In 2004, a social media platform named Orkut asked users “Who Do You Know” when they were invited to join the Google owned site. This invitation only community was used to connect with family, friends, classmates, coworkers and neighbors. They were invited into communities based on who they knew, not what they knew. These users felt special to be included in this community and Orkut gave control to these users, allowing them to search and rate each other’s profiles and comment and recommend products and services throughout the different communities. This allowed users the power to speak freely and share their opinions, whether they were good or bad.
Were You Invited?
Unlike Facebook, which originally only allowed Harvard Students to join, Orkut was available to anyone who was invited by a current user. Were you invited to join Orkut? Did you join? I am not sure if I was invited or not. I’d like to think that I would have taken a moment before accepting the invitation. I did delay joining social media but it does make it easier to share information with friends and family. Also, I do not think I would like to be rated online. Liking and disliking posts, pictures and videos added to my current Facebook page is enough. I do not need people in my network rating me as a person.
Originally Orkut thrived growing to 30 million users but what caused the platform to fold in just 10 short years while other platforms grew or were introduced? Social media and digital marketing have changed rapidly over the years. It feels like just yesterday I was Tweeting and now I’m X-ing. Aside from name changes, the wants and needs of users have also changed. Today, consumers want short videos of everything. If platforms do not listen, change and grow to meet their users’ needs, they will become extinct like Orkut.
What Do You Share?
With the many different social platforms available today, do we share too much online? As the years have gone by, I am leaning toward a resounding YES! We willingly provide brands, friends and possible hackers all the information they need to influence us or steal our information. We also willingly provide that information about our spouses and children. My children convinced me to limit the information I share on Facebook. When they asked me not to post things about them, I listened. Although my settings are private, it is easy to find information through mutual connections online.
Do I need to know what you ate today or that you went on a cruise? On the other hand, I do like to read an honest review of the restaurant you went to or the service on your cruise. Somehow I hope we can all find a positive balance that allows us to connect and gather information while also living in the present. My grandmother always said “Don’t write anything down, you don’t want published in the paper”. This sentiment takes a whole new meaning in 2024. Don’t share anything online you don’t want to be available forever! Although Orkut is closed, you can still find remnants of the site online and Google has the site archived. Be careful with whatever site you use.
Once you share it you cannot take it back.