Is the 2000s favorite Orkut making a comeback? Founder launches campaign; find out why the platform was shut down..

There was a time when creating a profile on Orkut and connecting with friends was a key part of the social media landscape. The platform enjoyed immense popularity, particularly in India. Many in Gen Z might not even be aware of it, as Google shut it down in 2014; however, its founder, Orkut Büyükkökten, has now come forward with a vision for a new social network. He has launched a campaign on orkut.com, seeking public support to build an internet that prioritizes real people, friendships, and communities. That said, there has been no official announcement regarding the return of Orkut or a launch date for the new platform.

Hopes for Orkut's Return
In the 2000s, Orkut was among the most popular social networking platforms, boasting a vast user base in India. It was widely loved for connecting friends, allowing users to create profiles, and fostering online communities. However, Google discontinued the service in 2014.

Now, more than a decade later, founder Orkut Büyükkökten has once again unveiled his plans for social networking. He has initiated a petition on orkut.com aimed at garnering support for a new social network rooted in real people, genuine relationships, and a sense of belonging.

The petition has already garnered over 270,000 signatures from users across 115 countries. Büyükkökten also shared his vision through an open letter and on the social media platform X, stating that the internet should help strengthen friendships, build communities, and facilitate connections between people.

However, this campaign should not be interpreted as an official announcement regarding the return of the original Orkut platform. It remains unclear when the new social network will launch or what form it will take. What is the vision behind the new Orkut?
In his open letter, Büyükkökten states that social media has gradually drifted away from its original purpose. According to him, when he created early social networks over two decades ago, connecting with people across different countries and continents via the internet was a novel and exciting experience.

Back then, online interactions and meeting new people felt more authentic; however, he now believes that many social media platforms focus more on boosting user engagement rather than fostering meaningful connections between people.

Büyükkökten believes that a new social network should break away from this mindset. Instead of merely trying to keep users on the platform for as long as possible, the focus should be on building friendships, mutual connections, and strong communities. The core idea behind his initiative is to create an online environment where people have the opportunity to form genuine relationships and experience a sense of belonging.

While sharing his views, Büyükkökten has questioned the prevailing social media model. He argues that social media feeds are designed to maximize engagement rather than strengthen bonds between people.

He has also expressed significant concern regarding the algorithms used to constantly serve content to users. According to him, while such systems may keep people active on the platform for extended periods, they can also impact interpersonal relationships and mental well-being.

He wrote that an entire generation of children has grown up amidst algorithms that fostered addiction and division, while turning their activities into assets for advertisers. He also noted that many young people have grown up experiencing loneliness and anxiety. These are the concerns Büyükkökten has raised regarding the current social media landscape; the vision for his proposed new platform centers on offering an experience that stands apart from these issues. Additionally, Orkut founder Büyükkökten has expressed concerns regarding the role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the future of social media. He notes that the increasing use of AI makes it difficult to determine whether there is actually a human being on the other end of an online interaction.

He highlighted issues such as bots, deepfakes, AI-generated content, and autonomous AI agents. According to him, the growing prevalence of these technologies could undermine trust on the internet.
In his letter, he stated that while Artificial Intelligence is an extraordinary technology, it is eroding the very foundation that made social networking special and worthwhile: the presence of a real person on the other side.
His concern stems from the fact that social networking is built upon interaction and trust between real people. If users struggle to distinguish between human activity and AI-generated content, the credibility of online relationships could be compromised. Consequently, Büyükkökten advocates for a social network that prioritizes real people and the connections formed between them.

There has been talk of Orkut's return before.
This is not the first time Orkut's return has been discussed; speculation about its comeback had intensified previously as well. In 2022, Büyükkökten reactivated orkut.com and shared an open letter. At that time, too, he proposed the idea of ​​a new social network aimed at bringing people closer and fostering meaningful relationships. He emphasized creating a platform that prioritizes community and genuine connection, rather than focusing solely on driving engagement like mainstream social media.

Disclaimer: This content has been sourced and edited from Amar Ujala. While we modified it for clarity and presentation, the original content belongs to its respective authors and website. We do not claim ownership of the content.