As far as normalizing a surveillance society goes, how is the elf on the shelf any worse than telling the children that a deity is always watching them? I guess

As far as normalizing a surveillance society goes, how is the elf on the shelf any worse than telling the children that a deity is always watching them? I guess the kids (Christian-ish ones, anyway) care more about getting presents once a year than having their souls tormented for eternity. I feel badly for the children that pay attention to the elf for more than a few minutes a year.