The “Elf on the Shelf” toy has become a popular Christmas tradition in many households, with the small figurine serving as a mischievous scout for Santa Claus, reporting back on the behavior of children during the holiday season. However, some people have raised concerns that the toy may be conditioning children to accept the concept of surveillance, particularly in light of recent debates over government surveillance and privacy.
The titular elf is hidden by parents in different locations around the house leading up to Christmas. The tradition involves children searching for the elf’s new location each morning and trying to guess
