Kemiönsaari tightens teacher communication rules after accidental nude photo incident

A teacher in the municipality of Kemiönsaari accidentally shared a topless photo intended for their spouse on Snapchat, leading to stricter guidelines on staff-student communication, the local government announced Tuesday.

The incident occurred in April when the teacher, who had added students as contacts on Snapchat, posted the image in their public story instead of sending it privately. The photo was then screenshotted and circulated further. The teacher had claimed the platform was used as a low-threshold tool for students needing support.

In response, Kemiönsaari will reinforce instructions this autumn requiring staff to maintain professional distance and use only the official Wilma messaging system for student contact, education director Marjaana Hoikkala told Svenska Yle. “Communication with students won’t happen via Snapchat—Wilma is there for that purpose,” she stated.

The municipality has also investigated additional allegations against the teacher raised by students and guardians but declined to specify details, citing employee privacy. The teacher remains in their position.