Development and Validation of Social Media Mirage Toolkit

This study aimed to develop and validate a scale for measuring social media addiction. The research used mixed-method design, involving semi-projective approach, in-depth interviews, followed by exploratory and confirmatory analyses (EFA & CFA). Themes emerging from semi-projective test were about psychological dependence & emotional effects, social comparison & validation seeking, critical awareness & risk recognition, and intentional & functional use. The sample for objective test is (N=400), EFA and CFA was run on (n=200) & (n=200) separate data. These themes served as the foundation for item generation and final 12-items SMAS scale revealed three empirically and theoretically supported subscales: Psychosocial Disruption, Affective Social Comparison, and Techno-compulsion. Exploratory factor analysis supported a three-factor solution explaining 52.54% of variance, with a KMO of .75 and significant Bartlett's test. CFA confirmed model fit (x²/df=2.80, df =51, SRMR=.071, GFI=.90) and internal consistency was good (Cronbach’s Alpha α = 0.87 full scale). Grounded in the Psychosocial Model and Components of Addiction Theory, this scale serves as psychometrically reliable and valid tool to assess and evaluate social media addiction. It has important and practical implications for education, prevention programs, media studies and policies, behavioral studies, and for future researches.