Is Orkut back? Founder wants a more human internet amid rise of AI and algorithms

Orkut, a pioneering social networking platform from the early days of digital connections, may be set for a resurgence. Created by Orkut Buyukkokten, a former Google employee, in 2004, the site took the world by storm a decade ago. Now, as Instagram and TikTok dominate the social media landscape, Buyukkokten has expressed his vision for a fresh version of Orkut focused on genuine human interaction and authentic connections.

The founder has launched a campaign on the platform's website, urging users to join a movement advocating for a return to real-world experiences on social networks. Over 260,000 signatures from users in 115 countries have already been collected. In his call for a more human internet, Buyukkokten lamented the shift in social media toward engagement, advertising, and attention, away from meaningful relationships.

He highlighted the detrimental effects of AI, deepfakes, bots, and autonomous AI agents on social media platforms. According to the founder, AI-generated content lacks the human emotions and relationships that give life meaning. He argued that while AI can generate content, it cannot replicate the joy, hope, gratitude, wonder, amusement, inspiration, and love that arise from genuine human connections.

Reflecting on Orkut's original purpose, Buyukkokten emphasized the platform's communities, where users formed bonds over shared interests and everyday experiences. He lamented the move away from communities to mere audiences and emphasized the need for a future internet prioritizing kindness, curiosity, friendship, trust, and belonging over algorithms and metrics like time spent on a platform.