The article discusses the involvement of modern Russian youth in socio-political activities. The article presents the results of an empirical study conducted in February 2021 against the background of the "second wave" of the coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic and protest moods in different countries. The sample consisted of 100 Russian people aged 18 to 35 (M = 29.3, SD = 5.4) (St. Petersburg, northwestern Russia), of which 70 % were females. The study revealed the relationship between the socio-political participation of young people and psychological variables: the level of media competence, motives, ideas about the possibilities of self-fulfillment and the degree of satisfaction with life. Particular attention was paid to the cognitive foundations and behavioral manifestations of virtual political participation. The correlation of virtual forms with real political practices, reasons for the radicalization of judgments about politics or approval of the actions of representatives of the government are discussed. Mathematical and statistical processing of data made it possible to identify the main factors that determine the youth activity both in real political life and new virtual practices: “involvement in politics”, “satisfaction with life”, “virtualization of political participation”, “participation in the official political agenda”, “the influence of the inner circle”, “political alienation”. The use of psychological and political research methods and the cognitive approach made it possible to analyze the current forms of political behavior of modern youth in the context of constant expansion of the information field, as well as to identify the reasons for active involvement in politics.