Development and Psychometric Validation of the Brain Rot Scale: Measuring Digital Content Overconsumption Among Generation Alpha and Generation Z

The emergence of short-form video platforms has precipitated unprecedented digital content consumption patterns among Generation Alpha and Generation Z, characterized by "brain rot" cognitive decline associated with excessive consumption of low-quality digital content. Existing digital addiction scales inadequately capture contemporary short-form, algorithm-driven content overconsumption behaviors. This study aimed to develop and validate the Brain Rot Scale (BRS), a specialized psychometric instrument to assess digital content overconsumption patterns among digital natives aged 8-24 years. A two-phase design employed separate samples for exploratory factor analysis (EFA; n=403) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA; n=897) among Egyptian participants. The initial 21-item scale was developed in Arabic with professional English translation. Principal component analysis with varimax rotation was conducted, followed by maximum likelihood CFA. Internal consistency was assessed using Cronbach's alpha, McDonald's omega, and Guttman's lambda coefficients. Construct validity was evaluated through factor loadings, inter-factor correlations, and goodness-of-fit indices. The BRS-17 is a psychometrically sound instrument for assessing digital content overconsumption among Generation Alpha and Generation Z, providing researchers, clinicians, and educators with a validated tool to identify problematic digital consumption patterns in contemporary digital environments.