The article considers the sociological analysis of public sentiment and patterns of behavior or Russian youth. Based on the research data, the attitude to the political course of the state leader is determined. The author uses the concept of generations to consider the dynamics of social change in the youth. The article gives a detailed description of so-called “Generation Z”, of the special conditions for the formation of its life experience and psychological attitudes. The author notes the fundamental changes occurring in the youth’s communication channels and the level of trust to sources of information. Immersion of youth in the Internet and social networks is considering as a reality of the way of life. Overproduction of information causes the production among young people of the special ways of mastering media streams. The value orientations of generation Z create the potential for mass change of political sentiments from indifferent to radical. The activators of the public sentiment are public expenditures (Social, ethno-confessional, identity, “center-periphery”, “West-Russia”) and a number of factors, including the demographic trends, the social environment of megacities and the state of youth policy. The author suggests the preventive measures to counteract political radicalism and coups d’état