Bad Influence: The Dark Side of Kidfluencing is a gripping docuseries that uncovers the troubling world of child influencers. It will premiere on April 9, 2025, and will be available to stream on Netflix. Directed by Jenna Rosher and Kief Davidson, it dives into real-life allegations of exploitation tied to YouTube star Piper Rockelle.
This three-episode series is exclusive to Netflix. It explores a scandal that rocked the kidfluencing scene, focusing on Piper and her mother, Tiffany Smith. The story reveals what happened behind the fun videos.
The docuseries follows Piper’s rise to fame and the dark turn her career took. It’s based on a true case of abuse claims and legal battles that followed.
Bad Influence: The Dark Side of Kidfluencing Is Available on Netflix to Stream
As already mentioned, the docuseries- Bad Influence: The Dark Side of Kidfluencing, which is also a Netflix original series is coming on April 9, 2025. The story of Squad and Piper’s mother, Tiffany Smith, will appear in the series. It will be exclusively available on this platform. No official announcements suggest it’s coming to other services like Hulu or Prime Video. Netflix remains the sole streaming home for now. All three episodes will be released at the same time on the same day—April 9, 2025. Viewers can watch them anytime after release.
Below is a table showing the series’ release across the globe:
| Regions – Time Zones | Date | Time |
| USA (PST) | April 9, 2025 | 12:00 am |
| UK (GMT) | April 9, 2025 | 8:00 am |
| India (IST) | April 9, 2025 | 12:30 pm |
| Australia (AEST) | April 9, 2025 | 5:00 pm |
The cost of Netflix varies by location. The monthly rates in the USA are $6.99 for Standard with Ads, $15.49 for Standard, and $22.99 for Premium. Visit Netflix’s website to view local prices.
What Was the Whole Case of Piper Rockelle and Her Mother Featured in Bad Influence: The Dark Side of Kidfluencing?
As of now, Piper Rockelle is 17-year-old, she started her YouTube channel in 2016 when she was just 8. She started with dance clips and acting bits. Later, she shifted to pranks, challenges, and “crush content” with a group called The Squad. Members included Sawyer Sharbino, Lev Cameron, Emily Dobson, and Ayden Mekus. They filmed fun videos in Los Angeles, building Piper’s 10 million subscribers. Tiffany Smith, her mother, was in charge of the show, casting teenagers for roles and overseeing content.
Trouble began around 2020-2021. Mother of Piper (Tiffany) was accused of abuse and exploitation by parents and former Squad members. They claimed she forced kids into sexualized content—like suggestive poses—for views aimed at adult men. Parents said Tiffany controlled their schedules and pay, keeping most earnings. At its peak, Piper’s channel made upto $625,000 monthly from brand deals and ads. But the kids saw little of it.
In January 2022, 11 ex-Squad members sued Tiffany in California, claiming she caused emotional distress and a toxic atmosphere. Sawyer Sharbino’s family took the lead when he left in 2021. Ayden Mekus quit too, echoing the claims. Court filings showed Tiffany’s texts threatening teens who spoke out. Piper and Tiffany denied everything. The case settled in October 2024 for $1.85 million—no guilt admitted. The Squad broke apart as members left.
Now, Piper still posts on YouTube, but her views have dipped. The Squad barely exists—most teens moved on. Tiffany faced no charges, though the settlement ended the legal fight. The docuseries uses interviews and footage to detail this mess. It shows how fame hurt these kids. The case sparked talk about kidfluencing laws—none fully protect them yet.
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Arvind is a Senior Writer and Editor at Hilvaro, specializing in anime, entertainment, and pop culture. With a BSc in Transportation Technology, his passion for storytelling led him to a career in journalism. He has previously contributed to Sportskeeda and GameRant, covering anime and entertainment with a keen eye for detail.
Outside writing, Arvind loves gaming and is fond of anime, binge-watching movies and television series. He spends some of his free time listening to rock music and writing poetry. What Arvind appreciates most about pop culture is the theme that makes it more alive and engaging for this generation; thus the possibility of such content reaching readers across the globe.
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