The documentary Bad Influence: The Dark Side of Kidfluencing takes a deep and disturbing look into the world of child influencers, focusing on young social media star Piper Rockelle. This three-part series uncovers a dark side to fame that most people never see — especially when it involves children.
Bad Influence: The Dark Side of Kidfluencing
Piper Rockelle first became popular after appearing in child beauty pageants. Her mother, Tiffany Smith, saw an opportunity and moved her daughter’s career onto social media. With help from Smith’s much younger boyfriend, Hunter Hill, they created videos featuring Piper and other children, known as “The Squad.”
These videos attracted millions of viewers and brought in huge money. At the height of her fame, Piper was reportedly earning more than half a million dollars a month. But behind the scenes, things were far from perfect.
The Lawsuit That Changed Everything
In 2022, 11 former members of “The Squad” filed a lawsuit against Smith and Hill. They accused the adults of violating child labor laws and subjecting the children to inappropriate and abusive behavior. One shocking claim involved Smith allegedly mailing Piper’s underwear because “old men like to smell it.” Smith and Hill denied all accusations, and the case was settled without admitting guilt.
These allegations show the risks children face in the online influencer world — a space where rules are unclear and adult supervision can easily cross the line.
Interviews That Reveal a Disturbing Truth
Throughout the series, we hear from several young people who used to be part of Piper’s videos. Most of them are still teenagers, or only just older. They describe feeling pressured, confused, and at times unsafe.
Parents of the children also appear, some admitting they were slowly pushed out and eventually not allowed to attend filming sessions. Many now question why they didn’t see the signs sooner. It seems that Smith had a strong ability to manipulate people, keeping control of the group and creating a cult-like atmosphere.
The Bigger Problem With Kid Influencing
The documentary also raises deeper questions about child influencers in general. When kids are filmed for fun and posted online, when does that turn into work? And when it becomes work, who is protecting them?
Even more troubling is who’s watching this content. The film cites a study that found over 90% of the audience for teen girl influencers are adult men. That’s a scary statistic, especially when considering how often kids are encouraged to post more personal, attention-grabbing content.
