Piper Rockelle in 2025: The Controversial Journey of a Teenage Influencer
Netflix’s new documentary series “Bad Influence: The Dark Side of Kidfluencing” has put 17-year-old Piper Rockelle in the spotlight, prompting important questions about child influencers and their protection. But how did she rise from a petite bubbled Georgia girl to a social media phenomenon with millions of followers on several platforms?
We’ll explore her humble beginnings, her rise to fame with “The Squad,” the controversial lawsuit against her mother and where Piper is now as of 2025 The case of Piper Rockelle reflects a broader discussion about the perilous realities of child stardom in the digital age, the position of parents as managers, and the changing legal protections for young content creators.
From Georgia Girl To Internet Sensation
Piper Raquel Smith was born in Canton, Georgia, and was raised by her single mother, Tiffany Smith. On camera, Piper was a natural from an early age. At 3 years old, she won her first pageant. Her charm, outgoing personality, and ease with attention made her a natural for entertainment.
Tiffany quickly became a managing force, realizing her daughter’s potential as a “momager.” She created social media accounts for Piper, beginning with Musical. Ly (now TikTok). That early beginning meant that Piper had little formal education. Her breakthrough role started when she appeared on Lifetime’s “Dance Moms.”
Piper and her mom moved to Los Angeles in 2017 to help take her career to the next level. Her popularity exploded when she was just 10. She acted in shows like Brats’ “Mani” and started a music career. Her first original song, “Treat Myself,” was released in 2019.
Piper’s trajectory shows how fast a promising child can rise in today’s new world. Her story predates any laws that protect child creators. This prescient peek into fame would eventually follow her into success and controversy that still dogs her today.
The Squad And The Lawsuit
Indeed, the group is what Piper calls “The Squad.” It all first came together when Piper’s mom reached out to the parents of other young creators to collaborate. As both kids were on the same journey in content creation, they blended in well. But what began as fun soon shifted, according to allegations in Netflix’s documentary.
Ex-squad members described toxic workplace conditions. They said 12-14 hour workdays, inappropriate content, and verbal abuse became the norm. In 2022, 11 former members sued Tiffany Smith and her partner, Hunter Hill. They were seeking damages for physical, mental, verbal, and sexual abuse.
Piper herself was not named in the lawsuit. Most erstwhile friends thought she, too, was a victim of her mother’s control. They said they saw similar behavior directed at Piper but were told to sever contact with anyone who left the group.
In October 2024, the legal battle ended with a settlement of $1.85 million. Smith and Hill denied all allegations and admitted no guilt in the settlement. The case prompted an F.B.I. investigation that is said to be ongoing.
This lawsuit revealed holes in legal protections for child influencers. California would later enact laws mandating trust funds for kids working inside those digital worlds, just like the protections put on the books for child stars in mainstream media.
Piper Now On Social Media
Controversy is behind him. Piper Rockelle was popular on social media until 2025. (To be fair, though, she does have a strong presence on other platforms, and her YouTube uploads did slow after December 2024.) Her following is substantial: more than 14.7 million on TikTok, 6.1 million on Instagram, and 12.1 million on YouTube.
Piper recently opened up new profiles on Chirp and BrandArmy. Chirp is the central hub for all her accounts, and through BrandArmy, she can offer subscribers exclusive content in different price tiers ($10, $35, and $100 monthly).
Despite some brands severing relationships after the lawsuit was filed, plenty of new collaborations have emerged. The young influencer has recently partnered with Temu, MobileTrans App, Block Blast, Halara, and CareBear. These business partnerships highlight her sustained marketability amid past controversies.
On April 6, 2025, Piper re-emerged on YouTube with a livestream named “Piper Rockelle Goes Prom Dress Shopping! This activity indicates she intends to keep up her online presence. Piper talked about wanting to share her “side of the story” when she turns 18 in August 2025 in a TikTok from February.
Her 2023 content has featured her hanging out with creator Capri Jones, leading to dating speculation. This is after previously dating Ryan Frye (May–December 2024) and having a four-year relationship with Lev Cameron that ended in early 2024.
The Impact Of The Netflix Documentary
“Bad Influence: The Dark Side of Kidfluencing,” directed by Jenna Rosher and Kief Davidson, investigates the exploitation claims that have accompanied Piper’s career. The three-part series includes interviews with former Squad members but pointedly does not include insights from Piper herself, her mother, or Hunter Hill.
