WHEN CHILDHOOD BECOMES CONTENT: THE TROUBLING LEGACY OF PIPER ROCKELLE’S DIGITAL DYNASTY
The blinding glow of ring lights can mask the darkest of shadows. Such is the unsettling revelation in Netflix’s riveting exposé “Bad Influence: The Dark Side of Kidfluencing,” a three-part documentary that peels back the polished veneer of teen YouTube phenom Piper Rockelle Smith’s digital empire. Behind the playful pranks and choreographed camaraderie that amassed over 12 million followers lies a troubling narrative of exploitation and manufactured authenticity.
At the epicenter of this digital dynasty stands Tiffany Smith, Piper’s ambitious mother, who allegedly orchestrated her daughter’s meteoric rise with ruthless precision. The documentary features haunting testimonials from former members of Piper’s “Squad” – the collective of telegenic teens whose seemingly carefree collaborations belied a grueling reality of exploitation.
“We were filming 10, 15 videos a day,” recalls Squad alumna Sophie Fergi, now 17, with visible emotional exhaustion. The punishing schedule she describes borders on dystopian: filming sessions stretching from late morning until the early hours, followed by a brief respite before academic obligations and the cycle’s inevitable repetition. “We did not get a break at all,” she states with a resignation that speaks volumes.
The documentary meticulously chronicles Smith’s vision – creating a juvenile iteration of the iconic sitcom “Friends,” with Piper at its nucleus. Commencing her YouTube journey in 2016, Piper’s content featuring recreational interactions with peers garnered exponential viewership, prompting the strategic expansion of her entourage. Parents of these aspiring performers were enticed by promises of exposure and brand development – the quintessential 21st-century reimagining of stage parenthood.
Perhaps most disturbing are the allegations of emotional manipulation employed to generate compelling content. Former Squad member Sawyer Sharbino recounts being instructed to ostracize one child star on her birthday – manufacturing conflict for the sake of engagement. Another stomach-turning anecdote involves Smith challenging a young girl to consume a spilled smoothie from the Hollywood Walk of Fame’s pavement – degradation disguised as entertainment.
“Tiffany absolutely wanted to do more questionable content to get more views and likes,” Sharbino asserts, illuminating the troubling currency exchange of dignity for digital relevance.
The facade crumbled definitively in January 2022 when 11 teenagers initiated legal proceedings against Smith, alleging they were “frequently subjected to an emotionally, physically and sometimes sexually abusive environment perpetrated by Ms. Smith on and off set during filming sessions for Piper’s YouTube channel.” While a $1.85 million settlement materialized in October 2024, the documentary serves as these young creators’ unfiltered testimony.
As streaming platforms increasingly scrutinize the ethics of digital fame factories, “Bad Influence” poses unsettling questions about the unseen costs of virality in an age where adolescence unfolds under algorithmic surveillance. When childhood becomes content and authenticity becomes performance, what remains when the ring lights finally dim?
