In the 70s and 80s, party lines weren’t just for chatting, they became underground meeting places for phreakers. By exploiting quirks in telephone switching systems or abusing conference call features, hackers created their own backchannel communications networks. These lines operated in the shadows of the phone system, often bridging cities and time zones, and served as the social backbone of the phreaking scene. Handles were exchanged, techniques shared, and alliances formed — all in real time. Some lines had gatekeepers or required specific access tricks. It was raw, chaotic, and often illegal, but for many it was their first taste of networked rebellion.

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