Netflix Docuseries Reveals Allegations of Abuse in Child Influencer Industry

The three-part series focuses on Piper Rockelle's rise to fame and the troubling accusations against her mother and manager, Tiffany Smith.

Bad Influence: The Dark Side of Kidfluencing premieres on Netflix on April 9, exploring the exploitation of child influencers.
The series centers on Piper Rockelle, a 17-year-old influencer who began her career at age 8, amassing millions of followers and substantial revenue.
Rockelle's mother and manager, Tiffany Smith, faces allegations of emotional, physical, and sexual abuse from 11 former collaborators and their families.
A $1.85 million settlement was reached in 2024 for a lawsuit filed by former child influencers, though Smith denies the allegations and admitted no liability.
The series raises questions about the ethics of child influencers' exposure online and the role of adults in managing their careers.