Bad Influence: The Dark Side of Kidfluencing
Netflix’sBad Influence : The Dark Side of Kidfluencingoffers insight into the societal medium presence of Piper Rockelle ’s Squad group and the battle and issues they look behind the on-line Post . The New summation toNetflix ’s growing list of impressive documentaries , Bad Influencedepicts how Tiffany Smith , a exclusive mother , establish a group of vernal contentedness creators screw as The Squad , to help her girl Piper attain on-line realization . create by Kief Davidson , the three - partNetflix series about a true storyshows how Smith and her partner Hunter Hill total up with the idea and the different behind - the - scenes struggles .
Piper Rockelle began her on-line career at a vernal years onYouTube ; as her popularity online and income increase , her mother , Tiffany Smith , decided to constitute a group of friends lie of young creators similar in long time to her daughter , to help advance audiences . While The Squad ’s videos were portrayed as innocent and humourous , throughoutBad Influence , consultation with former Squad members and their parent reveal that while the cameras were off , the group allegedly faced forcible and emotional insult under Tiffany Smith . Theallegations against Tiffany Smithresulted in a case filed by 11 former phallus in 2022 .
17Piper Rockelle
The Leader Of The Squad
Netflix ’s docuseries depicts how Piper Rockelle spring up up participating in beauty pageants before transitioning to YouTube . Rockelle ’s aunt , Ashley RockSmith , stated that Tiffany Smith was determined to prove " [ genus Piper ] was worth something " and she " need Piper to be the sound . " While she refused to enter inBad Influence , through archival footage from the YSBNow Podcast , Rockelle stated that she grow interested in social culture medium through her use of the now - defunct app , Musical.ly , before receiving license from her female parent to make a YouTube channel . Rock - Smith submit that Rockelle was " just a natural " in front of the television camera .
Rockelle continues to defend her female parent against the allegation made by her former Squad friends and has bang the Netflix docuseries as " untrue . "
Since the disbandment of The Squad , Rockelle continues to post subject on social spiritualist through her TikTok , Instagram , and YouTube accounts , having a combined aggregate of over 32 million following . YouTube demonetized Rockelle ’s TV channel in 2022 due to the allegations against her mother ( viaNME ) . Rockelle continues to defend her mother against the allegation made by her former Squad friends and has slammed the Netflix docuseries as " out of true . " Rockelle has stated that she still enjoys vlogging , say " I get a lot of fun memories that I can go back and ascertain " ( viaForbes ) .
16Claire & Reese RockSmith (Left In 2021)
Participated In The Lawsuit Against Smith
Claire and Reese RockSmith are Piper Rockelle ’s cousins by matrimony and joined The Squad in 2020 during the COVID-19 Pandemic , initially supported by their parent , Ashley and Patience . InBad Influence , Claire submit that raise up , she " was always obsess with have something to do with the camera , " while her mother Patience said that she saw the Squad as an opportunity to reform a bond with her sister , Tiffany . Their parents tell that Tiffany Smith ’s increasingly fickle behavior during filming head to their eventual decision to leave the Squad in 2021 .
Since the release of the Netflix docuseries , Claire Rocksmith has stated via her Instagram account , that she has received a tumid billow of on-line support . Both young woman stay active on social media , with Claire starring in the YouTube series , WHO ‘S CLAIRE ? , about a young girl who runs aside from home plate ( viaPeople ) .
15Corinne Joy (Left In 2019)
Corinne Joy first met Piper Rockelle in 2017 after successfully try out to be one of Rockelle ’s backup dancer in the showDance Twins;the two became immobile friends and Corinne ’s female parent , Steevy Areeco , stated that she and Smith bonded over their daughters want to be famous on social media . In 2018 , Joy was invited to join Rockelle ’s Squad in Los Angeles , which she and her mother accepted . Joy only stayed as a appendage for a class before forget in 2019 .
14Sophie Fergi (Left In 2020)
Sophie Fergi started her vocation as a child actress in 2018 on the vane series Mani ; she joined Piper Rockelle ’s Squad at a unseasoned age and she and her female parent cursorily formed a chemical bond with Piper and Tiffany Smith , severally ( viaNational Today ) . During filming , the member of the Squad were usually paired together by Smith and Hunter Hill as young couples , and Sophie was " ship " with fellow Squad penis , Jentzen Ramirez . InBad Influence , early video of Ramirez and Fergi roleplay as a couple are show , which Johna Ramirez described as " fine " but subsequently escalated to " being inappropriate . "
Fergi left The Squad in 2020 and cited physical and intimate mistreatment against Tiffany Smith in the lawsuit , which Smith denied ( viaCosmopolitan ) . In the docuseries , Fergi delineate how the group work long time of day without breaks , film " up to 10 to 15 videos a day " ; archival footage depicts Fergi being call in out by the Squad ’s dog Frank , voice by Smith , for being " lazy " and " messy . " Fergi ’s YouTube channel has not been active since 2024 , but she continues to post content on TikTok and Instagram and has since conjoin the podcast seriesGirl lecture .
13Sawyer Sharbino (Left In 2021)
Sawyer Sharbino began his YouTube career in 2015 , post antic telecasting and challenge , and promptly amassed a gravid pursuit which fascinate the attention of Piper Rockelle , who invited him to collaborate with her . During his time in the Squad , Sharbino was " shipped " with Indi Starr , and he draw film " couple ’s content " in the docuseries as " really unenviable and embarrassing " as , in reality , he was n’t romantically concerned in Starr . Sharbino left the Squad in 2021 , explain inBad Influencethat his defeat with " being differentiate what to do and doing it " was taking by his enjoyment of filming cognitive content .
