I realized at Thanksgiving when my son told me he felt he was the most unpopular kid at school that there was a problem and I would have to step in and help him. He understands social skills (we've been working on them since Thanksgiving) but he usually is reading a book or drawing and I think he kind of got sick of hanging around with the other kids who are playing video games on their phones once I took his away (he was googling things I didn't feel were appropriate). He also tries too hard- he was trying to do really goofy silly things to get his friend's attention and I think the other kids basically think he's weird, crazy etc.
