Is Orkut Coming Back? Founder Launches Campaign To Revive The Social Network, Over 2.55 Lakh Already Back It

Orkut Buyukkokten, the creator of the once-popular social network Orkut, has launched a campaign to bring the platform back. The engineer has asked the public to support his initiative, with over 2.55 lakh (255,000) people already backing the cause at the time of writing. In a post on X, Buyukkokten stated that the internet should connect people with their own kind, fostering friendship, community, and a sense of belonging.

He encouraged followers to add their names on orkut.com and share supporter cards with those they wish to bring along. The campaign emphasizes the importance of real people, communities, and authentic connections, contrasting with the current state of social media, which he believes has become focused on grabbing attention through feeds designed for engagement rather than fostering genuine relationships.

Buyukkokten argues that the advent of AI threatens the core concept of social networking, where individuals interact with real people. His vision for the revived Orkut includes communities centered around shared interests, such as motorcycle repair groups, bus route riders, or individuals who dislike Mondays. He believes that true social networking should revolve around genuine human connections rather than algorithms and AI-generated content.

The campaign is not a direct relaunch of the original network, and there is no set launch date. Buyukkokten aims to gather a large number of supporters but has not specified a minimum requirement.