And emoji are used in more than 6 billion text messages every day. Most of the growth in emoji usage began after Apple began to support emojis with the release of its iOS 5 operating system in 2011.

Emoji: The text fad that won't go away. With 38 new symbols set for release, Chrissie Russell asks if in the future we'll all be speaking in smiley cat-faces started to communicate in icons ...

Wink. Oh, you can’t meet me later? Frown. ... in a text message. Emoticons are simply an expression of our need as humans to communicate using more than just the written word. ...

Emoji often add a bit of emotional commentary to text. An emoji smile, wink, thinking face or exploding head each can convey exactly how you feel.

Emojis in text messages boost relationship satisfaction by making people feel emotionally heard and connected.