IT is a field that constantly changes and innovates. It is often seen as a kingdom of youth, freshness, and continuous progress. But behind the shine of startups, hackathons, and endless hours in front of screens, there is a darker side: ageism. This affects not only programmers, but also anyone working around technology, from project managers and analysts to support technicians and sales staff.
The “Youth Worship” of Technology
The tech industry has built its image on innovation and speed. Stories of young founders like Mark Zuckerberg or Bill Gates made the stereotype stronger: that technology belongs to the young. Companies like Google and Facebook became famous for their “young” offices, with ping-pong tables and bean bags, creating a culture that looks designed only for people at the start of their careers.
This “youth worship” is not just about style or culture. Job ads often ask for “young and dynamic” professionals. Interviews highlight skills like working fast, learning quickly, and handling stress — qualities that often exclude older candidates.
Harmful Stereotypes
Ageism in IT is not always open. It often appears as hidden bias: “Older people don’t adapt easily,” “they don’t learn new tech fast,” “they don’t fit the team.” These ideas cause discrimination in hiring, project assignment, or even daily work interactions.
Research shows that IT professionals over 40 often find it harder to get jobs or promotions. Many companies prefer to hire younger people with less experience, thinking they are “more flexible” or “cheaper.” The result: a huge amount of knowledge and experience goes unused.
Not Only Programmers
Ageism is not limited to developers. In every IT-related job, the same stereotypes appear. Older project managers are often seen as “outdated” compared to new Agile or Scrum methods. Data analysts over 50 are asked to prove they can handle the latest AI tools.
Even in roles like tech support or sales, age becomes a barrier. Customers, influenced by the same culture, may think a younger professional is “more relevant,” ignoring the value of experience.
The Consequences for the Industry
Ageism in IT is not only unfair — it is also unproductive. Technology moves fast, but experience, critical thinking, and complex problem-solving cannot be gained overnight. Older professionals bring knowledge that no bootcamp can teach: crisis management, negotiation, long-term business understanding, and historical memory.
When companies exclude older workers, they lose the chance to build diverse teams that combine energy and experience. They also create insecurity, where employees fear being “too old” before even reaching mid-career.
How to Break the Wall
Fighting ageism requires conscious effort on many levels:
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Education and Awareness: Companies must train their leaders to recognize age bias and encourage diversity in teams.
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Hiring Practices: Job ads should focus on skills and experience, not age or indirect signs of it.
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Continuous Learning: Technology changes, but people can learn too. Companies should give lifelong learning opportunities to all employees, no matter their age.
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Inclusion: Mixed-age teams increase creativity and efficiency.
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Positive Role Models: Showing successful older professionals can balance existing stereotypes.
Technology Belongs to Everyone
IT is not only for the young or for “digital natives.” It should use the talent, knowledge, and experience of all people. Ageism is a dark side that, if not addressed, will cost the industry its greatest resource: its people.
Innovation has no age. The future of IT will be truly bright only if it is open to everyone — no matter how old they are.
The article was initially published in Greek in the Netweek magazine by Boussias communications
Alexius Dionysius Diakogiannis
Passionate Archer, Runner, Linux lover and JAVA Geek! That's about everything! Alexius Dionysius Diakogiannis is a Senior Java Solutions Architect and Squad Lead at the European Investment Bank. He has over 20 years of experience in Java/JEE development, with a strong focus on enterprise architecture, security and performance optimization. He is proficient in a wide range of technologies, including Spring, Hibernate and JakartaEE. Alexius is a certified Scrum Master and is passionate about agile development. He is also an experienced trainer and speaker, and has given presentations at a number of conferences and meetups. In his current role, Alexius is responsible for leading a team of developers in the development of mission-critical applications. He is also responsible for designing and implementing the architecture for these applications, focusing on performance optimization and security.