A viral trend involving an AI-generated image of one of Dr. Seuss's most popular characters has caught the attention of law enforcement agencies in recent days, prompting school districts around the country to cancel classes or increase security out of an abundance of caution.
From Falfurrias, Texas, to Louisville, authorities have issued notices asking the public to report any AI-generated content or imagery depicting The Cat from the 2003 live-action "Cat in the Hat" movie, as the fake reimagining of the character has targeted individual students or campuses.
What began as a "prank" to scare peers on social media has now become a "concern among students, parents, and staff," according to the Louisville Metro Police Department.
A Florida teen
was recently arrested in connection with online threats posed to the student body of McCracken County High School in Paducah, Kentucky. Then, in Louisville, school administrators closed Assumption High School on Aug. 31 after a "Cat in the Hat" post sparked safety concerns.
The Louisville Courier Journal, part of the USA TODAY Network, also reported that another teen, who identified themselves as the "Cat in the Hat," was connected to threatening messages sent to multiple students in Allen County.
"While there is currently no information indicating a credible threat associated with these posts, we take all reports involving school safety seriously," the Louisville Metro Police Department said in a statement. "Our Homeland Security Unit is actively reviewing information related to these incidents, working with school administrators, and investigating the origin of any posts that may be causing alarm."
The Tennessee Department of Safety echoed a similar sentiment, noting that the agency's Threat Assessment Center was "tracking" the trend as it pertains to Tennessee schools and students. The Hanover County Sheriff’s Office, which issued a community awareness warning on Facebook on Sept. 1, said officers are "aware of a concerning social media account and post referencing Mechanicsville High School and the 'Cat in the Hat' trend."
"We understand that this content is being shared throughout our community and may understandably cause concern among students, parents, staff, and families," the warning continued.
Here is everything we know about the viral "Cat in the Hat" trend.
'Cat in the Hat' trend explained
The "Cat in the Hat" trend began as a practical joke intended to stoke laughter (and inadvertently fear) with AI-generated imagery or content of The Cat from the live-action "Cat in the Hat" movie starring Mike Myers, which some have likened to the 2016 clown scare.
The trend seemingly began abroad, with users across Latin America and the United Kingdom sharing content featuring "The Cat" and later grainy videos of people lurking around neighborhoods dressed up as the Dr. Seuss character, teasing where they'd be heading to next.
Wexford Garda, Ireland's national police service, addressed the sightings in an Aug. 20 statement, writing, "In an unusual turn of events we are hearing a lot about an elusive Dr Seuss character doing the rounds online, apparently causing havoc in neighbourhoods and towns across the country."
The agency added: "Fortunately, we can rule out the issue, which is essentially an AI prompt that places the character into images/videos of familiar places. To be clear, the Cat in the Hat was not in your driveway while you were out and he is not currently hiding out in Curracloe (a village in the Republic of Ireland)..."
Anonymous users are seemingly targeting children now, with accounts using the name or likeness of The Cat to call out individual students or schools, "along with language suggesting that the character is 'coming for them,'" according to the Flemingsburg Police Department in Kentucky.
Similar incidents have been reported by users that appear to be located in the United Kingdom, including Schannan Williams, a "working class mum" based in Wolverhampton.
"Some kids are finding it hilarious and joining in — but others are genuinely scared and anxious when they see their own name and area attached to it," Williams wrote in an Instagram post, which includes a video of her discussing the trend. "You might know it’s a joke. A child might not."
"Cat in the Hat" content or imagery has appeared and been disseminated across video-sharing platforms such as TikTok, Snapchat and Instagram. USA TODAY contacted TikTok, Snapchat and Meta on Sept. 1 for comment but has not received a response.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Viral 'Cat in the Hat' trend linked to arrests and school lockdowns
