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@article{197926,
        author = {Faryal Ali and Dr. Neetu Singh},
        title = {The Role of Digital Footprints in Influencing the Online Behavior of Prospective Teachers},
        journal = {International Journal of Innovative Research in Technology},
        year = {2026},
        volume = {12},
        number = {11},
        pages = {9618-9627},
        issn = {2349-6002},
        url = {https://ijirt.org/article?manuscript=197926},
        abstract = {This study explored prospective teachers’ digital footprint awareness, behavioral practices, and overall digital footprint management (TFMI), with a focus on gender differences and the relationship between awareness and behavior. A mixed-method approach was used, combining quantitative data from 40 participants with qualitative insights from interviews with 15 participants. The quantitative results showed that Behavior scores (M = 76.65) were higher than Awareness scores (M = 63.48), indicating that prospective teachers tend to follow safe digital practices more than they actually understand them. TFMI showed the greatest variability, reflecting differences in how Prospective Teachers manage their digital presence. No significant gender differences were found between male and female prospective teachers (p > .05), and the relationship between Awareness and Behavior was positive but weak and not statistically significant (r = .26, p = .098). The qualitative findings supported these results by showing that Prospective Teachers generally have only a basic and surface-level understanding of digital footprints, and their behaviors are often shaped by habits, peer influence, and informal learning rather than clear conceptual knowledge. Many participants also underestimated the risks associated with their digital activities and showed inconsistencies in managing their online presence. Overall, the study highlights that awareness alone is not enough, and there is a strong need for practical, skill-based digital literacy training in teacher education.},
        keywords = {Digital footprint, Awareness, Behavior, Digital Footprint Management Index (TFMI), Digital literacy, Active Footprints, Passive Footprints},
        month = {April},
        }