The docuseries displays how Tiffany Smith allegedly manufactured her daughter’s fame. It cites disturbing practices, claiming that Smith used her pet cat to make inappropriate remarks and encouraged underage cast members to engage in suggestive content.
“We were meant to protect them, and we didn’t,” one parent says in the documentary. One other allegation is that Smith coached a minor to tell child protection officers that everything was “perfect.”
The series illuminates the lack of regulations in the influencer space, especially for children. Traditional child actors benefit from laws that protect their earnings and limit work hours, but these safeguards were only recently implemented for young content creators.
Interest in Piper has been heightened since the documentary was announced. That series dives into her particular case and also examines the ethics of children making content that is then monetized online more broadly.
Writer Of Novels, Nonfiction, And Short Stories
Beneath the stardust, Piper has endured private challenges. She developed two eating disorders as a result of being in the public eye, according to reports. But she is now on the mend thanks to a strong support system from her mother to Hunter and friends Anya Kay, Sophie Rain, and Lauryn Kyle.
Former Squad members asserted in the documentary that Piper was not always happy creating content—at times, she wanted to quit. But she appears to be enjoying the opportunities that her platform affords her. In 2024, she even had a sit-down with pop star Katy Perry.
Piper was criticized earlier this year for working with TikTok’s Bop House, whose members mostly post content on OnlyFans. When people came down hard on her, she told People magazine: “No matter what we as humans do, we get judged, and people will have opinions.
I’ve been in this business for eight years, and I’ve never met a kind, warmhearted group of people like this.” It is a sign of her expanding voice as she nears adulthood. Despite controversies about growing up in the spotlight, Piper has fans and detractors in her career dealings.
What Happened To All The Old Squad Actors?
Piper had also worked with many of those people, and many former collaborators also work in their brands online after exiting The Squad. The group’s activities currently include the following:
- Sophie Fergi hosts a podcast and a YouTube series titled “Girl Talk”
- Gavin Magnus makes music and plays video games on Twitch
- Sawyer Sharbino is a singer, actor, model, and content creator
- The next episode shows Corinne Joy being trained as a professional wrestler
- Emily Dobson has consistent posts on YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok
- Jentzen Ramirez stars in the web series “Junior’s Cafe”
- Claire RockSmith has acting credits on the web series “Snowbound”
- Symonne Harrison, actress and model, launched a new podcast called “The Friendzone”
- Hayden Haas describes himself as an actor and artist but seems to be less active online
They share a bond unlike that shared by other former Squad members. They recently returned as a classic act in entertainment, proving how early introductions to producing can translate into long-term avenues for success.
Frequently Asked Questions
How old will Piper Rockelle be in 2023?
In 2025, she was 17 years old. Her 18th birthday is August 2025.
Where does Piper Rockelle still live with her mom?
Yes, Piper still lives with her mother and manager, Tiffany Smith.
Is Piper Rockelle involved in the lawsuit?
No, Piper was not named as a party in the lawsuit. Eleven former Squad members legally filed it against her mom, Tiffany Smith, and partner, Hunter Hill.
In 2025, where is Piper Rockelle mostly active?
Although Piper is still active on her YouTube channel, she has the most followers on TikTok (14.6 million) and Instagram (6.1 million).
How much did the lawsuit against Tiffany Smith settle for?
The lawsuit was settled for $1.85 million in October 2024, with no admission of wrongdoing.
Final Words
But Piper Rockelle’s saga reveals the complicated truth of childhood fame in the internet age. Her journey, from an early start in Georgia to multimillion-follower influencer, reflects the potential and peril of early stardom online.
The Netflix documentary “Bad Influence” has resurfaced the conversation around protecting young content creators. With Piper’s 18th birthday just a few weeks away, speculation is rife about what she will say about her experiences when she can speak more freely.
The lawsuit and subsequent changes in California law sparked protections for child influencers’ earnings, matching those afforded to mildly famous child actors. So, Piper’s story shook the more significant industry to its core, and this legislation is their response.
Her continuing success — or not — whether seen as a success story or cautionary tale, proves the magnetic attraction of social media fame. As she mounts to adulthood, her decisions will help shape discussions about young influencers and their health and safety in an industry that, too often, encourages views over protection.
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