LONDON - MEN have become so openly affectionate with each other using mobile technology they've taken to signing off text messages to male friends with a kiss (x), giving rise to a new generation dubbed 'Metrotextuals'.

New research from mobile phone firm T-Mobile reveals nearly a quarter of men (22 per cent) regularly include a kiss on texts to their male mates, T-Mobile said in an emailed statement.

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

Nearly a quarter of this age group (23 per cent) even appreciate an 'x' in a text exchange from people that aren't close friends.

But it's not just younger men that have become Metrotextuals - one in 10 men over 55 often completes a text to another male with a kiss, according to the poll.

The research also revealed there's a certain etiquette within metrotextuality. A lower case 'x' is the preferred sign-off for most (52 per cent) compared to 17 per cent for a bolder upper case (X), with one in three sharing the love in a big way with multiple lower case kisses (xxx). -- REUTERS