Avoiding information overload a study on individual´s use of communication tools

We are living in a so-called information society. People as members of this society use different kinds of communication and information technology-based tools, which provide them with a variety of ways for exchanging information. On the other hand, the use of such tools by individuals may results in problems such as information overload. By doing a qualitative study, nine groups of factors that affect people´s use of communication tools have been identified. Further, as people value these factors differently, two types of values and expectations could be identified: personal, and shared values and expectations. This study even showed that people´s choice of communication tools works almost as a personal filtering mechanism (PFM). Thereby, by bringing the transferred information by different communication tools into the line with an individual´s values and expectations, the PFM could be used for avoiding an overload of information.