Social media can provide education to viewers. Like the newspaper but with a further reach. More democratic too because all you need is some kind of device and an internet connection & you too can state your opinion. It's up to the reader to discern what is right for them. This has always been true.
Books, newspapers, The Federalist Papers, etc. People have always been trying to get their opinion out there to find or influence supporters.
For example, I appreciate this board, Melrose Messages.
The owner allows people to speak freely about the issues in our city. I have learned a lot here. More accurately, many of my suspicions and feelings about various elements of the city have been confirmed.
I think of social media as a spreading of information. Information is the first step to activism. Obviously it shouldn't be the only step or the last step but it has its role.