Audience capture and popularity capture

By Yann Faurie · Updated on

Key points, November 2026

  • Original point (from the Media Internaute blog, c. 2010-2013): every comment, vote or share enriches the platform more than its author.
  • What changed: Twitter became X, feeds are ranked by recommendation algorithms, and AI-generated content mixes with human contributions.
  • Regulation: the EU Digital Services Act requires large platforms to be more transparent about recommendation and moderation.
  • In practice: build your own channels (site, newsletter) rather than rely on rented audiences.

Full text in French: Captation de l'audience et capture de popularité