Metrotextual men show more affection to their male friends

 A recent research from mobile phone firm T-Mobile revealed that men are getting increasingly open in expressing their affection to each other when sending text messages over their mobile phones. The study shows that many men sign off their SMS messages to male friends with a kiss (x), giving rise to a new generation dubbed "Metrotextuals."

The research says that 22% of men regularly include a kiss on texts to their male mates.

"Metrotextuality" is most widespread among 18-24 year old males with three quarters (75 percent) regularly sealing texts with a kiss and 48 percent admitting that the practice has become commonplace amongst their group of friends.

23% in this age group say they appreciate when people who are not close friends send them an "x' in a text. However, Metrotextuals trend is not limited just by a young community as one in 10 men over 55 often completes a text to another male with a kiss, according to the poll.

Interestingly, the Metrotextuals community has also its own etiquette. The study says that a lower case "x' is the preferred sign-off for most (52 percent) compared to 17 percent for a bolder upper case X), with one in three sharing the love in a big way with multiple lower case kisses (xxx).

According to Ron Bracey, a clinical psychologist, the trend is explained by the fact that typically men has been reluctant to show their emotions with friends and concealed their feelings.

"However, the advent of mobile phones and social media means more communication is done non-verbally, and through this it seems men can more easily share their feelings with others -- especially their male friends," Bracey said in the statement.