The interesting corollary is that, while individual change may be positive, that's not what gets into the media. Just look at the news. What sells and gets clicks is violence, protest, and conflict. Only the occasional baby panda story makes its way through.

There was a story on HN recently about how protestors for the Micheal Brown case made headlines while the Eric Garner case did not, and it was because the Brown case had shades of grey, while the Garnet case was open and shut. Similarly, college rape cases with evidence don't make the headlines, while unsubstantiated accusations get picked up by feminist organizations and promoted. Another example, PETA makes waves with irritating campaigns that turn people off from the movement, while other animals rights organizations quietly do good.

But all those movements have a purpose. Even if they do not convince any individuals, while only preaching to the choir, they get important messages out there, expand the moral Overton window, and make their peer organizations' positive messages more likely to be heard and accepted.