Orkut, one of the internet’s earliest major social networking platforms, could be preparing for a comeback 12 years after shutting down.
Founder Orkut Büyükkökten has asked former users to register their support for bringing the platform back. He wants a renewed focus on friendship, community and authentic human connection.
Büyükkökten posted on X on October 8, asking users to visit Orkut.com and add their names to a supporter list. He also encouraged them to share supporter cards with friends.
However, a full relaunch has not been confirmed.
There is currently no official launch date. Büyükkökten has also not said whether a new version of Orkut is already under development.
Orkut originally launched in 2004 while Büyükkökten was working at Google. The platform quickly became popular, particularly in Brazil and India.
At its peak, Orkut reportedly reached around 300 million active users.
The social network later lost ground to Facebook and other emerging platforms. Google eventually shut Orkut down in September 2014 as it shifted attention toward other services.
Büyükkökten has also criticised the current state of social media. He believes algorithms and AI-generated content have weakened meaningful online interaction.
His vision is for a platform built around real identities, genuine relationships and interest-based communities instead of engagement-driven feeds.
This is not his first attempt to return to social networking. In 2016, he launched Hello, a platform focused on shared interests. It reached more than two million downloads before shutting down in 2020.
For now, Orkut’s possible revival remains uncertain.
The latest campaign appears designed to measure public interest before any major announcement.
