The presented article describes the results of two studies devoted to the opinion
leaders in social networks among young people: in the field of gender attitudes and in the field of
professional self-determination. Based on the notions of a complex, two-stage interaction between an
opinion leader and his audience, the presented studies describe a methodology for determining
opinion leaders by assessing the degree of agreement with their messages by young people.
Conclusions are made about the possible use of the technology for identifying opinion leaders in the
digital environment in order to monitor and prevent deviant behavior among young people.