Every kid goes thru the phase where they want to be acknowledged, and their views verified by others (despite that they don't actually know their own views, and is still absorbing).

Those who would want to prey on this can take advantage. It's the role of the parents and public institutions like schools, to teach right from wrong.

In this story, the school failed, but the parents tried and got lucky. But you can imagine the story could have easily gone the other way.