ITEM ANALYSIS OF A SOCIAL MEDIA ADDICTION SCALE FOR YOUTH

Social media use is increasingly prevalent among youth aged 18–22, influencing multiple dimensions of life including physical, mental, emotional, social, academic, and behavioural domains. Excessive usage may develop into addictive patterns, leading to impaired functioning and well-being. The main purpose of the study was to construct and standardize Social Media Addiction Scale to measure the level of addiction in youth. Rapid growth of digital communication platforms has reshaped how youth interact, learn, and express themselves. Excessive engagement social media has raised concerns about behavioral dependency. The present study describes the first tryout of a newly constructed Social Media Addiction Scale intended for youth populations. An initial scale of 84 statements was generated through theoretical review, behavioral indicators, and expert consultation. The pilot version of the scale was administered to 320 students to examine item performance and internal consistency. Statistical procedures including item discrimination analysis, item–total correlation, and Cronbach’s alpha reliability were applied. Findings indicated that most items effectively differentiated between high and low scorers, while weaker items were identified for revision. The reliability coefficient demonstrated satisfactory internal consistency for an early-stage instrument. The results confirm the usefulness of pilot testing in strengthening scale quality before full standardization. The study contributes to the development of a psychometrically sound tool for assessing social media addiction tendencies among youth.