Why Kim Kardashian’s daughter North West covers nose in photos

North West officially joined Instagram last month and has been updating fans with various stories and grid posts ever since.

Whether it's a selfie with her pals, an outfit picture, or snaps involving her very famous family, the 12-year-old daughter of Kim Kardashian and Kanye West has been making the most of being active on social media.

The couple also share three other children - Saint, 10, Chicago, eight, and Psalm, six.

However, one particular pose the youngster has been doing has left fans seriously confused, which is covering her face or mouth with her hand.

In one photo that North posted back in December, she was covering her entire face while wearing a fluffy black hooded coat.

And in two Instagram Stories the 12-year-old shared yesterday, she was covering her mouth in both of them.

The first was an outfit pic, where North sported a Balenciaga T-shirt, black skirt, a glittering skull choker necklace and a large pair of dark sunglasses, while the second was a video with two of her pals.

North West officially joined Instagram last month, with her account being managed by her parents (TikTok/@kimandnorth)

The trio, who respectively were donning blue, pink and green hair, all covered their mouth and then made peace signs with their fingers.

Now, as it turns out, it's actually a thing that a lot of young people do and more recently, it's become a Gen Z and Gen Alpha thing - but why?

It's called the 'nose trend' and it seems that teens have been doing it in family photos as well as on their own social media accounts.

I get it, as a teenager, your mum getting out her phone camera and telling her you pose for a Facebook post is one of the worst things to happen.

Parenting expert and co-founder of The Carol App, Amanda Jenner explained an interview with Fabulous: "Using covers is the only way they can remove themselves without actually upsetting their parents by refusing to be in the photo.

"We as parents want and insist on capturing the moment but to a teenager this is a big deal. Teenagers go through a period of not embracing their appearance, i.e. could be spots, braces, or they just have a time in their lives where they have no self confidence."

Jenner added that sharing images online could 'really affect teenagers,' explaining: "Their peers can often share the photo and make fun of it which is very harmful to their confidence also resulting in harmful comments which can lead onto other issues."

Parenting experts have explained the reason for the trend (Instagram/@northwest)

Will co-founder and fellow parenting expert, Holly Zoccolan added: "Teenagers with drawing their consent to appear in family photos reflects their growing desire for privacy and control over their personal image.

"As they develop their own identity, teenagers often become more self-conscious and sensitive about how they are perceived, especially on social media where these photos might be shared.”

Of course, this is all speculative and North might have her own reasons for covering her face.

One parent, Michelle Harris, reportedly told The Sun that she asked her teenage son upfront why he was covering his face for photos.

As per the New York Post, she told the publication: “After several attempts to snatch the perfect Christmas family photo, I turned to my teen and finally asked him, ‘Why?'”

“’Is everything OK? Why won’t you show up in family photos for the handsome boy that you are anymore?’ And then the big whopper: ‘Are you being bullied?'”

Her son simply responded: "No, but I will be if you post pictures of me online without my consent!"