The survey has also confirmed that more and more people are now using messaging as a form of communication. Around 80 percent of adults aged 19 to 64 and 91 percent of teens from 13 to 18 years of age admitted to sending messages every day. But it's not just messaging that has become more popular over the past two years. Apparently, people have been emailing, video chatting and meeting friends face-to-face more, as well, which is consistent with the team's finding that more messaging also means more in-person interactions. People in Brazil, France, Germany and the US, in particular, have been meeting people face-to-face a lot more lately.

Finally, over 60 percent of the survey's respondents reported having greater social satisfaction and more authentic relationships, thanks to the conversations they're having on messaging apps. Emojis and GIFs help: those more comfortable using visuals find their voice through the sometimes-confusing, oft-amusing graphics. Among the respondents over the age of 55, 77 percent admitted using emojis to communicate.

Online communication can also strip off filters and make people bolder and more honest. Of course, that's not always a good thing -- sometimes people can be too bold on a messaging app and more hateful than frank. But for those who tend to keep their opinions to themselves in person, messaging could help them open up and forge real relationships that might not have flourished otherwise.