Teens’ activism is taking on data centers. Despite the fact that the majority of teens use generative AI in some way, many are pushing back against its expansion, especially the physical footprint of data centers. Across the U.S., teens are attending city council meetings, raising development plan questions, and protesting centers being built near their homes over concerns about water use, noise, and energy drain. Like Gen Z’s passion for climate and gun violence, their AI activism is being driven by how data centers impact them directly. Plus, they worry it will happen without regulation and community consulting—the way social media did. AI companies, of course, insist the issues teens are worried about are ones they’re considering and working to offset, whether it’s the cost of energy or noise near schools. However, positive sentiment toward AI is dropping among young people according to some studies, and this may be a leading reason as more become aware of the long-term effects of data centers popping up near them. (NYT)
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