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Social media has produced some pretty interesting trends over the years. Who could forget the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge, which had people dumping buckets of ice water over their heads to raise awareness and money for research into the deadly disease? Or how about #TrashTag, which inspired people to clean up litter in their communities?
Unfortunately, not all social media trends have been positive, and some have even been downright dangerous. People filmed themselves biting into laundry detergent pods for the “Tide Pod Challenge,” a risky trend linked to serious poisonings and even deaths. Another trend dubbed the “Fire Challenge” had participants setting their own clothing and even bodies on fire, leading to severe burns.
The number of dangerous social media trends continues to grow, and the latest one, called “Cat in the Hat,” has schools and even law enforcement sounding the alarm.
A Dangerous Social Media Trend
Social media users participating in the “Cat in the Hat” trend have created videos of the beloved children’s book character to threaten students, educational institutions, and even entire communities. Some of the videos are made with artificial intelligence (AI), while others feature people wearing “Cat in the Hat” costumes.
The trend began on Snapchat, where people shared images and short videos of the Cat in the Hat creeping around neighborhoods and schools after dark. Some posts have even involved threats against schools, towns, and specific individuals, while others have featured lists of potential targets.
Real-World Consequences
Several teenagers have already been arrested, with some facing charges in connection with the ominous trend. In one such instance, a 15-year-old near Wichita, Kansas, was taken into police custody over a “Cat in the Hat” video that allegedly featured disturbing threats.
Authorities said the teen, a student at Hutchinson High School, was charged with two counts of criminal threat. “Threats of any nature are taken seriously by the Hutchinson Police Department and Hutchinson High School. Regardless of whether a post is intended as a joke, it is unlawful to cause others, particularly students, to fear for their safety,” the Hutchinson Police Department said in a statement.
In Colorado, the Grand Junction Police Department recently increased its presence at West Middle School and Grand Junction High School “out of an abundance of caution” due to a “Cat in the Hat” social media post. “The posts are intended to cause alarm and fear in individuals,” authorities explained. Grand Junction police eventually arrested and charged a 14-year-old student with “Interference with Staff, Faculty, or Students of Educational Institutions and Harassment.”
Why This Matters
Social media is here to stay, and while it’s a great way to keep in touch with family, friends, and communities, it’s important that young users understand it also comes with serious risks.
For generations, parents have asked their children the same question: “If all your friends jumped off a bridge, would you jump, too?” In the age of social media, peer pressure has become a near-constant phenomenon, with “bridges” – like the “Cat in the Hat” challenge – around every corner day and night. As such, teaching America’s youth to think for themselves and resist the pressure to follow the crowd is more important than ever.
4 Questions
The story, in brief
What is the Cat in the Hat social media trend?
The Cat in the Hat trend involves social media users making videos of the children's book character to threaten students, schools, and even entire communities. Some videos are created with artificial intelligence, while others show people wearing Cat in the Hat costumes. The trend began on Snapchat with images and short videos of the character creeping around neighborhoods and schools after dark.
Why are schools and police warning about the Cat in the Hat trend?
Authorities say the posts are meant to cause alarm and fear in individuals. Some posts have included threats against schools, towns, and specific people, while others have featured lists of potential targets. Because of those threats, schools and law enforcement have been sounding the alarm.
Who has been arrested over Cat in the Hat threats?
Several teenagers have already been arrested in connection with the trend. Near Wichita, Kansas, a 15-year-old Hutchinson High School student was charged with two counts of criminal threat. In Colorado, police arrested a 14-year-old student and charged the teen with Interference with Staff, Faculty, or Students of Educational Institutions and Harassment.
How have police responded to Cat in the Hat social media posts?
Police have taken the threats seriously and made arrests in multiple cases. In Grand Junction, Colorado, the police department increased its presence at West Middle School and Grand Junction High School out of an abundance of caution because of a Cat in the Hat post. Authorities have also said that even posts intended as jokes can be unlawful if they cause people, especially students, to fear for their safety.
