The article is devoted to the analysis of the results of an empirical study of the potential of social media for civic competence development. Modern approaches to understanding civic competence and the use of social media are analyzed. The main vectors of social media influence on the development of civic competence are determined: informational, valuemotivational, emotional-consolidating, mobilizing. Using the method of evaluative repertoire grids, the structural components of civic competence of student youth, which are developed by means of social media, are determined. A method for identifying the leading motives for the use of social media for civic competence development is proposed. Two groups of motives are defined: target and instrumental. It is established that among the target motives for the use of social media the leading role for student youth is played by: 1) self-expression and self-exposure - declaring one’s own civiс position (Facebook, Twitter, Youtube); 2) self-identification with representatives of social groups who have common views on certain issues (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram); 3) joint entertainment (Instagram, Youtube, TikTok); 4) establishing contacts (Instagram, Viber, Telegram); 5) expanding ideas about the rights and responsibilities of citizens (Facebook, Youtube); 6) the opportunity to discuss socially significant and political and legal issues (Facebook, Twitter). The leading instrumental motive is the use of social media as a means of: 1) finding educational programs, information resources for self-education (Youtube, Facebook, Instagram); 2) satisfaction of aesthetic needs (Instagram, Youtube, TikTok); 3) keeping in touch with those who it is not possible to see in real life (Viber, Telegram, Instagram); 4) development of an individual’s social capital (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Youtube); 5) generation of ideas and relevant content (posts / texts, audio and video content, comics, memes) on socially significant and political and legal issues (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Youtube); 6) job search tool (Facebook, Instagram).