Researchers uncertain about publication policy conflicts when submitting to peer-reviewed journals

Academic researchers face confusion and anxiety about whether they can simultaneously share their work on preprint servers (like arXiv) while their paper is under review at traditional journals (like IEEE). This creates decision paralysis because violating journal policies can result in desk rejections or retracted papers, yet current journal websites and submission systems don't clearly communicate these rules upfront. Researchers waste time searching forums and emailing editors instead of getting instant clarity.