I got the invite for Orkut around 5 years back. It has just started then but within few days of joining Orkut, I just lost my interest. There was not much to do there except for asking people to be your friends. It was just another network in the likes of Hi5. 2 years later one day one of my colleagues asked me if I knew about Orkut? And then every second day someone would ask me the same question. I then logged in back and was surprised to see the huge number of Indian getting onto Orkut. The acquisition by Google has turned its fate. Over a period of like a year or so, Orkut was the BUZZ around.
Then came Facebook. The concept of Social Networking seems to have evolved as people started using these social networking sites. But, there was something different about Facebook. Something that made people more authentic , something that added credibility to your existence, to your business, to your network. But, well then Facebook was still way way behind Orkut.
Somewhere down the line Orkut started losing its steam. But, it was not an easy transition for people to change over from Orkut to Facebook. And actually thinking over it, why they should switch over? Most of my friends and myself too found it very uncomfortable to leave the familiar Indian social network and get along with Facebook. But as we started working on Facebook, it grew over us. Today, I open Orkut once a month, that too just for few of my friends who are still only on Orkut.
Orkut got popular around 3 years back and it kept on the same popularity level, well nearly. Facebook started very low but recently there has been an exponential surge in the popularity of Facebook in India. A lot of credit goes to the clean layout and quick response time of Facebook. Well the clean layout is a bit controversial but unless you don’t clutter your space yourself, Facebook will keep it clean. People have now started to realize the potential of Facebook and moreover how to unleash & utilize it. It is not just a tool to find friends anymore but a way of living life. Facebook is now a lifestyle. And with so many applications coming out for your computer and mobiles, Facebook is surely going places. Orkut still is popular but the transition has started and till 2012 you will find lot of Indian users out of Orkut.
December 8th, 2009 at 12:29 pm
Absolutely true. With the advent of Orkut, social networking took off. Although, it took time for Facebook to find acceptance in the Indian audience, but if we look at it vis-a-vis features, etc., Facebook is ofcourse way ahead of Orkut. But, when it comes to user-friendliness, Orkut has it yet again.
Overall, I have, over time began to like Facebook a lot. So much so, that Orkut has taken a back seat; the last seat on the last row admittedly.
December 9th, 2009 at 2:40 am
Completely agree with what you wrote.. I second ur thought..
Scrap count used to increase exponentially earlier, but now its just a lame number.
I too was thinkin of writing a blog-post on the whole social networking scene, but after reading urs, mine is on its way
well written.. way to go!!
December 9th, 2009 at 3:45 am
@Aryan: The user friendliness of Orkut was the main reason why people were apprehensive about Facebook. Initially it was a “I came. I saw. I left” situation for new Facebook users. But, gradually it changed to “I came. I used. I dumped Orkut.”
@ Kartik: Thanks. Do share your blog once it’s up.
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