At just 17-years-old, Piper Rockelle Smith has experienced a level of fame that most teens her age could only imagine. With millions of followers, a loyal fan base, and hundreds of thousands of views on every one of her videos, many people are familiar with her name and might have grown up watching her videos. But behind the silly prank videos and carefully edited content lies a much more difficult and frightening story for the young influencer. In Netflix’s new documentary, “Bad Influence: The Dark Side of Kidfluencing,” several former members of her infamous squad open up about their troubling experiences on camera with Piper, including disturbing allegations against her mom and manager. In the documentary, Piper’s life is shown for the first time not by the lens of a camera, but by the people who were hurt by it. 

The documentary features interviews with members of “The Squad,” a group of teens that regularly participated in Piper’s YouTube videos, including Sawyer Sharbino, Corinne Joy, Sophie Fergi, and Brandon Stewart. These videos, often fun and silly on the outside, were allegedly made under intense pressure with very little regard for the young teens’ mental well-being. The young creators claim that they were made to participate in fake relationships, serious pranks, and wear revealing clothing–all in pursuit of fame, none of which are appropriate for children their age. 

Tiffany Smith seems to be the root cause for all the controversy. According to the documentary from Netflix and details from the lawsuit filed by 11 Squad members in 2021, Smith is accused of verbal abuse, inappropriate behavior, and disturbing actions toward the minors. Many claims include that she encouraged underage drinking, punished kids for wanting to leave the squad, and made inappropriate comments about the teens. 

The lawsuit was settled for $1.85 million in October of 2024. Although Smith did not admit to any wrongdoing on her part, the settlement was a breakthrough on the topic of child influencers and the lack of protection they often have within the entertainment industry. 

Piper, who is still active online and has continued to create content, has publicly spoken out in defense of her mother and said that the claims against her family have taken a toll on her mental health. Piper has stated that her mom has done no such abuse to her. The documentary shows that she, too, has been a victim in so many ways, pushed into the spotlight as a kid and surrounded by adults who don’t always have her best interests in mind. 

“Bad Influence” raises some important concerns about how young creators are treated in the world of social media. With so many kids becoming influencers these days, the documentary serves as a warning that fame can come with a cost, especially when there are no laws to protect those who are still growing up.

As the rest of Piper’s story unfolds, it’s clear that the documentary only reveals a small part of the overall picture. It’s important to remember that behind every virus sensation is a real person who might be going through a lot despite their age.