Did you ever figure it out? I haven't seen bubbles around words but I did accidently enable some kind of Facebook keyboard that I absolutely hated without even realizing it.
Problem solved? May go back to Textra? That doesn't sound like a solution. Same problem. Still working on it but I just hope the path to "help" isn't big time waster. I have Verizon, Note 8. Darn bubbles started recently. Hate them
Just starting this forum and I see too many old messages, as 2014 back, where they are obsolete.
Anyway solution is in Messaging menu or in Device settings or Verizon or messaging app is wrong?
Facebook suspect too.
In the Verizon message plus app select the menu button in the top left, then scroll down to settings, then select conversations and toggle off "Enable Smart Emojis".