I have kids. I don't see how that's relevant here.

Children shouldn't have social media accounts in my opinion. Nothing to attack or break into if it doesn't exist.

A coworker shouldn't know enough or otherwise have enough access to your child such that they can break into their accounts.

Failing all that, parents need to have frank discussions about the potential dangers of internet fans turning into real life people, and some of the more severe potential consequences.

Even without those three layers of failure, your kids need to know about basic online account security, like using unique strong passwords and two factor authentication.

That all being said- I don't know the people or the situation. But from your short account of things that's what I see as wrong with the situation.

In general, the social networks of today are optimized for extracting value and attention from adult brains; an incomplete adolescent brain stands no chance.

Kids can still socialize electronically just fine in group chats with the advent of RCS implementation on both major phone platforms.

Not sure what kids in cages have to do with anything or why they were mentioned.