Meaning:

The term “social relations degradation,” which originated from the headline of an essay posted on WeChat by shixiang.xin, a popular Chinese media company, encapsulates the prevailing issue of loneliness and isolation in an era flooded with convenient social networking tools. The post outlined various scenarios, such as roommates who scarcely talk to one another, individuals who struggle to recognize their colleagues offline, and WeChat friends who merely “like” each other’s Moments posts without engaging in chats. This term highlights the diminishing real-life connections among people due to excessive time spent on social media and online entertainment.

Example:

A: 你感觉到社交降级了吗？

Nǐ gǎnjué dào shèjiāo jiàngjí le ma？

Have you felt the pangs of “social relations degradation?”

B: 是的，感觉大家都忙自己的事，很久没和朋友一起吃饭聊天了。

Shì de，gǎnjué dàjiā dōu máng zìjǐ de shì，hěnjiǔ méi hé péngyou yīqǐ chīfàn liáotiān le。

Yes, everyone is busy with their own affairs, and it has been quite some time since I’ve gathered with my friends for a meal and heart-to-heart chats.