Type: tvshow
Overview: In this eye-opening documentary exposé, teens and parents reveal disturbing accounts of abuse and exploitation within the world of child influencers.
Language: en
Genres:
The teens who participated in Piper Rockelle's YouTube videos reported being subjected to an emotionally, physically, and sometimes sexually abusive environment, primarily perpetrated by Piper's mother, Tiffany Smith, during filming sessions and off set. Despite the playful and fun appearance of the videos, there was significant stress and mistreatment behind the scenes.
'The Squad' was formed by Piper Rockelle and her mother Tiffany Smith as a content creation group of young kids who loved being in front of the camera, initially to express themselves and create humorous content together. Over time, more members were added, but the series reveals that some members were mysteriously replaced or disappeared from social media, hinting at underlying issues within the group dynamics and management.
In January 2022, 11 teens who were part of 'The Squad' sued Tiffany Smith for $22 million, alleging violations of child labor laws, failure to compensate them, and sexual misconduct. The lawsuit was settled in October 2024 for $1.85 million. The documentary includes interviews and court documents that reveal a pattern of controlling and abusive behavior by Smith, as well as the broader exploitation in the kid influencer industry.
The series explores the unregulated and shadowy industry of 'kidfluencing,' highlighting how child content creators are exploited, including the mental toll and dangers they face. It discusses how managers have skirted child labor laws, the presence of male predators as a dominant audience for young female creators, and the legislative changes like the expansion of California's Coogan Law aimed at protecting child influencers.
Despite the lawsuit, negative media attention, and the documentary's revelations, Piper Rockelle and her mother Tiffany Smith continue to create content and maintain a large social media following. Piper remains active on platforms like TikTok, YouTube, and Instagram with millions of followers, and Smith has not publicly commented on the documentary.