# Methodology

## Primary source

The primary source is the final documentary transcript supplied by Jessica Malnik for *The Internet Is Eating Itself*.

## Extraction method

The transcript was manually structured into:

- People.
- Platforms and internet properties.
- Concepts.
- Claims.
- Examples.
- Quotable documentary lines.
- Verification requirements.

## Claim classification

Each claim is assigned one of four practical statuses:

- **Subjective observation:** A first-person perception that should not be presented as an objective measurement.
- **Interpretive claim:** A reasoned conclusion drawn from the documentary's examples.
- **Verification recommended:** A plausible factual statement that should be supported before independent citation.
- **Unverified:** A statement with missing names, figures, dates, or source details.

## Attribution limits

The YouTube description names five featured contributors, but the supplied transcript does not identify every speaker inline.

Before publishing direct interview quotations, compare each quotation against the final video and confirm the speaker.

## Timestamp limits

The supplied transcript contains no timestamps. Dataset records therefore use documentary sections rather than exact timecodes.

## Versioning

When a claim is verified, update:

1. `data/claims.csv`.
2. `docs/source-ledger.md`.
3. `docs/references.md`.
4. The canonical research page when the source materially strengthens a finding.