Orkut’s Founder Launches Campaign to Bring Back the Early Social Network
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Call for Users to Register Support for a Revival
On Thursday, Orkut Büyükkökten, the 51‑year‑old creator of the once‑popular social platform Orkut, posted on X urging supporters to go to Orkut.com, add their names, and invite friends. The goal, he said, is to demonstrate demand for a service that emphasizes friendship, community, and authentic human connection.
History of Orkut and Earlier Revival Attempts
Orkut debuted in 2004 as a side project while Büyükkökten was working at Google. It quickly became a hit in India and Brazil before losing ground to Facebook. Google ended the service in September 2014, shifting focus to Google+ and YouTube.
Two years after Orkut’s shutdown, Büyükkökten introduced Hello in 2016, a network built around shared interests. Hello attracted more than two million downloads worldwide before it was discontinued in 2020. By contrast, Orkut had roughly 300 million active users at its peak.
Critique of Modern Social Media and the Vision for a New Orkut
In a letter posted on Orkut.com, Büyükkökten argued that algorithms and AI‑generated content have eroded the core promise of social networking: the presence of a real person on the other side.
“Artificial intelligence is extraordinary technology, but it’s dissolving the one premise that made social networking special and worth building: that there was a person on the other side,” he wrote.
“I know how to get there: we rebuild the internet we first loved. The one with authentic people, real connection, and genuine belonging,” Büyükkökten added.
He described the desired platform as one that restores authentic interaction and genuine community.
Previous Hints of a Return and Current Uncertainty
Büyükkökten hinted at a new social venture in 2022, and in 2024 he told WIRED he was developing a platform that would “leverage AI and machine learning” to bring people together. That project has not yet launched.
The current campaign asks users to register their support but does not confirm whether a new version of Orkut is already under development or if it will ever be released.
An email sent to Orkut seeking further comment from Büyükkökten went unanswered.
