A decidedly depressing story hidden behind the facade of perfect people living in a perfect world, Nosedive hits a little too close to home.

This is a world where today’s Youtube and Instagram influencers have taken over the world. Simply shutting down your phone to escape social media bombardment is no longer an option.

In this cold world, it’s your social media rating that awards you access to the best cars, the most luxurious travel destinations, the perfect apartments, and neighborhoods.

No matter what type of day you’re having, keep that smile on your face. Every human interaction you have requires you to keep up that robotic appearance or you will risk the dreaded and debilitating ‘down’ rating.

Black Mirror’s ability to use current technologies and turn it into a nightmare scenario is once again on display on Nosedive, and this time we have real-life examples of it. China’s Social Credit System is active, and is being used to punish citizens during the 2020 Covid-19 pandemic:

According to Chinese tech news site Abacus, Beijing authorities announced that citizens entering the city from overseas who don’t disclose symptoms or relevant medical history pertaining to coronavirus will have their social credit score docked.

People with low credit scores can be placed on public blacklists, banned from booking train and train tickets and barred from buying property.

Soul crushing, indeed.