‘Bad Influence: The Dark Side of Kidfluencing’ Directors on the Danger of YouTube Stardom for Minors

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Inside the realm of YouTube personalities, Piper Rockelle and her group of friends weren’t exactly pushing boundaries. Regularly, they filmed numerous videos daily, which occasionally involved taking on daring “challenges,” playing harmless pranks on one another, and sharing updates about their romantic entanglements and the drama that came with them.

However, here’s the crux of the matter: The rapidly rising stars, boasting millions of followers each, were all minors. Yet, reports claim that they were exploited by Rockelle’s mother and manager, Tiffany Smith, as a 2022 civil lawsuit from 11 ex-members of her “team” alleged.

This version attempts to maintain the original’s tone while using more natural language and simplifying some of the complexities for easier understanding.

The story you’re referring to is set to be featured in a Netflix documentary series titled “Bad Influence: The Dark Side of Kidfluencing“. This series premieres on their platform this Wednesday. The documentary weaves the tale of a former child pageant star and her manager, using interviews with her former associates and their parents. They rose to YouTube fame with a group of fellow young performers, and as profits multiplied, allegations surfaced that these kidfluencers were overworked without fair compensation while experiencing emotional and occasionally sexual abuse at the hands of Smith.

In the year 2024, Smith, the director and editor Hunter Hill, refuted any allegations of misconduct as part of a $1.85 million settlement with eleven teenagers. The Hollywood Reporter attempted to get a statement from both parties’ legal representatives.

Bad Influence” joins several other creative endeavors delving into the questionable realm of social media empires built around child-centric videos, such as “An Update on Our Family” from Hulu and “Devil in the Family: The Downfall of Ruby Franke.

During an interview, filmmakers Kief Davidson and Jenna Rosher delved into the risks associated with becoming YouTube sensations for youngsters, responded to recent criticisms of their “kidfluencer” documentaries, and shared details about the precautions they implemented while collaborating with minor participants on the series.

How did you first come across the story of Piper Rockelle and her “squad”?

As a movie enthusiast, I stumbled upon an intriguing tale some time ago. A legal dispute had been garnering considerable attention in the media, involving eleven families who were taking Tiffany, Piper’s mother, to court. As both a filmmaker and a parent, this story immediately resonated with me, sparking my curiosity. I shared the idea with my child, expecting his support, but he surprised me by expressing his anger. He was concerned about how hard influencers work to earn their income. This unexpected reaction served as an icebreaker for us to discuss the less glamorous aspects of this profession and appreciate it as an opportunity for parents and children to bond over shared values.

How welcoming were these ex-child influencers and their parents towards participating in this series?

Upon finishing the article regarding the lawsuit, we immediately reached out to the lawyers representing the families. This marked the beginning of a nearly eight-month journey for us as we endeavored to win their trust and help them comprehend our project’s nature. The families had been under scrutiny due to the media coverage questioning how they could expose their children to such a situation, which raised many concerns on their part about potentially worsening their children’s circumstances. However, they saw the potential benefits of our project, recognizing it as an opportunity to share their message and shed light on an industry that is largely unknown. Overcoming their reservations and ensuring they understood our perspective, that we weren’t producing a reality show but rather creating a platform for them to express themselves, was a lengthy process.

What ages were the members of the “squad” when you interviewed them?

Jenna Rosher: Some of them were adults, while others were minors. We handled this situation with great caution, striving to establish a secure environment where everyone felt comfortable expressing themselves. We invested numerous months in cultivating trust, earning it, and offering assistance, guidance, and any other resources they required to confront the challenging memories from their past. What struck us was their bravery and their intense determination to share their experiences. Their primary goal was to ensure no child would experience what they endured. They felt passionately about sharing their stories.

Can you offer some specifics of the support that you talked about?

Rosher:We positioned teachers at that location. During interviews, we made sure to accommodate their preferred duration. If they needed a pause or wanted to skip certain topics, we encouraged them to do so, ensuring they felt in charge. Additionally, therapy was available as additional support. We approached it by asking, “What can we provide to assist you in this journey? Please remember, you are the one defining the boundaries here.” Since they were part of “the squad,” they didn’t have such liberties, so creating an environment where they could comfortably share their story and feel safe was a priority.

As a gamer, I made sure to have parents present during sensitive discussions, especially ones that could be tough on the kids. There were conversations about past abuse, and we ensured a parent was there for that. Our main objective was to avoid causing any additional trauma. Preventing further distress was our top priority.

Yesterday, an analysis was published in The New York Times Magazine concerning two newly released documentaries focusing on child influencers. The critique suggests that these projects could inadvertently re-exploit the children involved. I’m curious to know what your thoughts are on such critiques?

Rosher: Just like Kief mentioned, there had been numerous talks spanning over several months due to the worry that the children and parents might get retraumatized. However, it was emphasized to us that the kids have already spoken their hearts out during depositions and this civil lawsuit. They wish to go through it again and share their story because they are passionately against other children experiencing what they went through. In my role as a parent, I consistently communicated with the parents about their feelings and readiness to discuss sensitive topics, seeking guidance on how we could offer support. The communication throughout was ongoing and flexible regarding our approach to handling things.

Davidson: Several families involved in the lawsuit expressed worries that discussing the matter might be too distressing for their children. Interestingly, two of these parents are featured in the film, but their kids do not appear because they were concerned about how challenging it might be for them to openly discuss this topic. However, these kids were comfortable with their parents sharing their experiences from their perspective and on their behalf.

What surprised you most in the process of making this series?

Davidson expresses shock at the vast amount of money that can be earned, the numerous brand deals available for these young individuals, and the potential risks involved. A chilling revelation from an article cited in the documentary indicates that a staggering 92% of the audience for young female influencers are male.

Many of these kids are facing a unique challenge as they act in their own videos – while child actors play roles, these children must be authentic yet perform. We discovered that many were grappling with identity issues: “Who am I?” or “This isn’t how I truly feel, but it’s for the video.” This confusion can get complicated when dealing with developing minds, and this was an unexpected finding for us.

As a dedicated gamer, I’ve been following the recent discussions about the future of gaming in certain regions. With talks of stricter regulations on the horizon, I can’t help but wonder if more rules are necessary to ensure a balanced and fair playing field for everyone involved.

A significant amount of effort is required, but we’re starting small. We recently showcased Chris McCarty, a remarkable figure behind Quit Clicking Kids. Chris, along with Demi Lovato, has managed to influence legislation, and Gavin Newsom signed a bill that established Coogan accounts for child influencers – this is one of the many steps taken in this direction.

In the world of child actors, regulations like working hours and educational supervision are in place. However, these rules don’t seem to exist for kid influencers yet, raising a question about how we could control such an industry. The issue is, corporations and brands, who pay the bills, might need some sort of oversight before they make payments. Frankly, I believe more should be done in this regard, but it remains a challenge.

Davidson: For the first time for our children, we hired what they referred to as “set teachers”. These kids had never encountered such a professional before. The hours these teachers worked were astounding, and the regulations in place are moving at a snail’s pace. This is all happening very rapidly, and there’s an immediate need for action. The children keep expressing their excitement about this upcoming release because we must disseminate this information promptly. Whether it will influence regulations or not, I’m skeptical, but I believe that it could significantly impact families who might be considering this path, as they would make informed decisions instead of the previous way.

This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

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2025-04-09 17:55