Next-gen Orkut returns to revive its legacy

Mumbai: The founder of the first world’s first successful social media platform Orkut has developed a new social networking website after Facebook put an end to its traditional networking website in 2014.

The new interest-based website, dubbed Hello, has been conceptualised differently with an aim to connect people who share similar interests and hobbies. Hello will have a different unique selling proposition and will not be directly competing with Facebook.

Orkut Büyükkökten, founder of Orkut, has launched the new social networking site 12 years after the inception of his previous venture which managed to amass a community of 300 million.     

Büyükkökten suggested that Hello can be hailed as the successor or the next generation of Orkut. While Orkut helped people connect via groups and fan clubs, Hello takes a step ahead and connects people who share similar interests.

In a post, Büyükkökten said how sad he felt when Google announced Orkut’s permanent closure. A sentimental Büyükkökten thanked the Orkut community and introduced people to his new project Hello.

Explaining the mechanism of the website, he said: “Hello is the first social network built on loves, not likes. I designed hello to help you connect with people who share your passions.”

Chances slim

Though Hello has been based on connecting people who share unique interests, chances of it competing against Facebook seem uncertain.

Over the years, Facebook has capitalised immensely and has taken over services such as Instagram and WhatsApp, apart from integrating copious smart features into its platform.

Additionally, there are numerous others services for connecting with family and friends including Skype, Google+, and Snapchat.

In such a scenario, Hello must be prepared to make numerous integrations and acquisitions before it can match Facebook’s current fan following.