Tennessee warns of ‘Cat in the Hat’ AI trend threatening schools
The Tennessee Department of Safety says it is tracking a “Cat in the Hat” AI trend that targets children and schools through disturbing online posts.
Perhaps it started when someone sat in the house all that cold, cold, wet day.
At a computer, they used some new tricks, a little AI or digital editing to create the first of what has become an international trend — memes editing a live action Cat in the Hat into photos and videos of real places.
Whatever the initial intent, the Cat in the Hat trend has caused alarm in communities and schools where the memes are seen as unsettling and possibly threatening — and are almost universally called creepy.
A 14-year-old Grand Junction boy was arrested on Aug. 31 after he shared the meme, suggesting someone dressed as the character would visit a middle school and several homes, according to media reports. Grand Junction Police increased their presence at the school and Grand Junction High School until determining there was no threat, but said they identified a teen sending the meme.
The teen was arrested on suspicion of interference with staff, faculty or students of educational institutions and harassment. He was released back to his parents, according to a media report.
What is the Cat in the Hat trend?
Users are sharing AI-generated or digitally created content depicting a menacing version of the Cat in the Hat in real-world settings. The posts often show the character lurking outside homes, schools, or neighborhoods at night, sometimes appearing as grainy security camera footage.
The images and videos are often paired with text suggesting that the character is going to pay a visit to a specific school, home, town or a person.
The meme appears to have started in the United Kingdom or Latin America, according to USA TODAY.
Why are Cat in the Hat posts getting people in trouble?
While some people find the meme laughable, the posts are often taken as threatening, particularly by children who are unsettled by the idea of a visit from any stranger, let alone an anthropomorphic cat known for causing havoc.
“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,” Schannan Williams, a “working class mum” in England, wrote in an Instagram post.
“You might know it’s a joke. A child might not.”
Contributing: Amaris Encinas, USA TODAY
Nate Trela covers trending news in Colorado and Utah for the USA TODAY Network, with an emphasis on consumer finance, legal issues and state laws.
