But today, it's different. Whales doesn't need much effort now, at least, to start a trend since no doubt that we have an increase of bitcoin users "who really putting dollar into bitcoin exchanges" to purchase bitcoin.
Good example here is the bitcoin halving speculation prior in the halving actual date.
You are right, information placed on right place in right time can become news that can affect price in both ways. Before it was easy to move market with money, but then bitcoin wasn't so expensive. Now news are moving market, and halving is great example of how some big news can influence on btc price.
I think that will be the future, manipulation of price can be done with good organization.
That's why I always thought that trolls are paid for trolling, simply they are tool's for this kind of cold wars.