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The relevance of this article lies in the need to study the possibilities of accumulating virtual social capital, maintaining it with the help of virtual social networks and using it in the educational, labor and leisure spheres. Since such resources can make a significant contribution to any area of a person's life: assistance in the field of education, and significant bonuses for employment. The purpose of the study is to identify mechanisms for acquiring, preserving and strengthening virtual social capital. Research methods: as a research method, a questionnaire survey was used to describe and analyze the features of using virtual social networks in the educational, labor and leisure spheres of users' lives. Research results: the article considers the features of virtual social capital formation. The novelty and originality of the research lies in the fact that for the first time students' idea of virtual social capital is considered. It is shown that virtual social networks are very popular with students. The factors that encourage users of virtual social networks to use their capabilities in solving significant issues in each of the studied areas are identified. It is determined that the social network is used mainly as a means of communication and information transfer, as well as a tool for organizing leisure, goals pursued in the educational sphere, in the field of career and leisure can be no less successfully implemented with its help. It is revealed that undergraduate students do not consider study groups in social networks to be effective, while master's students consider such groups effective. It is shown that it is more difficult to accumulate virtual social capital in the labor sphere than in the educational sphere, since this is due to the closeness of working groups and low career mobility of employees. It is determined that for the formation of virtual social capital in the labor sphere it is necessary firstly to find good real contacts. It is shown that it is necessary to form virtual social capital in the labor sphere depending on the type of work: if the work is in the classical sphere, then personal acquaintances and further real communication will be better suited here, and if the work is in the innovative sphere, it is better to build and maintain relationships in the virtual space. It is revealed that the use of social networks in the field of leisure is the most popular for the formation of virtual social capital. Practical significance: the data obtained in this work can be used in social psychology, labor psychology, management, as well as for further theoretical development of this issue. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]