What may look like a prank online is being treated much more seriously by Jefferson Police and others.
Officials say the viral “Cat in the Hat” trend uses AI-generated images and videos to create threatening scenarios that have sparked concern at schools and law enforcement circles across Georgia. Worth County High School and the Jefferson Police Department have both warned families about the trend.
Criminologist Dr. Tod Burke tells WSET even posts meant as jokes can lead to law enforcement investigations, school discipline, and potentially criminal charges.
Jefferson Police say they are aware of the very odd, viral “Cat In The Hat” trend involving AI type videos that is currently occurring across the country.
“Videos were posted online and then apparently deleted that said the ‘Cat In The Hat’ was coming to “’Jefferson,'” a police department social media posting says. “No specific location, date or time was mentioned in the videos. No actual, physical threat was made in those videos either. We are investigating where those videos were generated from.
“Parents, please tell your kids to not participate in this trend and that if they come across these types of videos on social media to notify an SRO or school administrator.”
Out of an abundance of caution, police promised to have a larger presence on Jefferson school campuses “for the coming days.”