Hämeenlinna city board chair reshared videos posted by minor girls

Prabhakaran Ranjith Kumar, chair of the Hämeenlinna city board, reshared TikTok videos posted by underage girls, Yle reported. The case has prompted criticism in Hämeenlinna.

The videos were first reported by Hämeen Sanomat. Several of the reshared videos were made by minors, according to the newspaper.

The controversy began after the matter was raised on the newspaper’s text message forum. Kumar deleted the reshared videos soon afterwards.

Kumar said he was surprised by the criticism. He said he had only recently started using TikTok and had wanted to increase his number of followers by sharing videos made by other users.

“My intention has never been to upset anyone or do anything inappropriate,” Kumar told Yle.

He said he had learned that people holding public positions must be especially careful about what they share and the impression it may give to outsiders. In future, he said, he would examine content more carefully before publishing or resharing it, particularly when it involved young people.

Hämeenlinna Mayor Olli-Poika Parviainen described the incident as a mistake linked to inexperienced and possibly careless use of social media. He said adults should refrain from, or show great caution when, sharing videos of minors.

Parviainen said the city does not actively monitor the social media use of elected officials. The city administration has no authority over elected officials and has no separate guidance on social media use in positions of trust, he said.

Parviainen said he had discussed the matter with Kumar the previous week. He added that Kumar’s videos were generally positive and intended to create a good mood, and that the city considered the matter closed.