Maybe those researchers or the reporters at such websites at The Atlantic and Time who wrote about the study were in on it too, or perhaps they were being manipulated by the evilgeniuses behind the plot to steal our retirement savings accounts.
EvilGeniuses is a company that has already executed very large contracts with big-name brands, and I think that for people who are fans of the, team the analogy that might draw in their minds in terms of a business model is closer to a pro sports team than it is a marketing agency.