How can it be universal when the images not only have wildly different meanings across cultures, but are subject to another layer of interpretation by device? The message you send via iMessage is going to look much different to a recipient who is using a HTC phone.

And this isn't even getting into the politics that govern which expressions merit inclusion: https://www.wired.com/2016/08/apples-new-squirt-gun-emoji-hi...

Yes. Emojis are a pictorial representation. Even some scripts of early civilization used communicate via pictures. Plus emojis-like symbols are even used by autistic kids. There is an app in ipad with all pictures that they use to communicate what they want.