Couple face hefty fine after emojis used in a text message

Imagine.

It's fair to say we don't take our use of emojis too seriously and they're generally used for banter and fun when texting your pals. However, that's not always the case as proved by a couple who were fined $2,200 because their emoji choices were seen as misleading. Note this is the type of bizarre story that sounds almost too bonkers to be true... According to Glamour, a recent court case in Israel sided with the landlord who said prospective tenants managed to deceive him through the emojis they used in a text message. The landlord had advertised his home for letting and received messages from a couple, showing their interest in the property. Numerous texts were exchanged but when contracts were mentioned, the landlord said the couple immediately cut contact. He brought them to the small claims court and cited one particular message, with the below emoji, as evidence.

?‍⚖️⚖️Rules Emoji can show intent ? https://t.co/eLt0tOPqWW pic.twitter.com/6uZg1BXTBY

— Keith Lee (@associatesmind) May 18, 2017

During the hearing, the couple said that they turned down the apartment as they wanted to continue looking for another place to rent but the judge ruled that the emoji-filled message suggested 'great optimism' in taking on said property. They were ordered to pay $2,200 to cover the costs of the case and as compensation to the landlord. Who would have thought emojis could land you in so much trouble?!