Is email here to stay?

A Personal Reflection

As someone who works as a Civil Servant, I can confidently say that email remains the number one tool we use in our everyday business. Sure, we’ve got Teams, Slack, WhatsApp, and all those shiny, instant messaging platforms, but they can't match the reach and reliability of email. It’s the everyday workhorse of communication – simple, reliable, and available to everyone, from senior management to the newest recruit.

What prompted me to write this article happened just a few weeks back. I was sitting with my 20-year-old daughter, who had just logged into her Gmail account. She wanted me to check over an email she was about to send to a potential employer. I casually glanced at her inbox and was absolutely floored – over 4,000 unread emails! I had to ask, “Why on earth do you have so many unread emails?” She looked at me, baffled, and replied, “No one uses email today, Dad. It’s just a place for messages we can’t send via social media, or for signing up to stuff.”

It hit me like a ton of bricks. Apparently, email isn’t cool anymore – at least, not to the younger generation. It made me wonder: Is email destined to go the way of snail mail? Will it become something outdated that only a few of us still use? I mean, when’s the last time any of us sat down and wrote a letter with pen and paper? Is that where email is headed?

I don’t think so. In fact, I’m sure email has a strong future, and here’s why.

Why I Think Email is Here to Stay

Let’s face it, email has staying power. It’s been around for decades, and it’s deeply embedded in how businesses, governments, and people across the world communicate. In my experience, working in government, there’s no replacement for email when it comes to formal, documented exchanges. We use it for everything – scheduling meetings, sending official documents, and having conversations that need a paper trail. And it’s not just us in government; nearly every sector relies on email for its day-to-day operations.

Messaging apps are great for quick exchanges, but they lack the structure and accountability that email offers. With email, you can categorise, prioritise, and search through archives. You can attach large files, CC multiple people, and keep a record of everything in one tidy place. It’s an electronic filing cabinet that’s essential in today’s world.

The Younger Generation and Email: A Disconnect?

So, what about the younger generation, like my daughter, who seems to think email is outdated? Well, while they may not be avid users right now, I suspect they’ll come around as they enter the workforce. Sure, they may prefer WhatsApp or Instagram for personal conversations, but when it comes to professional communication, email still reigns supreme. Employers use it, businesses use it, and clients expect it. You simply can’t send a contract or an important document via Snapchat!

Interestingly, I’ve noticed a generational divide when it comes to email usage. Older professionals (myself included) still rely on email for practically everything, while younger people might not check their inboxes as often. But as they progress in their careers, I’m confident they’ll come to see the value of email, just as we did.

The Personal Side of Email

Beyond work, email holds a certain nostalgia for me. I still remember the early days of Hotmail, when email felt like an exciting new way to stay connected. Back then, we’d send long, thoughtful emails packed with jokes, photos, and stories. It was more personal, almost like writing a letter.

Nowadays, I don’t send long emails anymore. In fact, I haven’t written a proper, long-form email in over 15 years. Everything’s so fast-paced now – emails are short and to the point. Social media and instant messaging have taken over where email once stood, but I still think there’s something special about it.

My Domain Adventures: The Tangible Side of Email

Email has also brought me some unexpected adventures. Many years ago, I got it into my head that I wanted to own a domain that matched my name – paulobrien.com. The problem was, someone else had it. So, every few years, I’d send the owner an email asking if he was ready to part with it. The last time, he told me that even the Australian actor Paul O'Brien had tried to buy it, offering him $50. He said he wouldn't sell out of principle, but he was retiring soon and would consider offers in a year or two.

I didn’t want to insult him with the same $50, so I upped the offer to $200, which he accepted. I'll let you in on a secret – I would’ve paid up to $500 if he’d pushed! 😄 A couple of months later, I proudly became the owner of that domain.

On a similar note, I managed to register the .co.uk domains for three of my children’s names. None of them use them yet, but who knows? One day, they might be glad to have their own name in the digital world. Domains and email addresses are more than just practical tools – they’re part of our identity, part of how we present ourselves to the world.

Conclusion: Is Email Really Dying?

Despite what the younger generation might think, I believe email isn’t going anywhere. It’s too embedded in how we do business, too useful in keeping our communications organised, and too reliable for the important stuff. Sure, it might not be as exciting as it once was, and it may not be the platform of choice for personal chats, but when it comes to professional communication, nothing beats email.

So, no, I don’t think email is destined for the dustbin of history. In fact, I’d argue that it’s more important now than ever before. It’s the glue that holds our professional and formal lives together, and I believe it’ll continue to play that role for many years to come.

I'd appreciate it if you could leave a comment below, letting me know your thoughts.