Validation Protocol of the Italian Version of the Internet Related Measures (IRM) Questionnaire and Assessment of Internet Use Among High School Students in Italy: A Multicenter Study

Internet use has become an integral part of adolescents’ daily lives, a trend that intensified during and after the COV ID-19 pandemic [1]. Alongside the increase in online activity, adolescents are now more exposed to digital threats such as harmful content (e.g., self-harm, radicalization), sexual ex ploitation, and cyberviolence [2]. Scientific literature high lights that some groups of adolescents—particularly those with psychological, familial, or social vulnerabilities—are more likely to encounter these risks [3,4]. In the Italian context, however, validated tools to assess Internet use and related risks are often outdated and lack cul tural and technological relevance. This gap hinders effective screening and prevention efforts in schools. The present study addresses this need by validating an internationally adopted tool—the Internet Related Measures (IRM) questionnaire—for use with Italian adolescents, ensuring both scientific accuracy and contextual relevance.