How to Protect Yourself (and Your Kids) from Toxic Influence & Manipulation
Not all prisons have bars. Some have guilt trips and gaslighting.
You wake up one day and realise your entire personality was rammed down your throat.
Someone has their hand shoved so far up your ass, you’re a human sock-puppet with no free will.
Sound extreme?
Maybe.
But that’s exactly what happens when you fall under the spell of a master manipulator.
Netflix’s upcoming docuseries Bad Influence is about to blow the lid off the dark side of the kidfluencer industry.
You know, that bizarre internet realm where children rake in more cash than you and I combined—while their parents (allegedly) exploit the shit out of them.
The show specifically highlights YouTube star, Piper Rockelle and her mother, Tiffany Smith, who’s been accused of controlling, manipulating, and outright abusing the kids under her wing.
But this isn’t just about kidfluencers.
It’s about all of us.
Because whether you’re 8 or 80, you’ve likely been sucked into someone’s toxic influence at some point—whether it was a boss, a partner, a friend, or even a so-called ‘mentor.’
So, let’s talk about it:
How do you spot manipulation before it wrecks you?
How do you break free when someone’s got their hand up your ass?
And how do you make sure you’re not the one screwing over someone else without realising it?
1. The sneaky ways people control you
Manipulation doesn’t always look like someone cackling and twirling their moustache.
It’s more subtle.
It looks like:
Guilt trips – “After everything I’ve done for you…” (Translation: “Bow down, peasant.”)
Love bombing – Over-the-top affection… until you stop playing along. Then, poof—vanished, like a magician with commitment issues.
Isolation – They make you think nobody else understands you, like some weird cult leader in a discount Netflix thriller.
Moving goalposts – No matter what you do, it’s never ‘good enough.’ They keep shifting the target like a dodgy carny at a fairground stall.
Weaponising secrets – They learn your insecurities and use them against you, like an evil AI that was fed only your worst childhood memories.
Sound familiar?
Yeah, thought so.
2. The high cost of staying under someone’s thumb
Ever notice how the longer you stay in a toxic situation, the harder it is to leave?
That’s because manipulation wears down your self-esteem like a cheese grater to the soul.
It makes you doubt your own judgment, so you stick around longer than you should.
If you’re stuck in a toxic cycle, here’s the cold truth: It won’t get better on its own.
You’re not ‘one good deed away’ from fixing them.
The only thing you can fix is your boundaries.
3. How to break free & build your own confidence
So, how do you reclaim your power?
Here’s your game plan:
Trust your gut.
That little voice saying “something’s off” isn’t paranoia—it’s your survival instincts.
Listen to it.Write down the red flags.
Seeing them on paper makes them harder to ignore.
If you’re unsure, ask yourself: Would I be okay if my best mate was in this situation?
If the answer is “Hell no,” it’s time to act.Stop justifying their behaviour.
If someone treats you like crap, their ‘intentions’ don’t matter.
“They’re just going through a tough time” is not an excuse for treating you like a bag of shit.Set a hard boundary.
Be crystal clear.
“I will not tolerate X.”
And if they ignore it?
That’s not a mistake—it’s a choice.
Their choice to cross the line.
Your choice to walk away.Rebuild your confidence.
You don’t have to go full Tony Robbins, but start small:Take up something new (hobby, exercise, skill) to prove to yourself you can thrive without them.
Surround yourself with people who build you up instead of tearing you down.
Keep a ‘receipts folder’—a list of times you’ve been strong, independent, and capable.
Read it when doubt creeps in.Remind yourself daily: You don’t need their approval to exist.
You were doing fine before them, and you’ll do even better after them.
Final thoughts: Don’t be their puppet
Whether it’s a controlling parent, a toxic partner, or a manipulative ‘mentor,’ you owe it to yourself to break free.
And if you’ve got kids, teach them early how to spot red flags—because in a world that rewards ‘likes’ over actual happiness, self-worth is the ultimate superpower.
Over to you: Have you ever broken free from someone’s toxic influence?
What did you learn?
Drop your thoughts below.
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