Beware the rash use of that thumbs-up emoji – a Canadian judge recently ruled the emoji to be legally binding in a dispute between a farmer and a grain supplier.
According to The Business Insider, grain buyer Kent Mickleborough sent a text message about wanting to buy flax to several grain producers on March 26, 2021.
After the text was sent, Mickleborough received a call from Bob Achter of Achter Land & Cattle Ltd after which he drafted a contract offering to buy 86 tonnes of flax. Mickleborough applied an ink signature, took a photo, and sent it to Achter with a text that read: "Please confirm flax contract."
Achter responded with a thumbs-up emoji, which Mickleborough interpreted as Achter entering into the contract.
Setting a precedent, the judge ruled that the emoji served as an agreement to the contract, adding that while an emoji is a non-traditional means to "sign" a document, it was a legitimate and vaild form of communication.
The farmer was ordered to pay the buyer more than $60,000 (R1,109,232.00)
According to Emojipedia, the emoji is described as, "A thumbs-up gesture indicating approval."
It further states: "In certain contexts, the use of the Thumbs Up emoji can be construed as being passive-aggressive or sarcastic. Despite this possible use, it remains a popular means of quickly and earnestly expressing approval."
