I try to imagine what my own kids/grandkids will have, in lieu of smartphones. Then I remember the answer depends on who I'm gonna be, at least to an extent, and how much access to that sort of distracting tech they're gonna have. Too many parents, sadly, gave into social pressure (or just rejoiced in having their children temporarily outta their hands) without understanding the addictive path they were walking the kids down on.
You're totally right. Enslaving is just what they're doing. And with each new tech they roll out, it gets a little harder to break free.