Data Centers Have a New PR Plan: Your Kid’s Field Trip

Key points

• Industry groups are targeting young people to improve the public image of data centres, which face growing local opposition. The nonprofit 7x24 Exchange International promotes a children's story, themed activities and an International Data Center Day.
• Companies including Sabey and Amazon have hosted student field trips. Researcher Alex Molnar says industries with image problems have long used schools to promote their message, and he questions whether children can assess such messaging.
• Surveyed Americans increasingly view data centres negatively.