diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index e43b0f98..a0f3a019 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -1 +1,11 @@
 .DS_Store
+# Virtual environments
+venv/
+.venv/
+env/
+.env/
+ENV/
+
+# Python cache files
+__pycache__/
+*.pyc
diff --git a/backend/endpoints.py b/backend/endpoints.py
index 0e177a07..c9d1e576 100644
--- a/backend/endpoints.py
+++ b/backend/endpoints.py
@@ -156,7 +156,10 @@ def send_bloom():
     if type_check_error is not None:
         return type_check_error
 
-    user = get_current_user()
+    if len(request.json["content"]) > 280:
+        return make_response((f"Bloom too long", 422))
+
+    user = get_current_user() 
 
     blooms.add_bloom(sender=user, content=request.json["content"])
 
diff --git a/front-end/components/error.mjs b/front-end/components/error.mjs
index 3fc9eeee..515a4fe2 100644
--- a/front-end/components/error.mjs
+++ b/front-end/components/error.mjs
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ const _STATUS_MESSAGES = {
   404: "Not Found - The requested resource does not exist.",
   405: "Not Allowed - The server knows the request method, but the target resource doesn't support this method.",
   418: "I'm a teapot - Server refuses to brew coffee with a teapot.",
+  422: "Something is wrong with the information you filled out. Please check your inputs and try again.",
   500: "Internal Server Error - Something went wrong on the server.",
 };