😂 You could say the same about memes, I guess, but pictures add context/tone and are more fun.
Also causes less confusion about what is meant as snark, ranting, joking, etc.

Back in the day, we would have long arguments on bulletin boards about intended tone, so we started adding :-D and :-P ROFLMAO etc.

That's right. I am pre-emoji. 

 based! 

 It needs better implementation, typing :80s: should always result in an emoji of a 1980s Phil Collins.

These are the simple facts.