Orkut founder seeks to revive social network with focus on authentic connections

Orkut, a social networking platform that was once highly popular in India and Brazil, may be revived by its founder, Orkut Büyükkökten. Büyükkökten is encouraging former users to visit Orkut.com and add their names in support of bringing the platform back, aiming to foster genuine connections and community.

Büyükkökten, who developed Orkut as a side project at Google in 2004, expressed dissatisfaction with the evolution of social media over the past two decades. He specifically criticized the increasing influence of algorithms and AI-generated content, arguing that it diminishes the core premise of social networking: the presence of real people on the other side. He stated a desire to "rebuild the internet we first loved," characterized by authentic individuals, real connections, and a sense of belonging.

This is not Büyükkökten's first attempt to return to the social networking space. Following Orkut's shutdown in 2014, he launched Hello in 2016, a platform focused on shared interests. Hello attracted over 2 million downloads globally before it was shut down in 2020. In 2022, Büyükkökten hinted at another venture, and more recently, he told WIRED he was working on a social network designed to use AI and machine learning to connect people and build communities, though this platform has yet to launch.

Currently, Büyükkökten is seeking public support for Orkut's return. However, he has not yet clarified whether a new version of the platform is under development or if it will eventually launch. Attempts to reach Büyükkökten for comment were unsuccessful.