Avoiding Information Overload - A Study on Individual?s Use of Communication Tools

Today, 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.