In Rural Argentina, the Radio Is the Social Network
The First Social Network: In rural Argentina residents send messages w AM radio
In Argentina's remote Patagonia, AM radio stations broadcast "Mensajes al Poblador Rural"—personal messages for isolated gauchos and settlers. With no internet or cell service, they rely on these radio letters to share news, locate lost animals, and stay connected. The tradition, dating to the 1930s, even relayed a crucial message during the Falklands War. A New Yorker writer listens in and reflects on this archaic yet enduring form of communication.
Radio is one-sided. The radio would be the finest possible communication apparatus in public life, if it knew how to receive as well as to transmit, how to let the listener speak as well as hear, how to bring him into a relationship instead of isolating him.
- ericol
I'm from the area where this happens (My city is actually named in the article).
Can confirm that this is, effectively, a staple of normal life around there. Calling it "the first social network" made me chuckle.
Younger generations might not be aware of this mostly due to reduced AM radio audiences, but my daughters (3x ~30 yo) do know what this is about.
- andyjohnson0
The distances and remoteness mentioned in the article are impressive. And is the human need and ingenuity for communication.
It reminded me of William Gibson's description of 1950s farmers in the US using metal wire fences as radio antennas.
In the 70s and 80s (and probably before) in the UK, the BBC used to broadcast occasional "sos messages" [1] prior to the main daily news summaries on FM radio - for people who were away from home and, for whatever reason, uncontactable. They usually related to a relative being dangerously ill. I remember hearing them on my parent's car radio on summer camping trips.
Obviously the uk is a small and quite densely populated island but, without two way personal communications, some needs were similar to those described in the article. It changed a lot of things.
[1] https://swling.com/blog/2012/09/radio-4-and-now-an-urgent-so...
- hxii
It's interesting to see use-cases like this "in the wild" (as opposed to some hobbyist group trying stuff out).
With a little investment, I think Meshtastic/Reticulum could do wonders for communities like this. With Argentina being largely flat, even putting up a relatively short mast on the roof of a house should give it a good enough range (~10-30km).
- fjd
Sailing communities have a tradition called "Cruisers' Net", some of them having started back in 1950-60. Usually in the morning via VHF different people will take turns speaking and doing parts. They'll do segments like weather, arrivals/departures, events, buy/sell/trade, etc.
- bookofjoe