Text therapy: study finds couples who use emojis in text messages feel closer

A US study found emojis serve as nonverbal cues that signal attentiveness and emotional engagement. Photograph: Hennell/Alamy

The secret to a good relationship may be staring smartphone users in the face.

A new study published in the journal Plos One found that using emojis in text messages makes people feel closer and more satisfied in their personal lives.