Kim Kardashian criticised as daughter North West, 12, gets 'shocking' body modification

People reckon that North West has got her superstar mum wrapped right around her finger.

That's because the 12-year-old daughter of Kim Kardashian, 44, and Kanye West, 48, has just stepped out with a hugely controversial new piercing.

She was spotted strutting through Rome, Italy, while sporting some jewellery on one of her fingers - but it wasn't one of the glitzy diamond rings that her mother likes to don.

Since the pictures of North and Kim roaming around Rome began circulating in August, the mother-of-four has been getting a lot of flack.

People had a lot to say about whether North's outfit - a corset top, a skirt and chunky boots - was age appropriate or not, while others thought her long blue hair was also too mature for a girl of her age.

But the pre-teen's clothing choices seemed to pale in comparison when social media sleuths spotted her sporting something shiny on her finger.

Kim Kardashian has come under fire after North was seen seemingly sporting a finger piercing (Allen Berezovsky/Getty Images)

It appears as though North has somehow managed to persuade her famous parents to grant her permission to get what's known as a 'dermal piercing'.

This term refers to any piercing which lies on a flat surface of the body and in the schoolgirl's case, it's her middle finger on her right hand.

It is worth nothing that North also appears to have numerous temporary tattoo designs or ink drawings on her hands too - which could suggest that the finger piercing might also be pretend or removable.

A ton of social media users don't seem to think that the 12-year-old is just playing dress-up, though.

People seem to believe Kim is the one who gave North the green light to get the shocking body modification, even though this is pure speculation.

One person said: "Does North West really have a finger piercing? This is so odd."

Another wrote: "Trashy. The whole lot of them. Exhibitionism is their talent."

A third added: "Bad parenting. Period."

North West appears to have got a finger piercing (COBRA TEAM/BACKGRID)

While a fourth commented: "Not on a 12yo and I also just noticed that it’s basically on her knuckle, which cannot be comfortable."

Others rushed to the defence of North and her reality TV star mum, while reminding people that North isn't exactly an average 12-year-old.

One fan chimed in: "So what? Who cares, stop minding peoples business. Take care of your own kids."

A second simply asked: "And?"

A third said: "Why do people care? It’s her kid, sheesh."

The Kardashian clan have not yet confirmed whether the dermal piercing is legit, so some people also still have their fingers crossed that North was simply wearing some kind of costume jewellery.

Experts have warned that having a dermal piercings on your hand is not for the faint hearted, as the British Association of Dermatologists explained the process can be extremely painful.

"If the piercing is not deep enough there is a risk of it moving, known as migration," a spokesperson previously told the BBC.

"If it is too deep the skin begins to grow over the piercing, known as embedding. Other risks include inflammation, scarring and infection - particularly if it is on the hands, as is the case with these particular piercings.

"Another problem with having a dermal piercing on your hand is the increased likelihood of it catching on something."

The 12-year-old's alleged piercing has left social media users divided (Instagram/@kimkardashian)

Professional piercer and TikToker Gab Rydelle, better known online as Gab the Gag, also shared a video explaining why piercings in this place are so risky.

"Your hands are the most high-traffic area on your body," he told his more than 25,000 followers. "Your hands touch everything and accumulate so much bacteria.

"You have so many chances of bacteria getting into that piercing channel and causing major infection. There are nerves, tendons, muscles in your hands. That’s a whole different ball game.

"Imagine losing mobility on your hands...it can happen."

Although there are no specific laws surrounding piercings for under 16s in the UK, most professionals would require parental permission to carry one out.

Rules and regulations vary from state to state in the US, but children must be accompanied by a parent or guardian and produce valid photo ID to get piercings in California, which is where Kim and North live.

According to Studio City Tattoo, piercers also often 'reserve discretion to pierce based on the comfort levels of the minor in question'.

LADbible has contacted Kim Kardashian's representatives for a comment.