A new study published in the Journal of Children and Media showed that differences between sexes and gender identity could be defined by the way teenagers' texts.

Researchers believe that teen years are the times when they learn to be independent, develop social skills and experience sexuality and romance.

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They also acknowledge the importance of texting as a social tool for anxiety-free communication among teens.

For this study, researchers studied nine focus groups aged 12 to 18 years old in four different cities in the United States.

They studied how teens communicate personal issues like flirting, hooking up and break ups through texting.

Researchers found out that boys see phones as a status symbol in performing basic function, and when they answer a message, it is usually direct and rapid.

One of the boys involved in the study also noted that long text conversations are only done by girls, they added.

On the other hand, girls see texting as a tool to build and maintain friendships. They see this as their way of chatting and socializing.

Researchers also found out that sometimes boys use emoticons to please a girl, avoid hurting feelings and misinterpretations.

They also found out that most teens send an average of 60 text per day which showed that texting is a significant communication channel for teens.

They explained that the ability to edit a conversation in text makes it the preferred medium of communication among boys who wanted to be accepted by girls.

Researchers noted that it is in texting that teens are able to work out their notion of gender and interaction with people in the opposite sex, adding that to understand teenagers, it is important to accept that texting is part of their social life.