New Delhi, July 24 - Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates Friday said he is a 24-hour technology person and rarely feels drained.

'I am a 24-hour technology person. I am not that big text messaging and I am impressed with the young people doing that,' said Gates, on visit here for overseeing the philanthropic activities of the foundation he has formed with his wife Melinda.

However, Gates said, he reads random articles in silence whenever he feels drained.

Calling social networking sites 'irritating', Gates said he is flooded by 'friend requests' everyday on Facebook.

'I get 10,000 friend requests everyday. It gets so irritating.'

Gates is in India to receive the Indira Gandhi Prize for Peace, Disarmament and Development on behalf of his foundation, being recognised for 'pioneering and exemplary philanthropic work around the world and in India in health'.