Know Yourself
A prerequisite for creating anything of value is to have an opinion. You have to believe that things are a certain way, and that they ought to be some other way.
Having opinions about things you don't know much about is a dangerous business. You'll find that as you start trying to pursue your goals, people come out of the woodwork to introduce you to all kinds of nuances you overlooked. It is really quite annoying that all the experts in every field have these complexities hidden up their sleeves in case someone tries to come along and make things better.
Reading past the headline and thinking deeply about things is one way to discover nuances. Then you've become an expert, and you're doomed to a life of guarding against the well-meaning intentions of the less-informed. Now, if you want to change something, it'll need to go through a committee or review process. Other experts will need to chime in to make sure it fits into the established best practices.
If not in institutions, where do you have agency? I'd argue in favor of social networks. Not the technological kind, but rather the deep and genuine connections that make up life. It is well known that your social connections influence you, and you them. By simply living a little better in your own life, you can make a difference to those around you. They can go on to do the same. Each person makes a difference.
So then, how do you live better in your own life and have any sort of positive impact? I recommend studying philosophy. But first, I recommend studying yourself. As opinions are a prerequisite for creating value, knowing oneself is a prerequisite for knowing just about anything else. Knowing the foundations of your beliefs gives you the clarity to engage with the world.