Far too often, the relationship between the apps on our smartphones and the ecosystems behind them are unknown to everyday consumers. Whether you’re endless scrolling through Instagram or getting the latest stock updates on Robinhood, every tap, swipe, and like goes through one of the thousands of data centers around the world.

These data centers are the central nerve system of every technology company, government agency, and streaming platform in the world. Without them, our world isn’t possible. How did we get here, and what does the future hold for data centers as technology only becomes a more prevalent part of our days?

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