Orkut.com
Orkut Büyükkökten, creator of the eponymous early social network, re-emerges with a heartfelt plea to 'make the internet human again,' decrying modern social media's algorithm-driven addiction and AI's dehumanizing creep. This nostalgic call to action, asking users to sign up for a 'movement' rather than a product, resonates deeply with HN's longing for a simpler, community-focused online past while sparking skepticism about the feasibility of such a revival.
The Lowdown
Orkut Büyükkökten, the founder of the pioneering social network Orkut, has issued a poignant open letter via orkut.com, decrying the current state of social media. He argues that platforms have strayed from their original purpose of human connection, instead optimizing for attention and fostering loneliness. Büyükkökten suggests that AI, while extraordinary, is dissolving the premise of human connection that made social networking special.
- Büyükkökten critiques the "move fast and break things" ethos and the rise of AI, which he believes further dissolves authentic human interaction online, leading to "AI slop, deepfakes, rogue agents, synthetic content."
- He highlights the loss of community, which he fondly remembers as a key feature of the original Orkut, contrasting it with the "audience" role users play in modern feeds.
- The letter appeals for a return to an internet built on "kindness, curiosity, friendship, trust, and connection," urging users to join a movement to "make the internet human again."
- The call to action involves signing up on the website and sharing a supporter card with friends, framing it as rebuilding with "love, and together."
This manifesto serves as both a nostalgic look back at a simpler internet and a hopeful, albeit ambitious, vision for a future where social media prioritizes genuine human relationships over algorithmic engagement.
The Gossip
Orkut's Old Glory
Many commenters fondly recall Orkut's heyday, particularly its massive success in Brazil and India, where it was the dominant social network before Facebook. They lament Google's perceived mismanagement of the platform, noting how it failed to adapt and was eventually replaced, often with the disastrous Google+.
Skeptical Sign-Ups
A significant portion of the discussion expresses skepticism about this new 'movement' and its call for sign-ups. Commenters question the effectiveness of a mere petition, pointing out the vagueness of the 'what's next' and drawing parallels to the founder's previous, unsuccessful attempts at social media reboots. Many see it as a marketing tactic for an unannounced service, or simply an exercise in nostalgia without a clear path forward.
The Perilous Past of the Internet
Commenters dive into a philosophical debate about what fundamentally changed the internet from its 'human' early days. Theories range from the proliferation of smartphones and broader public access (post-Eternal September) to the rise of algorithms and bots. A recurring theme is the perceived impossibility of recreating the 'old internet' given the current landscape, with some arguing that any non-addictive social platform is doomed to fail.