Development of A Cybersafety Scale (CYSAF) In the Digital Age: Examining Psychometric Properties Through Validity and Reliability Studies

Background: With the growing prevalence of cybercrime, individuals increasingly face risks such as copyright infringements, obscenity, defamation, fraud, personal data theft, communication interception, and bank/card information theft, making awareness of these dangers a fundamental necessity. This study aims to develop a valid and reliable scale to measure ‘Cybersafety,’ defined as a holistic state of digital security and functioning in online environments. Methods: The research, conducted using a quantitative method and a survey model, collected data from 1100 participants aged 15-70 residing in Istanbul. Results: A scale consisting of 30 items and 6 factors (Technology-Based Threats & Phishing, Internet Addiction, Password Practices and Management, Privacy in Networks, Foreign Threat, Body-Orientedness) was obtained, and the total variance explained was found to be 52%. The Cronbach Alpha was found to be 0.83. Confirmatory factor analysis indicated acceptable model fit and validated the structure, while the participants’ mean score of 61.66 showed that cybersafety was at a medium level and posed a moderate threat. Conclusions: The study showed that social media use and prior digital risk experiences influence cybersafety levels, and that Generation Z (under 25 years old) faces the highest risk in the Technology‑Based Threats & Phishing dimension.