You might be surprised how children are showered with affection by strangers in Southern European countries. I’m thinking particularly of Sicily, Spain and Portugal.
I think the Demi God thing is a valid point but it isn’t a new thing, the British Press fosters it and always has. It’s up to their parents to monitor the situation and listen to their children’s feelings when engaging with the public.
Unfortunately phones are part of people’s lives now, it’s sad but some people cannot experience anything without also feeling the need to capture it in an image. The Queen said she missed being able to see people’s faces as so often they were hidden by their phones pointed at her.