The First Social Network: In rural Argentina residents send messages w AM radio
Summary
An in-depth New Yorker feature examines Mensajero Rural, a tradition where rural Argentinian residents send personal messages via AM radio. The piece follows listeners in Patagonia, the near-ubiquitous radio stations LU20 and others, and the way broadcasts function as a social lifeline, disaster coordination tool, and cultural ritual. It also traces the emergence of internet and satellite connectivity in the region and considers whether this ancient form of messaging will endure.