Orkut coming back? Founder wants to relaunch the social network with a new purpose

Orkut was the social network to be on in the 2000s, especially in India, where it became hugely popular before Google shut it down in 2014. Now, more than a decade later, it seems Orkut could be making a comeback. Founder Orkut Buyukkokten has launched a campaign asking users to support a new social network built around what he describes as authentic people, real connections and a genuine sense of belonging.The petition is live on orkut dot com and is aimed at people who want a more human internet. At the time of writing, the page shows more than 2,70,000 signatures from users across 115 countries. Buyukkokten has also shared an open letter and a message on X, saying the internet should help people find friendship, community and a place to belong. However, there is no confirmed launch date or announcement that the original Orkut platform is returning.What is this new Orkut?In his letter, Buyukkokten says social media has moved away from its original purpose. “Over two decades ago, I created some of the earliest social networks. I have watched with you as social media has gone wrong,” he writes.Recalling the early days of the internet, he says connecting with strangers across continents once felt exciting because those interactions were real. However, he argues that social media platforms have increasingly focused on engagement rather than meaningful connections. “Feeds built around engagement, not connection. A generation of kids surrendered to algorithms that addicted them, divided them, and sold them to advertisers,” he writes, adding that many young people have grown up feeling lonely and anxious.He also warns that artificial intelligence is changing social media by making it harder to know whether there is a real person on the other side of a conversation. Pointing to bots, deepfakes, AI-generated content and autonomous AI agents, Buyukkokten says the technology is weakening trust online. “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 writes.Not the first time we have heard about a possible Orkut comebackWhile the petition is making some users nostalgic and excited about the possibility of Orkut's return, do note that this is not the first time a comeback has been discussed.In 2022, Buyukkokten reactivated orkut dot com and published an open letter talking about building a new social network focused on bringing people together. He spoke about creating a platform that prioritised meaningful connections and communities over the engagement-driven approach of mainstream social media. However, that effort did not result in a confirmed relaunch of the original platform.Now, Buyukkokten appears to be revisiting that idea with a new campaign asking users to support a more human internet. While nostalgia for Orkut remains strong among users who grew up with the platform, it is not yet clear whether this latest effort will lead to a fully functional social network. For now, the website is gathering public support, with no launch date or confirmed details about the proposed platform.- Ends