Abstract

Purpose: The rise in internet usage among children, adolescents, and adults highlights the need for a suitable tool to measure internet literacy in Malay-speaking adolescents. This study aimed to adapt and validate the psychometric properties of the Malay version of the Junior Students Internet Literacy Scale (JILS). 

Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted with 422 secondary school students (54.5% female, 45.5% male; aged 15–17 years, mean = 16, SD = 0.43) between August and September 2023. The psychometric properties of the JILS were assessed using Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) with SPSS IBM™ (version 25), Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) with SMARTPLS™ (version 4.0.1.6), and the Content Validity Index (CVI). 

Results: I-CVI ranged between 0.83 – 1.00, Kappa coefficient ranged from 0.816 to 1.00, and the S-CVI/AVE was = 0.98, indicating that the Malay version of the JILS demonstrated excellent content validity. EFA with parallel analysis supported a five-factorial structure, with Cronbach’s alpha of 0.708 and composite reliability rho_c ranging between 0.667 – 0.753. The five-factor model of the Malay version of the JILS also demonstrated suitable model fit indices.   

Conclusion: The Malay version of the JILS demonstrates robust psychometric properties, establishing it as a valuable tool for assessing internet literacy among Malaysian adolescents. Its application can support digital education initiatives and inform strategies to mitigate online risks. Future research should explore its cross-cultural applicability and longitudinal use.

Keywords: Internet Literacy, Digital Literacy, Psychometric Properties, Validity, Reliability, Adolescents