A viral social media trend has landed teens in trouble with police in at least two states as authorities warn students about threats to school safety.
The so-called Cat in the Hat trend has spread across the country as young people share AI-generated content of someone wearing a costume of the famous Dr. Seuss character and appearing to be coming after people at their schools or homes.
Authorities in Kentucky and Colorado are among those to have cracked down on the trend.
The Allen County-Scottsville Crime Task Force in Kentucky opened an investigation last Thursday after it said multiple local students reported receiving threatening messages through Snapchat and other social media platforms from someone who identified themselves as the “Cat in the Hat.”
The task force said in a Facebook post Saturday that it had identified the minor behind a TikTok account involved in the investigation and that “the matter is being handled accordingly.”
open image in galleryThe task force told The Independent that the minor “came forward to law enforcement and fully cooperated with the investigation,” adding that they were cited and released.
“The ‘Cat in the Hat’ accounts are part of a viral social media trend that has spread well beyond Allen County.
“Young people have been creating accounts and using AI-generated images and videos to make it appear that the character is coming to their town, school, neighborhood, or even after specific people,” the task force explained in a statement shared by WKRN.
“What may start as an internet trend or prank can quickly cross the line when it causes students to genuinely fear for their safety.”
open image in galleryA 14-year-old student from Grand Junction High School in Colorado was arrested Monday in connection with the viral trend.
Last Friday, local police were made aware of a social media post referencing the “Cat in the Hat” trend on TikTok and suggesting someone may appear at a local middle school and at random houses.
“The posts are intended to cause alarm and fear in individuals,” Grand Junction Police said in a Facebook post.
The 14-year-old was charged with Interference with Staff, Faculty, or Students of Educational Institutions and Harassment and released to his parents.
“GJPD takes reports involving school safety seriously and will continue working closely with our community partners to prioritize the safety and security of our students, staff, and schools,” the Facebook post read.