University Students’ Access to Information on Social Media: Scale Development and Validation in the Vietnamese Context

Abstract

This study aims to develop and validate a scale measuring university students’ access to information on social media in the Vietnamese context, focusing on two popular platforms: Facebook and TikTok. Based on a classification model of information types comprising five content categories-journalistic news, entertainment, advertising and public relations, propaganda or orientation-oriented content, and raw or unverified information -the author designed two separate survey instruments. Data were collected from 410 students at Vietnam National University - Ho Chi Minh City in 2025 and analyzed using statistical techniques, including Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) and Cronbach’s Alpha reliability testing. The results indicate that the Facebook scale retained the theoretical five-factor structure with high internal consistency (α ≥ 0.80). In contrast, the TikTok scale converged into three new factors, shaped by content blending under the influence of recommendation algorithms and visual presentation formats, reflecting the platform’s distinctive information reception characteristics. Both scales met the criteria for construct validity and reliability, contributing to the expansion of research tools in the field of social media studies, while also supporting educational and communication policymakers in better understanding youth information consumption behavior.