Yeah but in the case of debates at least it can be used as a tool for propaganda and for demoralizing. I know these debates from the global north are 9/10 times just shit, but here in Brasil they have been instrumental in elevating Marxist content creators out of obscurity and in spreading Marxism a bit.

The reason I myself became a communist is because of a drunk discussion I had with a friend where I was doubting if socialism is as bad as people say and that led me into hyper focusing in watching Marxist content creators, one of the first videos I saw was a legendary debate that happened a couple months prior to that time where Elias Jabbour (professor, PCdoB member and China defender) absolutely destroyed a lib economist and coach called Renata Barreto. At first I was doubting what he was saying even tho it was clear to me and everyone else he won that debate, but it served as a gateway into having me want to learn more, and as I learned more and more, I came to realize he was basically right in nearly everything he said.

After that a bunch of Marxist content creators started debating and going as guests to all kinds of podcasts, even right wing ones and that has had an observable impact on their growth and the acceptance of Marxism here, even if it's nothing considered big enough.