That's why democracy shouldn't be worshipped as the end-all be-all key to good government or good society. Or as Churchill put it, democracy is the worst form of government, except for all the others.

Freedom and liberty should be the foundations of a healthy society. Democracy should be reserved only for those things that must be decided collectively and universally enforced.

What kids do on their phones doesn't even come close. Let parents and vendors decide what their kids and customers can do. I've met plenty of well-adjusted kids who aren't on social media because their parents don't let them.