INK Communications Co. Releases Special 2025 Report, Reveals How the Data Center Narrative Has Shifted in News and Social Media Channels

New analysis examines 350K social mentions and a 115% surge in coverage to help communications leaders join and shape the data center conversation

INK Communications Co., an award-winning PR and marketing agency for B2B technology and energy companies, has released a special report that explains how the data center narrative evolved and reached a critical inflection point in 2025. The findings are tailored for brands working at the intersection of AI, energy and infrastructure. This analysis is part of INK’s Be There Before® (BTB) report series, a monthly research initiative tracking the top technology and energy industry topics being discussed in key communications channels.

“The conversation around data centers is evolving fast,” said Starr Million Baker, founder and CEO of INK Communications Co. “Amid policy shifts, rising AI bubble concerns, and economic ripple effects, this space demands smarter, more strategic storytelling. Our Data Center Report helps leaders not only see where the conversation is heading, but recognize the shifting winds and adjust their brand narratives to navigate risk, seize opportunity, and shape what comes next.”

Data Center PR Insights for 2026

For many technology and energy companies, entering the data center conversation is quickly becoming a business necessity. What was once a behind-the-scenes infrastructure story has become a defining issue as AI adoption accelerates, pushing data centers into the center of conversations about power, sustainability, and the future of tech.

As communications leaders prepare their strategies for 2026, INK’s report answers key questions about emerging data center story trends and how brands might tap into them, such as:

• How are media and social conversations about data centers changing? Drivers of the data center narrative differed slightly by channel type. Social mentions were fueled by public interest in AI demand and new development projects, while most media coverage centered on investment, infrastructure, and energy-supply.
• What are the biggest communications opportunities around data centers right now? Power and sustainability are shaping the story, with roughly half of coverage linking data centers to electricity, efficiency, or sustainability — creating both opportunity and scrutiny for companies tied to the energy equation.
• How are data center investment stories shifting? Investment stories continue to dominate the data center conversation, accounting for 44% of tech coverage and 43% of energy coverage. However, reporter focus is expanding beyond capital inflow and bubble speculation to highlight the outcomes these investments are driving. Emerging coverage is highlighting measurable progress, performance gains, and the economic impact data centers are having on local communities.
• Where is negative sentiment around data centers emerging? Negative stories accounted for 10% - 20% of data center coverage on average, with criticism around community disruption, water use, and grid strain. This still leaves a wide lane to tell more solutions-focused stories that tap rising optimism in tech investment and emerging energy resources built to meet growing demand.

Access the Full Data Center Report

The Be There Before®: Data Center report is available exclusively from INK Communications Co. Download the full analysis for a deeper look at how the data center conversation is evolving across technology and energy media, and opportunities for your brand to lead.

About INK’s Be There Before® Report Series

INK’s monthly Be There Before™ reports track emerging narratives across technology and energy sectors to help communications leaders anticipate where conversations are heading and act early. To create each edition, INK uses a proprietary methodology that blends intelligence from across media, social platforms, and alternative channels to create a clear map of the terms, topics, and pressure points shaping each industry.

About INK Communications Co.

INK Communications Co. is an award-winning PR agency specializing in integrated programs for B2B technology and energy companies. With offices in Austin and Denver, INK delivers public relations, thought leadership, digital and content marketing, brand strategy, and creative services. Its trademarked Be There Before® methodology is a company-wide practice designed to anticipate change, foster lasting partnerships, and help clients drive measurable business impacts.

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