As cameras, tracking tools, and digital monitoring become more common, more people are starting to worry about living under constant surveillance. For many, that fear doesn’t feel exaggerated anymore. Still, few expected a TikToker from Kentucky to connect the idea of a surveillance state to a familiar Christmas tradition: Elf on the Shelf. The Kentucky creator, who goes by Dr. Shawna, shared a video arguing that Elf on the Shelf functions as more than just a holiday game. According to her, the tradition subtly teaches children to accept and normalize the idea of being watched at all times. While the claim initially sounded wild to some viewers, many admitted that once they listened, the argument started to make sense.
Dr. Shawna explained that Elf on the Shelf changes children’s behavior through external pressure rather than internal reasoning. Kids often become more obedient not because they understand why certain behavior is right or wrong, but because they believe the elf is watching and reporting back. In that sense, Elf on the Shelf becomes a lesson in surveillance, conditioning kids to modify their actions based on observation.
She pointed out that with Elf on the Shelf, the distinction between playtime and real life becomes blurred. Unlike other games, the elf is “always on.” There’s no clear moment when the rules stop applying. According to Dr. Shawna, children aren’t acting kindly because they’ve reflected on their values, but because an unseen observer might be monitoring them.
The Kentucky TikToker also connected Elf on the Shelf to the panopticon, a well-known prison design featuring a central watchtower with a full view of the cells. The key idea behind the panopticon isn’t constant surveillance, but the possibility of surveillance. Prisoners behave as if they’re always being watched, even when they aren’t. Dr. Shawna argued that Elf on the Shelf works the same way. The elf doesn’t have to actually do anything. The belief that it might be watching is enough.
She stressed that she wasn’t trying to cause a moral panic or claim that Elf on the Shelf ruins childhoods. She acknowledged that the tradition is temporary and mostly harmless. However, she argued it’s still worth examining, especially in a society where surveillance is becoming increasingly normalized. To her, Elf on the Shelf reflects how easily people accept being monitored when it’s framed as fun or harmless.
Online reactions were surprisingly thoughtful. Many users admitted they clicked the video expecting to ridicule her, only to walk away agreeing. One commenter wrote, “Hijole! I came here to roast her but she has a great point and I never would’ve recognized that. She’s dead on, at first I thought she was crazy but that all makes perfect sense. No wonder she’s a PhD.”
Another user reflected on their own childhood experience with Elf on the Shelf, saying, “This is really interesting, obviously like she said this isn’t going to ruin a kid’s life since it’s only for a short amount of time and there is no real fear but the effect she observed is spot on. I remember as a kid even reflecting on how fun I thought the elf on a shelf was, since if the elf is always watching the ‘play’ essentially never ends. It felt like Toy Story to me where the toys came to life.”
