Emojis might seem silly, but the reasons that they caught on might be deeper than you’d think. They express things that mere words can’t, and take on nuanced meanings the user gives them. One other unexpected reason? They’re inherently positive, which makes them majorly attractive to young consumers who are seemingly constantly encountering negatively online. Emojis’ happy, fun nature “counteracts the harshness of life in the online world.” (NYMag)