Orkut launched in January 2004, created by Google engineer Orkut Büyükkökten. It was an invite-only social network that unexpectedly exploded in popularity in Brazil and India, becoming the dominant social platform in both countries.

At its peak, Orkut had over 300 million users. It introduced features like communities, testimonials, and crush lists that made it feel personal and fun — years before Facebook copied similar ideas.

But Google never gave Orkut the attention it deserved. Facebook aggressively expanded into Brazil and India with localized features, mobile-first design, and a cleaner experience. Orkut's interface felt dated, spam became rampant, and Google's focus shifted to Google+.

In June 2014, Google announced Orkut would shut down on September 30, 2014. Users were given time to export their data, but the communities, friendships, and nostalgia built over a decade vanished overnight.