Eye-Opener Regarding Emojis

Apparently now securities regulators are examining emojis to determine what they might imply.

Emojis, while informal, can function as non-verbal agreements or affirmations, which in a financial context may carry regulatory consequences. For example:

• A 👍 thumbs up emoji could be interpreted as: “OK” or “I understand” or”go ahead and proceed” or even “I approve this transaction”.

  • A winking face 😉 or suggestive emoji can blur the lines between friendly and inappropriate.

  • A “fire” emoji (🔥) could mean “great job” in a team chat, but in a finance setting, it might hint at something way riskier.

  • A simple checkmark (✔️) could mean “approved” or “seen,” but does it imply agreement? That’s up for debate, and misinterpretation could be catastrophic.

In a legal or regulatory review, that simple emoji could be seen as a form of consent or confirmation, potentially equivalent to a written agreement. Texting is always problematic from a compliance standpoint and thus should not be allowed in investor communications.