{
  "id": 7160838,
  "title": "US schools and police warn about viral ‘Cat in the Hat’ trend after teens’ arrests",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/13/us-schools-and-police-warn-about-viral-cat-in-the-hat-trend-after-7160838",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-13T19:15:57.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Guardian US",
    "slug": "the-guardian-us",
    "url": "https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/sep/13/cat-in-the-hat-social-media-trend-arrests-school-warnings"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": null,
  "summary": "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.\n\nAccording 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.\n\nAuthorities 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.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Guardian Technology",
        "title": "US schools and police warn about viral ‘Cat in the Hat’ trend after teens’ arrests",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/13/us-schools-and-police-warn-about-viral-cat-in-the-hat-trend-after",
        "published": "2026-09-13T19:15:57.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}