Research suggests that emoticon use is changing the way our brains work. The study revealed then when people saw the: )emoticon, their brains reacted in the same way as when they saw a human face.

Central to Japanese messaging app LINE's success are its oversized 'stickers' - cartoon-like emoticons. As a promotion for a Korean TV show, LINE has released a sticker pack of the show's cast - marking the interest in photo-sharing applications.

Samba is a video messaging app that automatically records people’s reactions to what they’ve just been sent. With online and mobile conversations gradually becoming more like real-life interactions, people are seeking reassurance from their peers that they fit in.

From the viral popularity of 'kaomojis' like ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ or the fact that messaging app LINE made $17 million from stickers in the first quarter of 2013 alone, people have grown accustomed to depicting their emotions with images. But what if you could use your own face to do it?

While WhatsApp wins over the West and WeChat conquers China, messaging app LINE has taken Japan by storm. With 400 million users worldwide, and 52 million in Japan alone, LINE's bright and vibrant customisable stickers are hugely popular – but can they really replace text?

From messaging to social media to a marketplace to browsing the internet, WeChat is the app the does everything. While Western companies and app developers race to unbundle their services into efficient single-purpose apps, WeChat continues to add feature after feature.

As young people flock to WhatsApp, LINE and other chat apps, Facebook struggles to stay relevant. In response, it's created better emoticons – called Stickers – that are part of a deeper shift towards pictures as a primary way to communicate.

Filmmaker Jesse Hill has released an entirely emoji-fied video for Beyoncé's song 'Drunk in Love' - emoticons represent the lyrics of the song. The video highlights the ever-increasing move towards a visual culture across media.