There are two explanations actually.

--1--

Normally, we write in Russian using ")" to show friendliness and moderate smile. Like:

Hey) How was you your day? )

Using more brackets )), ))), )))))) shows smiles and laughter.

I read Westerners and Asians and etc don't understand it, only ex-Soviet nations. So I started to use ":)" instead. But this is totally different meaning.

Hey :) How was you your day? :)

This one is annoying already in most cases. It is like I am high or want to sell something. This especially uncomfortable on steemit bc extra smiles sound like begging.

Emojis are clearer than brackets like ) or :---) and ;) and ^).

--2--

But what about typing without emojis and smiles at all? Talking to different social layers of different nations makes communication more complicated. As soon as you are away from small talks like "the weather is fine" and "your images are nice", people have troubles with understanding, understanding the context.

Too many cases when people didn't understand that I was kidding or was sarcastic or I meant "it was obvious". Nothing is obvious when you talk to an old guy living 20000km away and believing in woodoo. So use a banner "sarcasm" when you are sarcastic this is why I decided to use emojis.

When I meet open-minded experienced travelers with liberal ideas I have no communication troubles of this type. Steemit is different.