Key words:  trust crisis

Chinese trust each other less and less, according to a recent study released by Institute of Sociology Chinese Academy of Social Sciences on January 7.

According to the study Annual Report On Social Mentality of China 2012-2013, which surveyed over 1,900 people in seven cities, only 20 to 30 percent said they "trust strangers," indicating an approximate 30 percent drop in mutual trust over previous years.

Chinese media explored the reasons behind this so-called "trust crisis" and what can be done to improve mutual trust among the public.

Wang Junxiu, chief researcher of the report, told People's Daily Online that social media has in part replaced the need for social circle of acquaintances, leading to a new pattern of social trust.

"Chinese society has experienced an increasing diversity of social values amid its transformation, but faces a serious problem, namely lack of shared social values.

"Without a shared set of core values that every member of society observes, its moral system collapses. Mutual trust and social progress can hardly be achieved".

Chongqing-based news portal cqnews.net echoed People's Daily Online, and indicated other factors that may influence people to distrust one another. 

"A lack of trust is associated with the weakening of mainstream culture and changes in ideology as well as the widening rich-poor gap and the lack of supervision over authorities."

An article on China Youth Daily commented that both government and the people are responsible, because the lack of supervision over officials and our changing values are what advance this social disease.

Changjiang Daily opined that this trust crisis may influence the development of China's social reform.

"In such an environment reform is hard to achieve because it requires effort on all our parts. Public distrust will only discourage deep reform from taking shape," read the article.

An article on opinion.china.com pointed out that this lack of trust is the consequence of how we have abused public trust from the time of our ancestors.

"Before we blame the absence of a supervision system, every one of us needs to face up to reality and stop damaging our faith in each other," said the article.