Czech study examines digital inclusion of older workers as expert warns tech giants' pressure on education

Mendel University in Brno leads the European DIGI‑net research network, analysing how digitalisation, automation and AI affect employees over 50. The project finds that older workers are not a uniform group; their experience with technology varies by profession, education, health and employer support. Insufficient training, time and adaptation resources can increase technostress, uncertainty and fears of skill loss, prompting the researchers to recommend inclusive policies, practical education and inter‑generational knowledge sharing.

Veteran digital‑education specialist Bořivoj Brdička warns that the pressure from technology giants outweighs current educational efforts. He argues that while digital tools can aid learning, they often undermine children’s cognitive development and mental well‑being due to commercial motives. Brdička calls for stronger digital‑competence education rather than bans, noting recent political proposals in the Czech Republic to prohibit smartphones in schools and the broader European trend of re‑digitising primary education.