In the new Netflix docu-series *Bad Influence: The Dark Side of Kidfluencing*, former members of YouTuber Piper Rockelle’s “squad” allege they were subjected to various forms of abuse by her mother, Tiffany Smith, during their time creating viral content. The series, which debuted on April 9, covers Piper’s rise to fame and includes testimonies from the teens, who claim that while their videos appeared fun, the environment behind the scenes was often distressing and abusive. The allegations led to a lawsuit in January 2022, resulting in a $1.85 million settlement in October 2024. Smith and Piper have denied the allegations, labeling them as false and motivated by financial gain. The docu-series highlights the lack of protections for child influencers compared to traditional media, raising concerns about their exploitation in the industry.
