Finnish embassy Canberra closure notice hits 11 million views
Finland's embassy closure notice sparked 11 million Instagram views and jokes from its President and Australia's PM.
Finland's embassy in Canberra posted a routine notice. The office was closed Tuesday for a team planning event.
The announcement had piano music and northern lights footage. The post sparked an unexpected storm online, getting more than 11 million Instagram views and hundreds of thousands of likes.
Finnish President Alexander Stubb joined the joke, posting a selfie with Anthony Albanese at the COP31 climate summit where he said the embassy was 'open' again. Other embassies played along too.
Ambassador Arto Haapea said the response boosted Finland's profile. The embassy held a tongue-in-cheek ribbon-cutting ceremony on Wednesday.
Real visitors came to take photos.
- 11 million
- Instagram views
- Tuesday
- Closure date
- Finland's embassy in Canberra
- Location
Why it mattersA viral moment showed how social media can turn everyday content into global jokes within hours.
AustraliaAustralia's PM was drawn into a joke that reached 11 million people, and Canberra featured in a global social media moment.
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