Design of a mobile application prototype: A tool for measuring the degree of manipulation of the Cypriot user from social media information

Abstract

The American sociologist Joseph P. Overton, theorized that, in each society there is a so-called window of discourse (Overton Window) which includes a systematic strategy approach that includes a set of unacceptable ideas that are shifting towards legalisation by the public opinion. Overton’s theory describes a specific sequence of actions made by media specialist in order to start a public discussion of any matter originally considered unthinkable by the society. Step by step the window of discourse is shifting and the public opinion is changing. At this stage of changing public opinion, the matter has already been widely discussed and has established itself in the consciousness of the citizens’, which will in turn lead to the final desired stage that of “legalisation”. The aim of the thesis is to design a mobile application prototype that is based on the Overton theory, which indicates the degree of change or not in the opinions of Cypriot users (In an online environment) on matters considered completely unacceptable.