7 Shows To Watch After Netflix's 'Evil Influencer: The Jodi Hildebrandt Story'

Content Warning: The following article contains discussions of child abuse, sexual abuse, and coercion.When ideology, influence, and self-interest collide, the result can be a dangerous mix. Evil Influencer: The Jodi Hildebrandt Story shows what happens when adults make reckless decisions under the belief that they know what's best for children. On August 30, 2023, a critically malnourished 12-year-old boy escaped from a home in Utah and sought help from a neighbor, triggering a 911 call. Inside, authorities discover evidence of abuse. Jodi Hildebrandt and Ruby Franke were arrested and charged with multiple accounts of aggravated child abuse.

The docuseries gradually uncovers Hildebrandt's intentions, which are based on her rigid worldview promoted through her ConneXions program. A blend of pseudopsychology, religious extremism, and absolute control, Hildebrandt presented herself as a sort of trusted therapist, only to betray her own clients. Believing suffering was necessary for discipline, Hildebrandt claimed she was saving these children. Be it the dangers of social media, blind faith, or child abuse, here are the true crime shows to watch after you've finished Netflix's Evil Influencer: The Jodi Hildebrandt Story.

1 'Bad Influence: The Dark Side of Kidfluencing' (2025)

Some parents just want to be famous. Bad Influence: The Dark Side of Kidfluencing exposes the unsettling reality behind underage social media stardom, revealing how profit can override a child's well-being. Youtuber Piper Rockelle was only eight years old when she rose to become one of the platform's most-watched creators. Managed by her mother, Tiffany Smith, and Smith's boyfriend, Hunter Hill, Piper's online persona was carefully curated by the adults around her, blurring the line between parenting and business.

Piper's the stuff of kid influencers — she dances, acts, and performs both scripted and unscripted skits. Suddenly, allegations of emotional, physical, and sexual abuse began to surface. What once appeared to be the picture-perfect family-run brand is seen as exploitation. As the now-grown child takes legal action, the docuseries follows the crumbling of Piper's online empire, highlighting the lasting impact of childhood exploitation into adulthood.

2 'The Trials of Gabriel Fernández' (2020)

The Trials of Gabriel Fernández is what happens when the system fails to protect its people. The six-part documentary explores the shocking 2013 death of eight-year-old Gabriel Fernández. At the hands of his mother and her boyfriend, Fernández suffered prolonged abuse with no nearby assistance to reach out to. Despite repeatedly showing clear signs of abuse and asking for help, his cries of distress were ignored, documented through heartbreaking testimony and official records.

Taking audiences from the case to the courtroom, viewers are given a look into the many failures of child protective services, law enforcement, and the school system. The most heartbreaking part of the series is that it shows how easily Fernández could have been saved, had it not been for institutionalized incompetence, missed warning signs, and a lack of accountability at every level.

3 'Quiet on Set: The Dark Side of Kids TV' (2024)

Quiet on Set: The Dark Side of Kids TV pulls back the curtain on what was really happening behind some of Nickelodeon's most memorable shows, exposing disturbing patterns of abuse that's often overlooked in the child acting industry. For many who grew up in the '90s and early 2000s, the network was a huge part of childhood, delivering shows like All That, The Amanda Show, iCarly, and Victorious.

Nickelodeon's hype is made possible thanks to its creative golden boy, Dan Schneider. However, in recent years, Schneider has been under fire due to allegations of toxic workplace behavior, discrimination, and harassment. With children working on these sets, Quiet on Set asks viewers to question the true mental cost of creating kid-friendly entertainment, especially in an industry where children are expected to work tirelessly like adults.

4 'Keep Sweet: Pray and Obey' (2022)

Keep Sweet: Pray and Obey centers on the rise and fall of Warren Jeffs, the leader of the FLDS church, and the events leading up to the 2008 raid on the Yearning for Zion Ranch in West Texas. The series exposes how Jeffs used religion, fear, and absolute obedience to control his followers, enforcing practices like forced underage marriages and separating families, while revealing the long-lasting psychological damage inflicted on women, children, and entire communities.

The docuseries is a scary look at how men can charm their way into doing illicit activities with women, using manipulation, isolation, and promises of salvation to maintain power. Even more chilling is the fact that he convinces everyone that his ideals are well justified by the word of the Lord. As Jeffs runs from law enforcement, the series culminates in a massive raid that removes more than 400 children from the compound, marking a turning point in systemic abuse and religious extremism.

5 'Sins of Our Mother' (2022)

Religious fanaticism and doomsday conspiracies make a lethal combination. Sins of Our Mother wastes no time introducing Lori Vallow, a mother accused of killing her two children after becoming deeply consumed by extreme beliefs. As Lori spirals into paranoia, she becomes involved in a fringe sect of Mormonism alongside her fifth husband, Chad Daybell. Their growing devotion pulls them further away from reality, straying them from the word of God, and into a nefarious family tragedy.

What begins as unconventional faith manifests into something deeply concerning. Vallow believes she receives messages from angels, and the world is going to end in 2020. The couple genuinely believed that her own children were possessed by "dark spirits," leading up to their disappearance and deaths. With Vallow and Daybell suspected of orchestrating these killings, the haunting docuseries shows how faith and obsession and unchecked power can blur what truly matters in life.

6 'The Age of Influence' (2023)

The Age of Influence takes a hard look at the darker side of influencer culture, digging into some of the biggest social media scandals in years. From carefully curated personas to massive followings, these instruments of fame are utilized for malicious activities. Not every public figure has good intentions, and they're not shy about getting what they want with their fame.

Featured in the docuseries are cases like Danielle Miller, who used stolen identities to scam $1.5 million in COVID-relief loans while flaunting luxury online. Meanwhile, Jay Manzini built a fake philanthropic brand to con followers out of millions. As the saying goes, sometimes it's best to never meet your idols, especially when viral success masks deception, manipulation, and very real harm behind the screen.

7 'Dancing for the Devil: The 7M TikTok Cult' (2024)

Although there's nothing inherently wrong with using social media in a church setting, things take a wrong turn in Dancing for the Devil: The 7M TikTok Cult. The docuseries looks into troubling allegations surrounding 7M Films, a Los Angeles-based talent management company run by pastor Robert Shinn. At the center of the case is TikTok star Mirana Derrick, formerly part of the popular Wilking Sisters duo, who became involved with both 7M and Shinn's Shekinah Church.

Concerns grow as Miranda begins distancing herself from her sister and parents, gradually cutting off contact and isolating herself. The series follows the fallout as a federal investigation into Shinn is carried out, spotlighting accusations of manipulation, abuse, and extreme financial exploitation. Together, these revelations paint an unsettling picture of how faith, influence, and online fame can change even the most spiritual person.