Primary source

Primary-source status depends on the research question. A platform's launch announcement is direct evidence of what the organization announced; it is not independent proof that every announced feature worked. A later interview can be primary evidence of a creator's recollection while remaining a retrospective account of an earlier event. Ask what relationship the source has to the claim. Who created it, when, for which audience, and for what purpose? Preserve those answers beside the citation. Do not use primary as a synonym for accurate, unbiased, or complete. A promotional page, an eyewitness mistake, and an intentionally fictional post can all be valuable primary material for suitable questions. Their usefulness comes from understanding what they can reveal and what they cannot establish by themselves.

Editorial review: 2026-09-23. New evidence may change this account.

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