Whether the experiment was real or not, Carol's anology about TV and the Internet is kind of apt. If you look at the messages at the heart of modern Television. It goes something like that.

Here is some sex... be a consumer
Here is some santiized news ... corporations are good.
Here is an opinion, here is how to talk to Liberals
Here is a sordid story about the murder of children.... consume consume consume.

There is an ad on US television right now that suggests that if Mom drives a Hummer II her child won't be beaten up at school. That's how ridiculous things are getting.