The documentary “Bad Influence: The Dark Side of Kidfluencing” on Netflix highlights Piper Rockelle, a prominent social media star, who has become a household name among Generation Z audiences for her vlogs, challenges and lifestyle content. With millions of followers across platforms like YouTube, TikTok and Instagram, she has built a digital empire centered around her brand and close group of friends known as “The Squad.” However, as her fame has grown, so has public interest in the people behind the scenes. The spotlight shines on her mother, Tiffany Smith, where the whole documentary confirms the “rumors” from the previous Squad members about Smith exploiting her daughter.
In early 2025, Netflix confirmed the upcoming release of a documentary that would take a deeper look into Rockelle’s life and the broader issues surrounding child influencers. The documentary, “Bad Influence: The Dark Side of Kidfluencing,” was officially released on April 9, 2025, and has since sparked significant public and media attention. The documentary highlighted the alleged toxic dynamics within the group and the broader issues of child exploitation in the unregulated world of social media stardom. The film dives into the behind-the-scenes dynamics of Rockelle’s career, particularly focusing on the role her mother played in managing her brand and personal life. In the early promotional material, the documentary includes interviews with former and current members of Rockelle’s squad, family friends, legal experts and others who have interacted with Smith.
Over the years, Rockelle has faced criticism and concern from both viewers and industry professionals for the highly curated and sometimes controversial nature of her content. Many have questioned whether the pressures of social media fame are appropriate for someone so young. These concerns intensified when discussions about parental influence, child labor laws and exploitation in the world of “kidfluencing” came to light.
The documentary exposes the grim reality of modern day child exploitation where influencers face privacy invasions, mental health struggles and relentless pressure for online validation. The 1939 child labor law, The Coogan Law, fails to protect modern-day social media stars from issues like excessive screen time and not being schooled on set. These rules that are parts of the Coogan Law are not easily applicable to the online space where content is often created at home, without formal studios or set schedules. The solution requires comprehensive measures including stricter regulations in order to protect these influencers from exploitation. Exploitation, whether on a formal set going or at home robs children of their innocence and endangers their well being leaving them scared of having no future.
This documentary shows the serious problems behind the world of child influencers like Rockelle. It reveals how adults, even their own parents, can take advantage of fame, money and attention. The documentary also shows how kids in the spotlight often face pressure, lack of privacy and even abuse all without enough protection from the law. Although Rockelle became famous online, her story is a warning that being a child star on social media can come with real dangers. To keep child influencers safe, stronger regulations are needed to stop this kind of exploitation and make sure young influencers can have a normal childhood.
