The Short Version
Controlled experiments do show that information presented outside conscious awareness can measurably shift decision outcomes, supporting the core claim. However, the evidence is strongest for low-level perceptual and implicit memory effects, not for robust influence on complex real-world decisions. Critical reviews and a major meta-analysis reveal that many higher-order priming and nudge effects shrink dramatically or vanish after correcting for publication bias and methodological weaknesses. The claim is directionally correct but overstates the breadth and reliability of the phenomenon.