Author: Mathias Blandin

Founder and CEO of Semiologic, Mathias Blandin developed GraphComment, a commenting solution adopted by major French media outlets and companies such as Orange, Franceinfo, 20 Minutes, and Les Échos. With GraphDebate, he is also helping Reworld Media modernize its forums. As a tech entrepreneur involved in the challenges of the digital public sphere, he contributes to La Villa Numeris' reflections on disinformation and freedom of expression.

The real engagement rate of a comment section: 21 readers for every commenter

The real engagement rate of a comment section: 21 readers for every commenter

For the past fifteen years, comment sections have been judged on the handful of people who write in them. We focused on the wrong part of the audience. Under news articles, a large part of the audience stays completely invisible. We readily notice the commenters — the trolls, the contrarians, the enthusiasts. We see them …

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Revamped Audience Analytics: Precise Data to Grow Your Community

Revamped Audience Analytics: Precise Data to Grow Your Community

An analytics dashboard built for media publishers Media editors know the frustration of relying on vague metrics to shape their editorial strategy. Sliding time windows, inflated unique visitor counts, and engagement estimates that vary by user configuration make it difficult to trust the numbers. Decisions based on these flawed indicators can lead to misguided priorities. …

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The Return of Comments: Newsrooms Are Reclaiming the Debate

The Return of Comments: Newsrooms Are Reclaiming the Debate

After a decade of turning off “below-the-line” discussion, parts of the press are investing seriously in comments again. This is not nostalgia for Web 2.0. It’s a product choice, a revenue choice—and a culture choice. For a long stretch of the 2010s, disabling comments became the default move. Too much abuse. Too much legal risk. …

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Brand Forums: Semiologic’s Advice for Staying Ahead in 2026

Brand Forums: Semiologic’s Advice for Staying Ahead in 2026

Between social networks, help platforms, and specialized forums, choosing the right format to build a direct and lasting relationship with your audience is crucial. Mathias Blandin, CEO of Semiologic, shares his vision for the future of forums. Forums: A Format More Modern Than It Seems Long considered a relic of Web 2.0, forums are currently …

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Freedom of Expression, Responsibility, and Moderation

Freedom of Expression, Responsibility, and Moderation

Freedom of expression is therefore a cornerstone of democratic societies. It protects the right to hold opinions and to share ideas, including those that are unpopular, controversial, or unsettling. However, freedom of expression does not mean freedom from responsibility, nor does it imply an unconditional right to speak anywhere, at any time, and on any …

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Building an Online Community: The Key to Success

Building an Online Community: The Key to Success

In today’s highly competitive market, brands that manage to capture and retain their online audience’s attention stand out significantly. A thriving online community goes beyond occasional interactions between brands and consumers. It creates a consistent dialogue, benefiting both the company and its customers. In this article, we explore why it’s crucial for brands to invest …

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