Netflix just released a new docuseries about kidfluencers, and it couldn’t have come at a better time. The recent release of Devil in the Family: The Fall of Ruby Frank, a shocking documentary on Hulu about a famous YouTuber’s abusive behavior towards her children, has led to a heated debate regarding kidfluencers and parents using their children for profit on social media.
At the center of the captivating docuseries Bad Influence: The Dark Side of Kidfluencing are shocking allegations made by former members of Piper’s Squad. While the collaboration between Rockelle and 11 other (then) child influencers started with skits and various videos around 2018, the “workplace” quickly turned hostile when Piper’s mother, Tiffany, allegedly became volatile and even abusive.
Tiffany and her partner, Hunter Hill, forced the children to work for 12-plus hours, feign relationships, push them beyond their boundaries, and put them in significant distress to gain more viewers and subscribers. With a shocking lawsuit against Tiffany marking the split between Piper and her previous Squad members, the question arises of what happened to both of them. So, let’s take a look at where Tiffany Smith and Piper Rockelle from Netflix’s new docuseries Bad Influence are today.

Where Is Piper Rockelle Now?

Though less frequent than before, Piper Rockelle still posts videos, the majority of them vlogs of some kind and about her lifestyle as an influencer, for her 12.1 million subscribers. The now 17-year-old addresses her work situation and how she makes money. Since Piper is banned from earning money on YouTube as a consequence of the controversy surrounding Tiffany, the influencer relies on her 6.2 million followers on Instagram and 15 million on TikTok. She regularly posts dancing, singing, and acting content, and is financially secure thanks to brand deals. Piper grew up as a child influencer. She has never known anything else. At this point, though, she is aware that what she is doing is a proper job, and it does seem to take a toll on her.
Ever since the public outrage regarding Tiffany’s lawsuit, Rockelle has revealed her struggle with the difficult situation. Similar to the family members partaking in Hulu’s record-breaking docuseries about Ruby Franke, Piper has opened up about her mental health issues, explaining that the scrutiny her family is under is weighing on her. At the same time, Piper still fully supports Tiffany and shares her love for her mother online. Defending her mother and denying all the allegations seems to be a part of her everyday life, but the question of whether Piper is aware of the dangerous situation she is in or not is unclear.
Piper’s content is still controlled by Tiffany and Hunter, and the videos of the now 17-year-old have turned more revealing and sexual. Some of the pictures and videos on the various social media platforms are even restricted and only for users over 18 who pay for access. Considering that Piper is still underage, the fact that her mother is the one who pushes her towards this exploitative money-making scheme is outrageous.
This is exactly why Bad Influence: The Dark Side of Kidfluencing is one of the best documentaries, as it sheds light on an extremely important and relevant topic. Most recently, Piper has received substantial backlash as she produced content with members of the well-known Bop House. The members are all adults, and their content is directed towards an older audience as well. Piper Rockelle is on a destructive path, guided in the wrong direction by her mother. The one person who is supposed to always look out for her.

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Where Is Tiffany Smith Now?

Piper Rockelle is as much in the public eye as ever, but she is under way more scrutiny now after the scandalous lawsuit. While her mother, not Piper, should be at the receiving end of the public’s outrage and Tiffany should be held accountable for her allegedly troubling behavior, the momager lives a private, arguably relaxed life. Tiffany Smith was never actually charged with anything, as both of the involved parties reached a $1.85 million settlement three years after legal proceedings began.
The money was split between the 11 affected families, but to them, the most important part was to prevent Tiffany from continuing her abusive behavior. While Tiffany won’t be able to actively harm the previously affected families anymore (apart from the immense childhood trauma that these children are still working through), Piper is still caught in the middle of all of this and treated like Tiffany’s very own puppet.
Even though she has stepped back from almost any type of public engagement, Tiffany is still in full momager mode. Smith is pulling the strings off-camera, somewhat safe from stirring up more controversy and adding to the troubling allegations she already had to face. While Tiffany is the one cashing in by using her daughter, she is also the cause behind the backlash Piper has to deal with daily. Tiffany is far from a good mother, but if there is one thing that she is, then it is a ruthless businesswoman till the very end.
Bad Influence: The Dark Side of Kidfluencing is available to stream on Netflix.