parents are anxious and cautious about their children's digital media use. They adopt a range of strategies, including overt actions like monitoring social media and covert practices such as checking browsing history. However, restrictive mediation—marked by rigid rules and limited dialogue—dominates their approach. This traditional, control-oriented style often leads to parent-child conflict and fails to equip adolescents with the autonomy and critical digital literacy skills needed in a digital society. The study highlights the need for targeted support to improve digital literacy and promote more balanced mediation strategies in low socio-economic contexts.