Are you like me and use emojis without really knowing what they mean? You’re not alone.

And you might want to tread carefully, because the little zipped-mouth face can pack quite a legal punch.

Back in the day, LOL meant “lots of love”, not “laugh out loud”. A single smiley could brighten someone’s day, not launch a courtroom drama. But in 2025, our new hieroglyphic language - those innocent-looking emojis - is getting more complicated by the day.

Just ask Sydney lawyer Zali Burrows. As reported in the Sydney Morning Herald she is currently in a legal standoff with fellow barrister Adam Houda over a single emoji he posted on Twitter (sorry, X). No insults, no caption, just that zipped-mouth face. 🤐

Burrows claims it was defamatory. The judge says emojis can indeed convey serious meaning, especially if the context is juicy enough. So now, one zipped mouth might be enough to open a whole can of legal worms.

But forget the courtroom for a moment. This story is about us. The emoji enthusiasts. The accidental over-sharers. The digital optimists who throw hearts into group chats, thumbs-up our way through work threads, and nervously guess our way around Gen Z’s “crying laughing skull” emoji.

We thought we were being friendly. But what if we’ve been sending mixed signals all along?

Maybe it’s time we brought back words. Or at least kept one eyebrow raised next time we hover over a cheeky monkey or aubergine.

Just saying.