Miami S.W.A.T (Sky1) taught me that children can often be given drugs to hide in their clothes as 'they won't be checked'. It wouldn't surprise me if someone tried the same with an explosive. For that reason, I think that age shouldn't matter when they are being frisked. However, when they are being frisked simply because of their name and no other suspicious activity, then it is a cause for concern. Why didn't this computer database show up photos, ages, ethnicities, etc of the people in mention?
Security measures will only work if everyone is checked. Once you start to avoid certain groups of people just because they are in an 'unlikely to cause issues' group, then you have made a loophole for others. But next time, they should double check who they are looking at, and the people they are looking for.
I got through Heathrow and LAX with a sort of multi-tool on my wallet. I forgot all about it and only when I was away did I find out I shouldn't have it on me. Though, I did get checked 3 times but hey ho, I am back.
The computer list this kid is on has over 10,000 names on it. All the list is first and last name. They are trying to update it to include birthdate, which is why that question is required when purchasing a ticket now.
Over all, TSA is useless. They are a feel good department, just there to make the uninformed feel safer. Just go to their website and they will pat themselves on the back for stopping X number of people with prohibited items. Truth is, for every person they stop, there are probably 5 more that passed. The only reason we haven't had many more terrorist attacks is because they haven't tried. Besides which, a 9/11 style attack was a one shot deal, and the terrorists know that. Before 9/11, procedures for hijacking were much different. Today, the passengers would help stop an attack as much as anything else.