Sharbino has submit that his online following dropped importantly after his The Squad departure , take that this was a outcome of targeting by Smith , which Smith denied . He also state that he was often separated from his female parent , Angela , during shoot due to the heavy work schedule ; he and his mother subsequently participated in the case against Smith and Hill . Sharbino continues to post regularly on his TikTok , Instagram , and YouTube accounts and has since transition to acting , with small role in movies such asMiracles in Heaven(2016 ) andSlayers(2022 ) , while also performing as a instrumentalist ( viaMoviedelic ) .
12Symonne Harrison (Left In 2021)
After leave the Squad in 2021 , Harrison took part in the lawsuit against Smith and has had playacting cite in the television serial , Crown Lake(2022 ) , and the movieThis Christmas Dance(2021 ) . In 2025 , she launched her podcast , The Friendzone , on YouTube and Spotify , where she discusses friendships and experiences with toxic family relationship . Harrison has expressed her enjoyment of releasing the podcast , express that she " poured [ her ] heart , individual , originative juice and everything [ she has ] into this project " ( viaTV Insider ) .
11Ayden Mekus (Left In 2021)
An actor and content creator , Ayden Mekus began his career star in short movies includingUtensils(2018),To Smell The Roses(2019 ) , andEl Fred(2020 ) . He link Piper Rockelle ’s Squad in 2020 , where he was " ship " with both Symonne Harrison and Claire RockSmith . telecasting footage show inBad Influenceshows Mekus and RockSmith taking part in a " simulate My crunch " video recording , during which RockSmith reveal she was learn by Smith to show her bandeau for the telecasting ’s thumbnail , while Mekus was picture not bust his shirt .
Although he was n’t interview forBad Influence , Mekus was cite as a player in the lawsuit against Smtih and Hill in 2022 . Since leaving The Squad , Mekus has continue his dissemble career , having join forces with YouTube creator , Dhar Mann , for five age , and appearing in the comedy - dramaCotton Candy house of cards Gum(2025 ) . Mekus on a regular basis stake to TikTok and Instagram , where he has a combined 14 million followers ( viaYahoo Entertainment ) .
10Gavin Magnus (Left In 2019)
Did Not Participate In The Lawsuit
Gavin Magnus served as a prominent member of The Squad ’s telecasting as he and Piper Rockelle were " shipped " as a couple . Video footage in the docuseries prove Rockelle and Magnus being pressured by other Squad extremity to snog each other . Ashley RockSmith state that Tiffany Smith was " ripping off whatever was trending " and she ensure that couple tiddler together as a pair could depict in millions of views , so she choose to pair her daughter and Magnus together as " Pavin " . Sophie Fergi also stated that Tiffany Smith took an unhealthy interest in Magnus and " would make inner joke towards him . "
Magnus was taken out of The Squad in 2019 by his mother and account his experience with Tiffany Smith as stressful and opprobrious ; inBad Influence , Magnus appear in an Instagram story where he say that " it was my parent who pulled me out of a toxic environment , which I ’m super glad they did . " Magnus did not participate in the lawsuit against Tiffany Smith , but in 2019 , his parents drafted a legal complaint say inappropriate conduct which was never file away . Magnus has since reconciled with Piper Rockelle as they have continued to join forces on both YouTube and TikTok ( viaMoviedelic ) .
9Donald Dougher (Left In 2021)
Known on social medium as " Donlad " , Donald Dougher began posting content on YouTube in 2019 ; he regularly post money - making challenges and was known on societal medium as " The Richest Kid In America " with a net worth of $ 1.2 million ( viaTuko ) . Dougher was a penis of Piper Rockelle ’s Squad until 2021 and come out in several of her challenge television . During his time in The Squad , Dougher was " shipped " with Indi Starr and the two collaborated on several " couple " video that were mail on Dougher ’s YouTube bill .
Dougher was named as one of the 11 participant in the lawsuit against Tiffany Smith , summon forcible and excited ill-treatment during his time film as a member of the Squad . Dougher has not posted on his YouTube channel since 2022 , but he continues to put up substance on hisInstagramaccount ; his most late posts picture him locomote across The Bahamas , Greece , and Africa .
8Walker Bryant (Left In 2021)
Walker Bryant begin his calling star in commercials and node starring on TV show before joining The Squad at the historic period of 13 , after receiving an invitation via Instagram from Piper Rockelle . He was bring on to The Squad to replace Gavin Magnus and was " shipped " by Tiffany Smith as Piper Rockelle ’s new boyfriend ; the two were known on social media as " Piker . " Sophie Fergi state inBad Influencethat " if somebody leaves the Squad , they just rent the next person who … can play that part . " Bryant remained a member of The Squad until 2021 .
Bryant was pulled out of the Squad in 2021 after a controversial prank telecasting was aired on YouTube ; his female parent , Jennifer revealed that her son did n’t require to leave , but she withdrew him for his safety . Bryant was a plaintiff in the lawsuit against Tiffany Smith in 2022 . Jennifer Bryant draw Smith as a " schoolmaster manipulator " and her behavior during motion-picture photography was " ridiculous " ( viaLos Angeles Times ) . Bryant no longer posts content on his YouTube distribution channel , but he is still active on TikTok and Instagram , where he posts content about his workout routines and everyday action .
