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Internet Attitudes Questionnaire (OCS)3

Internet Attitudes Questionnaire (OCS) Test

Understand how internet use affects mood, self-control, focus, and relationships in about 7 minutes. The 36-item results offer a clear snapshot to guide research, screening, and targeted support.

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Questions: 367 minutes

08:30

October 2, 2025

October 2, 2025
Material has been updated

October 2, 2025
Material has been published

17,435 views

1,032 completions

891 likes

Verified by Daniel Hall

Psychologist with 25 years of experience

Scale Explorer

How the Scales are Structured

example score

37/63

Distraction (D)

Measures how much a person tends to use the internet as a way to postpone or avoid important tasks and responsibilities.

Low distraction

Moderate distraction

High distraction

9 – 27: Low distraction | 28 – 45: Moderate distraction | 46 – 63: High distraction

A score of 37 falls in the Moderate distraction range, suggesting the internet sometimes interferes with staying focused on higher-priority tasks.

example score

46/100

Reduced Self-Control (RSC)

Measures obsessive thoughts about the internet and difficulty limiting time spent online.

Low

Moderate

High

0 – 33: Low | 34 – 66: Moderate | 67 – 100: High

A score of 46 falls in the Moderate range, suggesting occasional preoccupation with the internet and some difficulty stopping or limiting use.

example score

24/100

Loneliness/Depression (L)

Measures the extent to which feelings of loneliness or low mood in offline life are linked to reliance on the internet for emotional support.

Low

Moderate

High

0 – 33: Low | 34 – 66: Moderate | 67 – 100: High

A score of 24 falls in the Low range, suggesting relatively few loneliness or low-mood experiences associated with internet use.

example score

41/100

Social Comfort (SC)

Measures how comfortable a person feels communicating online and forming or maintaining social connections there.

Low

Moderate

High

0 – 33: Low | 34 – 66: Moderate | 67 – 100: High

A score of 41 falls in the Moderate range, suggesting online interaction is somewhat comfortable but not a consistently preferred or highly supportive social space.

example score

111/252

Problematic Internet Use (PIU)

Assesses the overall degree to which internet use is associated with loss of control, interference with daily functioning, and negative emotional or social effects.

Low

Moderate

High

36 – 107: Low | 108 – 179: Moderate | 180 – 252: High

A score of 111 falls in the Moderate range, suggesting occasional difficulties with regulating internet use and some impact on mood, tasks, or relationships.

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DATA-BASED USER COHORTS

Who Usually Takes This Test?

Teens and concerned parents

41%OF USERS

They want to understand whether screen time is turning into dependency and how it affects mood, school, and offline relationships.

Adults feeling stuck online

34%OF USERS

They notice scrolling or gaming interferes with work, sleep, or self-control and want a quick, structured self-check.

Psychologists and researchers

25%OF USERS

They use it to screen clients or participants and map which patterns—loneliness, distraction, or reduced control—need attention.

BASED ON AGGREGATED, ANONYMIZED DATA FROM TENS OF THOUSANDS OF FREUDLY USERS.

Benchmarking

See How You Compare

Once you complete the test, your results are compared with real-world data from people in your country.
Below is a preview of how scores are typically distributed across each scale.

Distraction (D)

Average

22.7

Normal range

15.9 — 29.5

min.

max.

This curve shows how scores are typically distributed.
Once you complete the test, your result will appear on the scale so you can see how you compare.

Reduced self-control (Rs)

Average

62.5

Normal range

50.3 — 74.7

min.

max.

100

This curve shows how scores are typically distributed.
Once you complete the test, your result will appear on the scale so you can see how you compare.

Loneliness/Depression (L)

Average

Normal range

53 — 89

min.

max.

100

This curve shows how scores are typically distributed.
Once you complete the test, your result will appear on the scale so you can see how you compare.

Social Comfort (SC)

Average

37.4

Normal range

20.9 — 54

min.

max.

100

This curve shows how scores are typically distributed.
Once you complete the test, your result will appear on the scale so you can see how you compare.

Problematic Internet Use Scale (PIUS)

Average

109.2

Normal range

71.2 — 147.1

min.

max.

252

This curve shows how scores are typically distributed.
Once you complete the test, your result will appear on the scale so you can see how you compare.

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SAMPLE QUESTIONS

Example Questions From the Test

- Strongly disagree
- Disagree
- Somewhat disagree
- Not sure
- Somewhat agree
- Agree
- Strongly agree
- Strongly disagree
- Disagree
- Somewhat disagree
- Not sure
- Somewhat agree
- Agree
- Completely agree
- Completely disagree
- Disagree
- Somewhat disagree
- Unsure
- Somewhat agree
- Agree
- Completely agree

These are 3 of the 36 real questions — the rest appear in the test. No sign-up needed to start.

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WHAT THE TEST MEASURES

About This Assessment

Questionnaire on Attitudes Towards the Internet, OCS Test

Internet Attitudes Questionnaire (OCS) Test - Symptoms and Signs

cyberpsychology

social networks

This self-report measure evaluates attitudes and experiences related to internet use, with attention to patterns that may be associated with problematic engagement. The Internet Attitudes Questionnaire (OCS) is designed to help characterize how online activity relates to mood, behavior, and social functioning.

It comprises 36 items and typically takes about 7 minutes to complete. Content is commonly organized into four domains: Social Comfort (ease of communication and self-expression online), Loneliness and Depression (negative affect and isolation associated with use), Diminished Self-Control (difficulty limiting use), and Distraction (interference with daily responsibilities). A total score can be used to summarize overall level of concern.

In clinical and research settings, the Internet Attitudes Questionnaire (OCS) may support screening and case formulation by highlighting the specific dimensions most associated with the individual’s internet use, which can inform monitoring and intervention planning.

Author: Kimberly S. Young

Literature: Kimberly S. Young. Internet addiction: the emergence of a new clinical disorder. CyberPsychology & Behavior. 1998.; Davis, R. A., Flett, G. L., & Besser, A. Validation of a new scale for measuring problematic internet use: implications for pre-employment screening. CyberPsychology & Behavior. 2002.