P!nk Raises Concerns Regarding Fourteen-Year-Old Online Star Being 'Exploited'

Aug 31, 2021 by apost team

In the modern world of social media, influencers and online stars have become the new normal. Nowadays, the only thing someone needs to garner a moderate following of loyal fans is some passion or talent, a working camera, and the motivation or discipline to keep posting content. More and more young influencers are on the rise as well, including teenagers and sometimes even children of even lower ages.

One of these young online stars is Piper Rockelle, a 14-year-old American singer, actress and social media star. Sporting a YouTube channel with more than 8 million subscribers and an Instagram account of nearly 5 million, Rockelle is known for her music videos and acting in different web series and TV shows as well as challenge and sketch videos. Before embarking on her journey as an online star, Rockelle already entered pageants and modeled. She has been active on YouTube since 2016, a time at which she was nine years old.

While most young social media stars have the backing of their parents, many other adults see this new phenomenon critically. Rockelle also has a supporting mother but recently faced critique from an unexpected source. P!nk, the globally known rock star and songwriter, took to Twitter to question whether it is appropriate for kids to pose in revealing clothing for their social media careers. She specifically called out Rockelle and voiced her concern that parents could be exploiting their young children through these social media means and harshly criticized the clothing Rockelle wore in recent Instagram posts.

P!nk's message on Twitter read:

"How many kids like Piper Rockelle are being exploited by their parents? And at what point do the rest of us say … "this isn't okay for a 13 yr old to be posing in a bikini whilst her MOTHER takes the photo?!?!"

It seems P!nk was referring to a photoshoot Rockelle and her mother did in their backyard that featured Rockelle inside the family pool, wearing a blue and white bikini outfit while in the water. In the pictures, Rockelle can be seen striking several poses as well as splashing about the pool, visibly having fun and enjoying some warmer weather. In one photo, Rockelle can be seen sticking out her tongue at the camera.

All in all, the pictures show a teenager having fun and being silly. However, the bikini she is wearing is relatively revealing, and the pictures were later posted to her social media, where her millions of followers could see them. These are the points P!nk, a mother herself, seems to be criticizing.

Speaking to TODAY Parents, Rockelle said that she did not see any problems with the bikini pictures. "There's nothing wrong with being in a bikini. Why do we shame people for that? Pictures of teenagers in bikinis having fun are not sexual. They're only sexual if you view us that way."

She also mentioned that P!nk herself was 14 when she joined her first girl band and started her rock career. "Why was it OK for her to follow her dreams but not OK for me to follow mine?" the young online star wanted to know.

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Rockelle went on to accuse P!nk of not knowing what she was talking about, questioning whether she had even watched one of her YouTube videos. "I don't think Pink has ever seen one of my YouTube videos because if she did, she'd see it's just my friends and me having fun and acting like ourselves. The content we make is the kind of stuff anyone can watch."

Rockelle's channel bio states her "videos are great for boys and girls of all ages, even adults!" She also mentions that she hopes she is "able to make you laugh or cheer up if you're having a bad day." The older rock star's accusations have visibly irritated the young starlet.

Her mother Tiffany also took the chance to speak out when talking to TODAY Parents. "Since Piper was a child, she has had a strong love of performing and she has always had a dream. So long as Piper wants to do this and it's her passion, I'm here for her to follow that dream and protect her."

However, Twitter users sided with P!nk on this issue. Many of them saw the potential for exploitation or misuse of such pictures and warned against these dangers.

One user wrote:

"Whether these adults know it or not, admit it or not, care or not, they are complicit in the exploitation of underage girls. I've seen where these pics end up. These images of young teen + pre teen girls are not 'modelling' pics."

And another added:

"And a 13-14 year old should not be wearing a string bikini."

What do you think about Piper Rockelle's photos and young online stars like her? Do you share P!nk's opinion or not? Tell us what you think and pass this story along!