Piper Rockelle: From Internet Star to…What?
Remember that Netflix documentary, "Bad Influence: The Dark Side of Kidfluencing?" It really blew the lid off the whole child influencer world, and Piper Rockelle was right in the middle of it all. It's a wild story, so grab a coffee, because this is a rollercoaster.
A Georgia Peach Takes on the Internet
Piper Raquel Smith – that’s her real name – started out in Canton, Georgia. A natural performer, she was winning pageants at three! Her mom, Tiffany Smith, saw the potential and became her full-time manager, launching her on Musical.ly (remember that?) and then TikTok. She was on "Dance Moms" too – it was a whirlwind! By age 10, Piper was a bonafide internet star. Crazy, right? The problem is, all this happened before there were any real rules protecting child influencers.
The Squad, the Lawsuit, and the Fallout
A big part of Piper’s success was "The Squad," a group of young influencers who collaborated on her channel. But the Netflix doc painted a pretty grim picture – long hours, inappropriate content, and allegations of abuse. Seriously, it was disturbing. In 2022, eleven former Squad members sued Tiffany Smith and her partner, Hunter Hill, for millions, claiming all sorts of abuse – physical, mental, verbal, and even sexual. Piper wasn’t named in the suit, but honestly, who *wasn’t* caught in the crossfire? The lawsuit settled in 2024 for $1.85 million, and there's still an FBI investigation ongoing. It led to some new laws in California to better protect child influencers – a much-needed change.
Piper in 2025: Still Online, Still Controversial
Even with all the drama, Piper still has millions of followers across TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube in 2025. She’s even branched out to platforms like Chirp and BrandArmy. Some brands understandably cut ties after the lawsuit, but others are still working with her – which speaks volumes about her continuing appeal, I guess. She’s recently been teasing a “her side of the story” on YouTube and TikTok – so, what will that reveal? Will it address the allegations against her mom directly? It's all very intriguing and more than a little nerve-wracking for her.
The Impact of "Bad Influence"
The documentary was really eye-opening. It highlighted just how easily a child’s fame could be manipulated, and it shed light on some seriously shady practices. The interviews with former Squad members were especially powerful, even without hearing from Piper or her mother. The whole thing raised some serious questions about the lack of regulation in the industry and the urgent need for better protections for these young kids.
Where Does Piper Go From Here?
Piper Rockelle's story is a complicated one. It shows the incredible appeal – and the terrifying dangers – of early internet fame. The documentary started some much-needed conversations about protecting child content creators. Now, as she’s approaching adulthood, everything hinges on her next moves. What she says, what she does – it’s going to influence the debate surrounding the well-being of young influencers for years to come. You should really watch "Bad Influence" on Netflix; it’s a wild ride.
