Netflix’s Bad Influence exposes the BTS of the YT channel ‘The Squad’ and makes you question the ethics of kidfluencing

Reiterating our doubts about kidfluencing, Netflix’s Bad Influence: The Dark Side of Kidfluence talks about its impact by sharing the story of The Squad.

If Netflix’s Bad Influence: The Dark Side of Kidfluence opened your eyes to the ugly world of content creation, especially when kids are involved, then you were probably living under a rock! If you've been consuming any kinda kidfluencing content in any form, would know it's the easiest way to take advantage and exploit young minds while profiting from them. Wrapped in the golden sheets of glamour and often ephemeral fame, kids are made to create content that need not always be childlike. If anything, this documentary was able to emphasize and remind us of the atrocities that lie behind such channels that continue to garner millions of views online.

Taking us through the real-life controversies of Piper Rockelle and her YouTube channel, The Squad, Netflix's documentary gives all the kidfluencers and former members a chance to share their story with the world. Piper went from winning a beauty pageant to becoming a well-known internet celebrity who is looked up to by kids all around the world. Tiffany Smith, her momanger, who realised the potential that social media holds, decided to bring those kids together who enjoyed being on screen for a YouTube channel called 'The Squad'.

What started off as a channel that shares content about kids being kids with pranks and challenges soon started including 'questionable' and clickbait videos. From 'crushing' videos that people also know as shipping to making kids turn up in bikinis, the videos became all about views with even darker BTS stories. Considering how the squad ended up losing its members and them focusing on individual channels, the documentary talked about everything that set the stage for those 11 former members to file an explosive civil lawsuit against Tiffany Smith, mother and manager, along with her younger boyfriend and editor, Hunter Hill.

The lawsuit also alleges violations of child labour laws, that was settled for $1.85 million in October 2024. Bad Influence makes an effort to expose the darker, often ignored side of the content creation world by laying down examples of how it's always kids' vulnerability that gets taken advantage of. 

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The Netflix documentary by Kief Davidson and Jenna Rosher does not deliver anything prodigious with Bad Influence. For those who were previously unaware of the group, it becomes clear that although their content wasn’t radical or groundbreaking, they faced moments that add to our scepticism about the ugly side of this seemingly innocent industry. It effectively illustrates the effects of kidfluencing and every other crime it unknowingly serves. Watching The Squad being forced into situations at an age when they should be having their own experiences provides a real-life glimpse into how adults abuse and eventually capitalise on kids in the name of content.

The documentary also used a report by the Wall Street Journal that notes how 92% of the audience for teen girl influencers is likely to be adult men, further explaining how every harmless post that is shared on these platforms, which work largely on the idea of personalised algorithms, may end up on the feeds of those who enjoy sexualising minors. This further raises questions about parental guidance, making this content accessible to everyone, and the immediate need to protect kids who may end up in the wrong place.

While this life has its perks, such as brand deals or being able to afford expensive gifts at a young age, it also exposes the harsh realities these children endure to enjoy them. It's not uncommon for people to have their kids on social media. The very idea that people view these channels as a platform that shares a part of their life instead of looking at it as a full-fledged career lays the foundation for these kids to be exploited. Their talents become nothing but capitalistic incentives that adults who run channels like 'The Squad' can benefit from. Bad Influence adds to the long overdue discussion to have proper legislation and laws that will protect these kids and the labour they have to offer. 

The mothers blame Smith for the "emotional, financial, and sexual abuse" their children, now teenagers, suffered. While they share some responsibility for the challenges these kids faced, it is refreshing to see the children have the final say. Their shared love for Piper, regardless of the atrocities they tolerated, puts a satisfying end to this three-part documentary. They find a way to continue their online journey, doing what they love, which is to entertain. Their feelings for Piper and their hope that she will be able to experience life on her own someday serve as a reminder that their innocence is not entirely lost. Despite their own difficult experiences, they genuinely want their friend to be okay!

Have you watched the documentary yet? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below. 

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