Researchers say the ‘Elf on the Shelf’ sends a negative message to kids, because an elf that’s always watching but never interacting with them teaches them to accept a surveillance state. It can also be really confusing because it’s the only toy they have that can’t be touched or played with.  (, )

To allow for more commercials, ABC cut scenes from ‘A Charlie Brown Christmas’ …the 1965 holiday TV special about the overcommercialization of Christmas.    ()