Growing up in Brazil, Orkut was as popular as Facebook is now; most people had an Orkut account.<p>Personally, I made a few new friends, connected with some high school colleagues and met a long term girlfriend.<p>I miss its simplicity. The lack of a news feed was a feature, not a bug.
I also did. Although it was a long time ago then the vague memory of it is that it was pretty similar to facebook, perhaps the minus the advertising. But groups and friends were there, could leave testimonials, send messages, etc.
I did, for all of 5 minutes.
There was nothing compelling about that product.
Orkut's death was unnoticed and unmourned.<p>I am mildly surprised that Google wasted money on it for 10 years. However Google's lack of focus in it's pre-Pichai years was notorious, and undoubtedly explains this.