FRAMEWORK: VV SOURCE TRUST MATRIX v1.0
Trustworthy for what?
Not all sources are useful in the same way. A regulator can be excellent for approval status but weak for consumer experience. A randomized trial can be strong for a studied population and endpoint but weak for real-world access.
Definition
"The VV Source Trust Matrix does not ask only whether a source is trustworthy. It asks what claim the source is being used to support."
What this framework is for
VV Source Trust Matrix v1.0 is for matching a source to the role it can fairly play in a claim: approval status, clinical outcomes, mechanism, safety, consumer context, or trial discovery.
What the score does not mean
It does not mean every sentence from a high-trust source is true.
It does not mean a low-scoring source is useless.
It does not let one source type carry every kind of claim.
Score bands
The paired VV Source Fit Score uses 90-100 Primary Anchor, 75-89 Strong Support, 60-74 Context Source, 40-59 Weak Support, and below 40 Discovery Only.
Gates and caps
Source fit is lane-specific.
Incentive and bias risk require tighter framing.
Discovery sources cannot validate clinical efficacy by themselves.
Why Source Role Matters
A source can be strong in one lane and weak in another. Good sourcing depends on matching the source to the claim.
Source Examples
FDA label: strong for approved indication and warnings
Journal article: strong for studied design, population, endpoint, and limitations
Trial registry: useful for protocol and trial status
Hospital release: useful for patient-story detail
Company release: useful for what a company announced
Social post: useful for discovery and spread
Matrix Dimensions
Source type strength
Claim fit
Proximity
Incentive and bias risk
Reusability
Freshness and review state
Reusable Evidence Graph
A strong source should become part of the evidence graph. Reusable sources can connect to briefs, Signals, studies, topics, claims, timelines, scorecards, and other source pages.
VV Source Trust Matrix v1.0
Use the Viral Vitalism framework system to make health claims clearer, more contextual, and easier to evaluate.
Viral Vitalism is an educational publication, not medical advice.