Last update:
11-Nov-2026

OBJECTIVE To develop and validate an ultra-brief scale to measure social media fatigue, i.e., the Social Media Fatigue Scale-3 items (SMFS-3).

METHOD Construct validity of the SMFS-3 was assessed through corrected item-total correlations and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). Concurrent validity was examined using the Bergen Social Media Addiction Scale (BSMAS), and the Patient Health Questionnaire-4 (PHQ-4). Reliability was evaluated through multiple indices, including Cronbach's alpha, Cohen's kappa, and the intraclass correlation coefficient. Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) analysis was employed to determine the optimal cut-off point for the SMFS-3, using the BSMAS as external criterion.

RESULTS Corrected item-total correlations and CFA confirmed that the final version of the SMFS-3 includes three items in one factor. Concurrent validity of the SMFS-3 was excellent since we found statistically significant correlations between the SMFS-3 and the BSMAS, and the PHQ-4. Cronbach's alpha for the SMFS-3 was 0.762. Cohen's kappa for the three items ranged from 0.852 to 0.919 (p<0.001 in all cases). Additionally, intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) was 0.986 (p<0.001). Thus, the reliability of the SMFS-3 was excellent. The best cut-off point for the SMFS-3 was 10, indicating that social media users with SMFS-3 score ≥10 were considered as users with high levels of social media fatigue, and those with SMFS-3 score <10 as users with normal levels of fatigue.

CONCLUSIONS The SMFS-3 is a onefactor 3-item scale with great reliability and validity. The SMFS-3 is a short and easy-to-use tool that measures levels of social media fatigue in a couple of minutes. Valid measurement of social media fatigue with brief and valid tools is essential to further understand predictors and consequences of this fatigue.

Key words: Brainrot, Burnout, Cut-off point, Fatigue, Instrument, Scale, Social media, Social Media Fatigue Scale, Validation.