Sending red heart emoticons to girls on WhatsApp and other messaging apps can land you in jail. Yes, you read that right! The innocent act of sending heart emojis to girls can land anyone in jail in the conservative Gulf countries of Kuwait and Saudi Arabia.
Although the emojis appear to be an innocent, affectionate gesture, it may lead to incarceration. It is very common to use heart emojis in several countries. However, the rise in social media use has led to a cultural clash between traditional ideals and modern communication techniques.
In Kuwait and Saudi Arabia, the act of sending a heart emoticon is perceived as crossing the line of appropriate communication. So, sending the emoji to members of the other sex, especially if they are unrelated, might be interpreted as a breach of modesty and an attempt to establish a romantic relationship.
According to sources, sending red heart emojis on WhatsApp might result in jail and anyone found guilty of this act faces a prison sentence of two to five years. They may also be fined 100,000 Saudi Riyals. In case of repeated offenses, the fine could reach 300,000 Saudi Riyals.
As per Saudi law, texting red hearts on WhatsApp could be considered ‘harassment’.