Surfing on Social Network Sites: A comprehensive instrument to evaluate online self-disclosure and related attitudes

• A comprehensive instrument to measure online self-disclosure.
• The instrument is tested with factorial analysis procedures in a large sample.
• Dimensions of expected benefits in Facebook use.
• The likelihood of perceived risks that are related to harmful or threatening breaches of privacy.

The widespread diffusion of Facebook use has resulted in a host of psychological studies that measure online self-disclosure and other variables related to online behaviour, including the benefits and risks associated with Fb use and issues of trust and control over information. Recently, a study group headed by Krasnova proposed a comprehensive 54-item instrument to measure 10 different dimensions pertaining to online behaviour. The present study aims to investigate the factorial structure of this instrument and to evaluate its usability. Seven hundred and thirty-six subjects have been enrolled in the study and randomly divided into two samples in order to conduct an Explorative and Confirmatory Factor Analysis. The results suggest a 12 factor structure with a strong goodness of fit. The latent-dimensions underlined in our study allow us to differentiate relationship maintenance, enjoyment, and self-presentation as aims of Facebook use. Moreover, it is possible to examine the perceived likelihood of risk as it is related to harmless or threatening breaches of privacy. The presented instrument, available in multiple languages, allows us to check theoretical models related to online self-disclosure and compare them to models that have been used in other countries and cultures.