Definition
Orkut was a social networking platform developed by Google. Launched in 2004, it was named after its creator, Orkut Buyukkokten, a Google employee. The platform was very popular in countries like Brazil and India, but Google shut it down in 2014.
Phonetic
The phonetic spelling of “Orkut” is: /ˈɔːr.kʊt/
Key Takeaways
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- Orkut was a social networking service owned and operated by Google. It was designed to help users meet new friends and maintain existing relationships.
- The platform was named after its creator, Orkut Büyükkökten, a Google employee. It was officially launched on January 24, 2004.
- Despite initial success, Orkut was surpassed by competitors, notably Facebook. As a result, Google decided to shut down Orkut on September 30, 2014.
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Importance
Orkut is a key term in technology as it was one of the first significant social networking websites, developed and launched by Google in 2004. Named after its creator, Google employee Orkut Büyükkökten, the platform allowed users to connect, interact and network online during the early days of social media. Despite Google’s global reach, Orkut notably grew popular in specific markets such as Brazil and India. It played a vital role in demonstrating the value and potential of social networking, leading to the advancement of more successful platforms that dominate today. In 2014, Google shut down Orkut in order to focus more on YouTube, Blogger, and Google+. Thus, Orkut is important in the chronicles of technology for its contribution in laying the groundwork for the current era of social media.
Explanation
Orkut was a social networking platform, created by Google in 2004, with the intention of helping users to connect and interact with new and existing friends. It was Google’s early venture into social media and was named after its creator, Orkut Büyükkökten, a Google employee. The platform allowed users to create profiles, join communities based on shared interests, send messages, and share photos or videos. Users could also rate each other using a system called “Ego Rank” and indicate their relationship statuses. The overall aim was to bring individuals together in a digital space where they could maintain and extend their social connections.Although Orkut was used globally, it gained particular popularity in countries like Brazil and India. Its purpose was not limited to socializing; many businesses also leveraged Orkut for advertising purposes and to establish a virtual presence. Educational institutions and non-profit organizations used it as a tool to communicate and connect with a broader audience. At its peak, Orkut had hundreds of millions of users, indicating the significant role it played as a social networking site. It was operated by Google until September 2014, when it was shut down to make way for newer social media platforms. Despite its closure, Orkut left a notable impact on the landscape of social networking.
Examples
1. Social Networking: Orkut was one of the first social networking platforms launched by Google in 2004. Users could create profiles, upload photos and videos, manage friend lists, create fan pages, communities, and join interest groups. It provided a space for people from around the world to connect, interact, and share ideas or news on a variety of topics. 2. Online Polls and Forums: Orkut was an early example of online communities where users could actively participate in discussions, share opinions through polls or even host forums to discuss matters of common interest. 3. Targeted Advertisements: With the rise of Orkut, advertisers saw a new platform for targeted advertisements. The user’s age, gender, location, and interests collected by Orkut allowed companies to identify their potential market and advertise their products or services accordingly. This was an early example of targeted advertising technology at work.
Frequently Asked Questions(FAQ)
Q: What is Orkut?A: Orkut was a social networking platform, owned and operated by Google. It was designed to help users meet new and old friends and maintain existing relationships.Q: When was Orkut launched?A: Orkut was launched on January 24, 2004.Q: Who created Orkut?A: Orkut was created by a Google employee named Orkut Büyükkökten. The platform was named after him.Q: What was the main purpose of Orkut?A: The main purpose of Orkut was to foster online friendship and community building by connecting users with their friends, family, and other individuals with similar interests.Q: How popular was Orkut?A: Orkut was most popular in Brazil and India. In fact, by 2008, 70% of Orkut users were from Brazil.Q: Can I still access my Orkut account?A: No, Google shutdown Orkut on September 30, 2014. The data from Orkut profiles, scraps, testimonials and community posts were only available till September 2016.Q: Why was Orkut shut down?A: Google decided to shut down Orkut in order to focus on its other social networking platforms, such as YouTube, Blogger, and Google+.Q: What happened to the data stored on Orkut after the shutdown?A: All the user data stored on Orkut was deleted by Google after the shutdown. Users were given the option to export their data using Google Takeout.Q: What could you do on Orkut?A: On Orkut, you could create a profile, add friends, send messages, join communities, and share photos and videos.Q: Was Orkut similar to Facebook?A: In terms of functionality, yes, Orkut was similar to Facebook. Both platforms allowed users to connect with friends, join groups, and share content. However, each had its own unique features and interface.
Related Tech Terms
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- Social Networking Service
- Communities
- User Profiles
- Scraps
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