Investigation of the relationship between 5th grade students' digital footprint awareness, their perceptions towards moral values in the digital environment, and their attitudes towards the internet

The increasingly widespread use of the internet not only offers numerous benefits but also poses certain risks. Users who take advantage of the internet's anonymous nature may exhibit behaviors in the virtual environment that differ from their daily behaviors, believing their identities cannot be identified. This can be particularly dangerous for young children, who may share a great deal of personal information and images online without considering the consequences. In this context, the aim of this study is to examine the relationship between 5th-grade students' digital footprint awareness (DFPA, their perceptions of moral values in the digital environment (POMVDE), and their attitudes toward the internet (ATI). The study employed correlational research design with the participation of 409 students who selected through convenience sampling method from 16 different middle schools in a district of Amasya. Data collection tools included the "Middle School Students' Perceptions of Moral Values in the Digital Environment Scale," the "Digital Footprint Scale," and the "Attitude Towards the Internet Scale." The data obtained from the scales were analyzed using descriptive statistics such as arithmetic mean and standard deviation to illustrate the general situation. Subsequently, independent sample t-tests were used to examine differences between various variables (gender, technology ownership, etc.), while correlation and regression analyses were used to examine the relationships between variables.The study found that the students' DFPA, POMVDE and ATI levels were moderate, and that they did not differ according to gender or technological device ownership. A negative, significant, and low correlation was found between DFPA and POMVDE and the time spent in digital environments. A positive, significant, and low correlation was found between ATI, the time spent in digital environments, and technological proficiency levels. A moderate correlation was found between DFPA, POMVDE , and ATI, and a low-level positive and significant correlation was found between POMVDE and ATI. According to regression analysis, it was found that POMVDE and ATI explained 23.9% of DFPA, DFPA and POMVDE explained 16.9% of ATI and ATI and DFPA explained 9.7% of POMVDE.