End of Orkut: how one of Brazil's most beloved networks disappeared from the internet

Written by Romario Pereira of Carvalho

Published 09/05/2025 às 20:39

Orkut, Social network, Brazilians, Internet, Google

Illustrative image: IA

Orkut was the first social network for millions of Brazilians. For ten years, it was part of the daily lives of those who used the internet to make friends, post messages and participate in communities.

But on September 30, 2014, Google decided to officially close the platform. It was the end of an era that began in 2004 and left deep marks on the country's digital memory.

A project that became a phenomenon

Created by Orkut Büyükkökten, a Google engineer, the site began as an experimental project within the company. At the time, employees were allowed to use part of their working hours to develop their own ideas.

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Communities, messages and testimonials

The platform's operation was simple and captivating. Users created a profile, added photos, personal preferences and joined communities.

These communities ranged from fans of bands and football teams to unusual and funny titles, such as “I wanted ice cream, but it was beans” or “In the US, even poor people speak English”. They were a way to show personality and interests in a light, fun and even critical way.

Interactions also stood out. It was possible to leave messages — the famous scraps — or testimonials on friends' profiles.

This collaborative environment generated engagement and made Orkut an active social network, full of movement and with its own personality. The topics within the communities allowed for long discussions, generally well organized, with rules and moderation.

Problems and first signs of falling

But not everything was rosy. With growth came problems. In 2008, the network was the target of controversy involving the dissemination of child pornography.

In response, Google signed a Conduct Adjustment Agreement with the Federal Public Ministry, promising to collaborate with investigations and help track down criminals.

Orkut's downfall began to take shape in 2011. That year, Facebook already had 600 million global users and was beginning to dominate the market.

In Brazil, a survey by Ibope showed that Mark Zuckerberg's network had surpassed Orkut in number of users. The migration was fast and many users left their old profiles aside in search of the new tools and interfaces offered by the competitor.

The end and the message of Google

Google itself admitted that its other platforms contributed to the end of Orkut. Tools like YouTube, Blogger and Google+ took over the social network's space. As a result, the company decided that it no longer made sense to keep the site active.

In the official announcement of the closure, Paulo Golgher, Google's engineering director, published a text saying: “It was an unforgettable ten years. We apologize to those who still use Orkut regularly.. "

Orkut: Legacy of interactions and digital memory

During its ten years of existence, Orkut has accumulated impressive numbers. There were 51 million communities, 120 million topics and more than 1 billion interactions. The site even made available a “virtual museum” with the main communities, such as “Eu Odeio Acordar Cedo” and “Eu amo minha MÃE!”.

Even after a decade since its demise, Orkut remains alive in the memories of those who lived through the early days of social networks. And for many, it continues to be synonymous with a more innocent and fun internet.

With information from UOL.

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