Piper Rockelle has taken the internet by storm with her infectious energy, upbeat demeanor, and creative content. At only 17 years old, she has over 30 million followers on YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram combined. Rockelle shot to superstardom as an 8-year-old, aided by her self-made momager, Tiffany Smith. Her early videos featured fun pranks and comedy sketches. She got to stuff viral challenges, all showcasing her wildly fun crew of tween besties and wannabes led by “Piper’s Squad.”
As her influence blossomed, so did the conflicts of her work life. By 11, Piper’s Squad ruled the roost in the influencer space for kids. They produced hundreds of hilarious vignettes that vividly portrayed their adventurous hijinks. According to one estimate, Rockelle generates over $530,000 per month in revenue from her videos. This goes to show how profitable kidfluencing can be. Behind the glamour is a much more sinister story, as showcased by a recent lawsuit filed by former cheerleaders of the squad.
By October 2024, the lawsuit resulted in a $1.85 million settlement. This came after Tiffany Smith faced several allegations from 11 former members of Piper’s Squad of a toxic work environment. Showcasing the overlooked struggles of every young influencer, the case exposed the sometimes dark realities of an industry fueled by fame and money. As Piper continues to develop in her new career, she learns to manage the demands of content creation vs. her real life.
The Evolution of Piper’s Content
Piper Rockelle started making videos on YouTube at the age of eight, recording elaborate pranks and challenges with her friends. With Tiffany Smith leading the charge for her meteoric ascent, Piper caught fire in the online space almost immediately. The group’s evolution and politics became the sturdy spine of her early material, cultivating excitement with youthful audiences.
As time went on, Piper’s content shifted to focus more on intimate details, a shift that aligned with her life as a teenager. She often shares peeks inside her new relationship, getting in on some of those hot lip syncing trends and slinging some swimwear-heavy hauls to boot. Her TikTok account alone has more than 14 million followers, for her to keep reaching with promise-filled content in fun and exciting ways.
Though Piper continues to find immense joy in producing content, she understands the pressure that comes with her newfound success. In a 2024 vlog, she expressed gratitude for the opportunities while revealing the burdens of maintaining her online presence.
“And on top of everything, all I want to do most of the time is just go work out because it makes me so happy,” – Piper Rockelle
Piper’s refreshing honesty offers a glimpse into her complicated life off the screen. She acknowledged the joy in creating vlogs for her viewers, but then spoke to the pressures as a content creator.
“Obviously I film vlogs like this, but I don’t really get a lot out of it besides the satisfaction of knowing you guys enjoy watching them,” – Piper Rockelle
Legal Turmoil and Its Aftermath
In 2022, legal issues surfaced when 11 former members of Piper’s Squad filed a lawsuit against Tiffany Smith, claiming damages of at least $2 million each. The lawsuit shed light on the exploitative nature of kidfluencing and called into question the lack of accountability in the industry. The lawsuit brought to light the exploitation and unsafe working environment, including self-harm and suicidal thoughts, for young influencers.
In October 2024, Piper reached a $1.85 million settlement. This monumental win raised widespread awareness about the need for child labor law protection in the budding industry of digital content creation. Matthew Sarelson, for plaintiff intervenors, underscored how serious this situation was.
“Imagine if these kids had been on a movie set for Lionsgate,” – Matthew Sarelson
He went on to say that such situations would be deadly if they happened in an office environment.
“People would go to jail if this had happened at a studio,” – Matthew Sarelson
This lawsuit is surfacing an important issue. We must enforce stricter regulations within the influencer industry to prevent young creators from being exploited at all.
Balancing Fame and Personal Life
As Piper Rockelle navigates her burgeoning career, she faces unique challenges that come with fame. In real life, she is under great scrutiny. Through it all, this babyface beauty influencer doesn’t stop juggling to keep everything seeming as picturesque as possible while doing so. With the help of her mother and manager, Tiffany Smith, Piper has cultivated a fruitful ecosystem for content creation. At the same time, she deftly balances her home life.
In a truly vulnerable moment shared as part of her 2024 “Week in the Life” video, Tiffany discussed how she made a bedroom in their home. She designed this area intentionally for Piper, so she could film TikTok videos whenever she wanted. This high degree of support shows just how important family guidance is in going through the challenges that come with being a teenage social media star.
Below the surface, Piper deals with the emotional drain of always being on display. She described her challenges in juggling work with personal self-care.
“So there are so many stresses, you guys have no idea what this is like,” – Hunter Hill, Piper’s collaborator
Despite these challenges, Piper remains resilient. When she isn’t creating content, she looks for peace in simple, joyful experiences. Being active makes her feel good and is an outlet for her, letting her avoid her adult duties.
“It’s like the one moment in my life when everything is quiet and I don’t have to think about anything or please anybody,” – Piper Rockelle