diff --git a/crates/api/src/comment.rs b/crates/api/src/comment.rs
index 5d798d1d..b77e4151 100644
--- a/crates/api/src/comment.rs
+++ b/crates/api/src/comment.rs
@@ -672,7 +672,7 @@ impl Perform for CreateCommentReport {
     if reason.is_empty() {
       return Err(APIError::err("report_reason_required").into());
     }
-    if reason.len() > 1000 {
+    if reason.chars().count() > 1000 {
       return Err(APIError::err("report_too_long").into());
     }
 
diff --git a/crates/api/src/post.rs b/crates/api/src/post.rs
index 5ab461dc..7c7afe60 100644
--- a/crates/api/src/post.rs
+++ b/crates/api/src/post.rs
@@ -749,7 +749,7 @@ impl Perform for CreatePostReport {
     if reason.is_empty() {
       return Err(APIError::err("report_reason_required").into());
     }
-    if reason.len() > 1000 {
+    if reason.chars().count() > 1000 {
       return Err(APIError::err("report_too_long").into());
     }
 
diff --git a/crates/utils/src/utils.rs b/crates/utils/src/utils.rs
index b2a7c97e..62974356 100644
--- a/crates/utils/src/utils.rs
+++ b/crates/utils/src/utils.rs
@@ -110,8 +110,8 @@ pub fn is_valid_username(name: &str) -> bool {
 // Can't do a regex here, reverse lookarounds not supported
 pub fn is_valid_preferred_username(preferred_username: &str) -> bool {
   !preferred_username.starts_with('@')
-    && preferred_username.len() >= 3
-    && preferred_username.len() <= 20
+    && preferred_username.chars().count() >= 3
+    && preferred_username.chars().count() <= 20
 }
 
 pub fn is_valid_community_name(name: &str) -> bool {