Agent-based modelling (ABM) has become a powerful tool for modelling and understanding complex systems in various disciplines, including economics, biology, sociology and others. To create, analyse, and experiment with agent-based models, there are universal platforms – AOM environments – that provide researchers even without a mathematical background with the opportunity to work with agent-based models. This article introduces the concept and basic principles of AOM, provides an overview of the most commonly used agent-based modelling environments, and describes the application of AOM to the model of content distribution in social networks of cyberspace, which are the most widely used environment for information influence on society today. The features, capabilities and advantages of these environments are investigated, and an agent-based model is built in the NetLogo simulation environment. The key principles of AOM were presented, which directly demonstrate the advantages of its application for modelling and analysing complex systems such as social networks.