Piper Rockelle is a 17-year-old influencer who has 6.1 million Instagram followers and has recently been the center of a Netflix documentary titled “Bad Influence: The Dark Side of Kidfluencing.” Rockelle gained popularity by dancing on an app named “musically” she then transitioned to “TikTok” where she’s been on ever since. This documentary tells the story of Rockelle as she deals with millions of dollars, global influence, and an abusive mother as an adolescent. It is a three-episode mini-series lasting a total run time of 2:29.. The story mainly takes place in the past, diving into her relationship with her abusive mother as she manages her newly found fame as a “kidfluencer.”
The first half of the documentary focuses heavily on Rockelle’s rise to fame and the behind-the-scenes challenges she faced such as her public and also famous boyfriend breaking up with her in the peak of their influence. One pro of the first episode was the important thoughts about the safety of child influencers, especially when their parents control their careers and income which is a tricky situation. One of the scariest moments is when Rockelle’s mother, Tiffany, is seen screaming at Rockelle from behind the camera, forcing her to redo the video until it’s up to her standards this makes the audience feel remorse for Rockelle as they can now reconcile with her. This scene shows the emotional abuse and toxic environment Rockelle grew up in, all for the cause of creating content and generating revenue for the family. It makes watchers realize fame’s negative effects on kids and the danger social media causes in adolescents. In episodes one and two one criticism may be the lack of interviews, the audience had of Tiffany discussing the monetary side of Rockelle’s videos, it may have been interesting to see more of that aspect in the documentary.
The second half dives deeper into the fallout between Rockelle and her mother. An extremely powerful that I found interesting was when Rockelle was discussing filing a lawsuit against her mother, accusing her of emotional abuse and financial exploitation. This moment encapsulates the film as it highlights the risk of influence. The documentary shows how this legal affair affected Rockelle personally and her career, as she had to rebuild her brand without the person who created it which is also an interesting point the documentary provides to the watcher. It also highlights interviews with professionals who talk about the lack of laws protecting child stars, making the audience realize the vulnerability of young internet influencers. Episode three wraps this idea up perfectly with the emotional rush Rockelle’s lawsuit brings to the audience. The scene depicts Rockelle walking in from the right onto a coach and reading of an official lawsuit paper as she tears up, this helps the audience understand the suffering Rockelle went through on her path to stardom.
To sum this piece up, “Bad Influence: The Dark Side of Kidfluencing” provides an insight into the dark reality of growing up as a social media star. Rockelle Rockelle’s story is a moving example of how fame at a young age can lead to emotional struggles, family feuds, and real mental health challenges. The documentary leaves watchers wondering about the safety and well-being of child stars and what is being done to protect them. It also shows the lasting impact stardom can have on young influencers, reminding us that real kids are facing real issues behind the screen and social media posts. This documentary serves as a valuable warning about the danger of “kidfluencing” and the need for better rules to protect children online. This film should persuade all parents and people of influence to monitor and keep an eye on the safety on the next generation online.
