Bill Gates Says His 22-Year-Old Daughter Told Him To 'Never Email Her' – So Now He Sends Her A Text Letting Her Know He's Emailing

The irony here is impossible to ignore. Bill Gates, whose legacy includes making email an essential part of modern life, now texts his youngest daughter, Phoebe, to let her know he's sent her an email. Yes, the same Bill Gates who cofounded Microsoft and made tools like Outlook a household name is being told by his 22-year-old daughter that email is ancient history.

"When I asked her why not, she said, ‘No one uses email for personal communications anymore. Just text me,'" Gates wrote in a blog post on Sept. 18, promoting his new Netflix docuseries What's Next? The Future with Bill Gates.

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His response? That was a classic dad move. "I ended up meeting her halfway," he explained. "These days, I text her to say that I'm sending her an email."

The exchange is a modern twist on the age-old generational divide, but Gates isn't bitter about it. He says this adaptation has improved their relationship. "We've ended up talking more on the phone," he shared, which is a small win for a dad navigating the ever-evolving communication preferences of Gen Z.

This wasn't the only moment of blunt honesty between father and daughter. Gates called his conversations with Phoebe, featured in the new series, his "favorite" part of the project. "Few people in your life can be as direct with you as your own children," he wrote, reflecting on the lessons he learned from her about social media, how to avoid trolls and the importance of exposing yourself to different viewpoints.

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Phoebe, a Stanford graduate and co-founder of the digital fashion platform Phia, didn't hold back when discussing what's outdated. In addition to email, Facebook also made the list of things she doesn't bother with.

"The important lesson (for me, at least) is that no one uses Facebook or email anymore," Gates admitted.

It's a surprising acknowledgment from someone who built his empire on technology, but Gates seems genuinely open to learning – even from his kids. "I've always thought of myself as a student trying to get to the bottom of things," he wrote. "A good day for me is one where I go to sleep with just a little bit more knowledge than I had when I woke up in the morning."

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While Phoebe may not use email, most of Gen Z still does. According to Statista, about 94% of Gen Z individuals in the U.S. reported relying on email communications as of January 2022. However, she nailed it when it comes to Facebook. Engagement among young adults and teens has dropped significantly. The Verge reports that while half of teens say they're "almost constantly" online, only 32% of U.S. teens use Facebook – a dramatic decline from 71% just a decade ago.

Gates also couldn't hide his pride in Phoebe, calling her an "incredible advocate for women's rights and women's health." He wrote, "I can't wait to see how her advocacy work will make a difference in the world – and hear what she thinks of What's Next? now that it's out."

The man who helped the world transition to digital communication is now rethinking his habits, one text message at a time. It's an unexpected twist, but Gates seems to be embracing it, quirks and all.

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