Kim Kardashian’s oldest child, North West, has ventured into social media at the age of 12, despite the reservations of her father, Kanye West.
Since 2021, following the split from the Graduation artist, North has been co-managing a TikTok account with Kim. This move drew criticism from Kanye, who expressed his disapproval: “I am her father, and I know y’all don’t respect fathers and the idea of family, but I said I’m not allowing my daughter to be used by TikTok, to be used by Disney. I have a say so.”
Fast forward four years, North has now been granted an Instagram account. The account has quickly amassed 400,000 followers since its launch on Friday, accompanied by a simple caption, ‘first post,’ under a blurry image of North.
The Instagram profile notes that it is ‘managed by parents,’ though the level of Kim’s direct involvement is uncertain, considering the platform’s requirement for users to be 13 or over. The decision has sparked debate among Kardashian fans.
On Kardashian-related Reddit threads, some users expressed that this move defies Kanye’s wishes, while others countered that Kanye’s lack of presence means he shouldn’t have a say.
Concerns have also been raised about the potential risks North could face online, with some online users expressing disbelief. “Can’t wrap my head around the fact that Kim is not scared of the grown ass men on the internet. Truly I can’t understand,” commented a Reddit user.
This isn’t the first time Kim’s parenting choices have been questioned by both Kanye and the online community. Last month, she faced criticism after images surfaced of North sporting several dermal piercings, including one through her finger. Kim responded to the backlash with a simple comment, ‘it’s okay.’
Although Kim, who co-parents four children with Kanye, hasn’t spoken publicly about North’s new Instagram account, she has previously defended her parenting methods regarding North and her siblings Saint, 10, Chicago, 7, and Psalm, 6.
“Kanye’s constant attacks on me in interviews and on social media is actually more hurtful than any TikTok North might create,” Kardashian has previously shared on Instagram. “As the parent who is the main provider and caregiver for our children, I am doing my best to protect our daughter while also allowing her to express her creativity in the medium that she wishes with adult supervision – because it brings her happiness.”
In an October interview on the podcast ‘Call Her Daddy,’ Kim elaborated on her stance, emphasizing the importance of allowing North to express her creativity. She stated: “It makes her so happy. I would never take that creativity away from her.”
Despite the challenges of being in the public eye, Kim noted that North has developed resilience. “She’ll be like, ‘Mum, I saw this and I don’t really care if someone says they don’t like my blue hair, or my this or that,'” Kim shared about her daughter’s attitude.