US schools and police warn about viral ‘Cat in the Hat’ trend after teens’ arrests
Disturbing and AI-generated versions of Dr Seuss character have been used to threaten schools and communities Schools and law enforcement authorities in the US are issuing warnings against a viral “Cat in the Hat” social media trend in which disturbing or AI-generated versions of the Dr Seuss character are used to threaten students, schools and communities. The latest warnings come as safety…
US schools and police are warning about a viral social media trend involving disturbing or AI-generated versions of the Dr Seuss character, Cat in the Hat. The trend, which originated on Snapchat, features images or short videos of the character lurking outside homes, schools, or streets at night, often with threatening messages towards specific towns or schools.
According to The Guardian US, several teenagers have been arrested or charged over posts connected to the trend, prompting safety concerns. The trend, which included footage that appears to be AI-generated or real people wearing costumes, originally circulated in Ireland and the United Kingdom in August 2026 before going viral in parts of the United States and Canada.
Authorities are warning that causing people to fear for their safety could potentially constitute as criminal harassment, despite social media users viewing the trend as a hoax or prank.
Brief written by urgent.news from The Guardian US, Guardian Technology — 2 reports on this story. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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