Bad Influence: The Dark Side of Kidfluencing on Netflix is more than just a documentary; it reflects a developing crisis. It exposes the hidden dangers of turning children into digital content creators, often by their families, for views, sponsorships, and fame. What unfolds is a story of blurred boundaries, emotional neglect, and unchecked power, with deep psychological consequences.

In traditional industries, such as film or modeling, child labor is regulated. But, in influencer culture, many of these protections do not apply. Children are frequently filmed within their own homes, often without their knowledge or consent. The narrative, the money, and the camera are all controlled by the parents. The boundary between caregiver and content producer collapses.

A loss of autonomy stems from this lack of structure. Research shows that children who lack control over their environment are more susceptible to anxiety, identity confusion, and emotional dysregulation (Perry & Szalavitz, 2017). When a child’s daily life becomes monetized, they no longer play—they perform. Even their privacy becomes a product.

Psychologists recognize the harm of parentification, a dynamic in which children take on adult........

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