Danish PM Criticized for Claiming Smoking Preferable to TikTok for Children

Acting Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen has faced significant backlash in Denmark after making a controversial statement comparing the dangers of social media to smoking. During a conference in Copenhagen, Frederiksen remarked that if she were not the head of government and had small children, she would rather have them smoke than allow them to use social media unsupervised. This comment has drawn sharp criticism, particularly because her government recently announced plans to implement a minimum age of 15 for social media platforms, a policy scheduled for late 2025. Critics argue that equating smoking, a known severe health hazard, with social media usage is misleading and minimizes the physical dangers of tobacco. Following the outcry, Frederiksen issued an apology on social media, acknowledging the mistake in her comparison. The incident highlights the intense debate surrounding digital safety for minors and the measures governments are taking to regulate tech platforms. Despite the apology, the remark has sparked widespread discussion about the proportionality of anti-social media rhetoric and the challenges policymakers face in addressing online harms without resorting to hyperbole.