Would you let your 12-year-old quit school to focus on TikTok? One mom did—and the internet has thoughts.
Kat Clark, a popular influencer with 5.2 million TikTok followers, has decided to pull her youngest daughter, Deja, out of traditional schooling. Her reason? To give the preteen a shot at building a serious career on social media.
Kat, who lives in the Gold Coast, Australia, is no stranger to online fame. She co-hosts the widely popular Aussie podcast Basically Besties with her daughters, Latisha (20) and Deja (12). But now, she’s making headlines for her unconventional parenting choice—prioritizing TikTok over textbooks.
In a recent interview on the It’s All Her podcast, Kat explained her reasoning.
“Traditional schooling worked when I had a corporate job,” she said. “But since stepping into this new career, there’s a lot of travel involved. I’m constantly flying to Sydney, and now, Deja is getting opportunities, too. A strict 9-3 school schedule just doesn’t fit our lives anymore.”
Instead of juggling constant school absences, Kat decided to homeschool Deja for a year. The goal? To help her explore TikTok without missing out on major opportunities.
“TikTok takes a lot of time,” she admitted. “This is just what works for our family.”
Not the First Time She’s Gone Against Tradition
This isn’t the first time Kat has taken an unconventional approach to education. Her older daughter, Latisha, initially pursued law school but dropped out to follow in her mom’s influencer footsteps.
“With Deja, if she wanted to be a doctor or a lawyer, we’d fully support her,” Kat said. “But right now, those aren’t her goals. We’re willing to support her no matter what.”
She also reassured critics that homeschooling isn’t a permanent decision. “If Deja doesn’t like it, she can always re-enroll in public school.”
Internet Reactions: A Heated Debate
As expected, Kat’s decision has sparked a massive debate online. While some are horrified at the idea of prioritizing TikTok over school, others fully support the choice.
“I’d 100% let my kid drop out if they had direction and maturity,” one person wrote.
“I hated school,” another user shared. “My parents forced me to finish, but honestly, there are so many ways to get an education later in life. Why not let kids follow their passion?”
Even a teacher chimed in: “As a high school teacher, I think this is totally fine! Not every kid thrives in a traditional school setting.”
So, what do you think? Should kids be allowed to quit school for social media success? Or is this a risky move with long-term consequences? Let us know in the comments!
