The Netflix docuseries Bad Influence: The Dark Side of Kidfluencing (2025) unfolds over three episodes, focusing primarily on the world of child influencers, with a central narrative around teen YouTube star Piper Rockelle and her mother-manager Tiffany Smith, known as the "momager."

The series begins by introducing Piper Rockelle, who started her influencer career at about age 8 on the app musical.ly. Early scenes show Piper’s rise to fame, heavily orchestrated by Tiffany Smith, who not only manages Piper’s career but also helps other child influencers join Piper’s group called the "Squad." The viewer sees interviews with members of Piper’s inner circle, including family members like Tiffany’s sister Patience Rock Smith and other relatives, who provide firsthand accounts of the dynamics behind the scenes.

As the series progresses, it reveals disturbing allegations from former Squad members and their families about exploitation and abuse within this influencer environment. One scene depicts a confrontation where Tiffany is asked about shipping out what appears to be Piper’s underwear, with Tiffany dismissing concerns and telling the questioner to stop being dramatic. This moment is shown with a voiceover from a former Squad member expressing confusion and fear about the situation, highlighting the unsettling nature of some of the activities behind the camera.

Throughout the episodes, the docuseries presents interviews with former Squad members and their families who describe emotional and psychological harm caused by the relentless pursuit of fame and money. The series shows how some parents, including Tiffany, are portrayed as driven by greed and control, often at the expense of the children’s well-being. The emotional toll on the children is visible in scenes where they recount their experiences, sometimes breaking down or showing signs of distress.

The series also includes a statement from Piper Rockelle herself, who expresses anger at the docuseries, claiming the allegations are false and standing firmly behind her mother and family. However, Tiffany Smith and Piper declined to be interviewed for the series, and their attorney issued a denial of the allegations.

The final episode closes with a somber tone, emphasizing the broader issue of child exploitation in social media fame. It features a montage of voices warning that without intervention, more children will suffer similar fates. The series ends without showing any legal resolution or clear outcomes for the main characters but leaves the viewer with a stark impression of the dark side of kidfluencing.

In terms of what happens to the main characters: Piper Rockelle remains a public figure but is under scrutiny and controversy. Tiffany Smith’s reputation is heavily challenged by the allegations, though she denies wrongdoing. The former Squad members who spoke out appear to be seeking healing and justice, but the series does not depict any conclusive legal or personal resolution for them.

This narrative is presented factually through interviews, archival footage, and reenactments, with no dramatized interpretation beyond what is visually and audibly conveyed in the scenes.

The teens who participated in Piper Rockelle's YouTube videos reported being subjected to an emotionally, physically, and sometimes sexually abusive environment, primarily perpetrated by Piper's mother, Tiffany Smith, during filming sessions and off set. Despite the playful and fun appearance of the videos, there was significant stress and mistreatment behind the scenes.

'The Squad' was formed by Piper Rockelle and her mother Tiffany Smith as a content creation group of young kids who loved being in front of the camera, initially to express themselves and create humorous content together. Over time, more members were added, but the series reveals that some members were mysteriously replaced or disappeared from social media, hinting at underlying issues within the group dynamics and management.

In January 2022, 11 teens who were part of 'The Squad' sued Tiffany Smith for $22 million, alleging violations of child labor laws, failure to compensate them, and sexual misconduct. The lawsuit was settled in October 2024 for $1.85 million. The documentary includes interviews and court documents that reveal a pattern of controlling and abusive behavior by Smith, as well as the broader exploitation in the kid influencer industry.

The series explores the unregulated and shadowy industry of 'kidfluencing,' highlighting how child content creators are exploited, including the mental toll and dangers they face. It discusses how managers have skirted child labor laws, the presence of male predators as a dominant audience for young female creators, and the legislative changes like the expansion of California's Coogan Law aimed at protecting child influencers.

Despite the lawsuit, negative media attention, and the documentary's revelations, Piper Rockelle and her mother Tiffany Smith continue to create content and maintain a large social media following. Piper remains active on platforms like TikTok, YouTube, and Instagram with millions of followers, and Smith has not publicly commented on the documentary.

The TV show Bad Influence: The Dark Side of Kidfluencing (2025) is not family friendly and carries a TV-MA rating in the United States, indicating it is intended for mature audiences.

Potentially objectionable or upsetting aspects include:

• Mild sexual references, such as mentions of a blow job and young girls wearing heavy makeup and revealing outfits.
• Mild profanity and emotionally intense scenes depicting abuse and manipulation of children involved in social media fame.
• The show contains heartbreaking and disturbing content about emotional, physical, and sometimes sexual abuse behind the scenes of kid influencer videos, which may be very upsetting for children or sensitive viewers.
• There is no graphic violence or drug/alcohol use, but the emotional and psychological toll shown is intense and could be distressing.

Overall, the documentary is a sobering, serious exploration of exploitation in kid influencer culture and is recommended primarily for adults, parents, or guardians rather than children.