«القط ذو القبعة» يتحول لترند مرعب يثير قلق المدارس

The famous character (the Cat in the Hat) has transformed from the world of children's books into a major source of concern in the United States, after frightening images and videos of the character appeared on social media, showing it in nighttime scenes or near homes and schools, some of which were generated using artificial intelligence.

The spread of this material has led to official warnings from schools and security agencies, after some posts included the names of students and specific locations along with phrases considered to have a threatening nature, according to (ABC News). The circulated clips show a dark version of the character, as if captured by surveillance cameras or during the Cat's nighttime strolls in residential neighborhoods, which has sparked fear among students and parents.

Authorities reported that some posts carried mysterious messages claiming the character was approaching a specific school or city, while other posts pinpointed specific locations and names, which heightened concerns about the nature of the content and its spread among teenagers.

In Tennessee, the Threat Assessment Center of the Department of Homeland Security announced it is monitoring the trend after spotting posts targeting schools and students in the state, describing the content as "concerning" and generated by artificial intelligence. Schools in Arkansas also dealt with similar posts, including a clip related to students at Carlisle School, which the administration said could be interpreted as carrying threatening implications.

In Colorado, police arrested a 14-year-old student after linking a post related to the trend to threats targeting West Middle School and other locations in the Grand Junction area. The police clarified that they increased their presence around two schools as a precautionary measure, before it became clear that there was no actual threat, and the teenager was later released after being detained on suspicion of interfering with staff and students.

As the content spread, law enforcement agencies urged parents and students to refrain from reposting the alarming clips and to simply report them. The Louisville police confirmed that they have not detected any credible threats related to the trend so far, but they continue to investigate in coordination with school administrations.

The character (the Cat in the Hat) dates back to 1957 when it appeared in the famous children's book by American author Dr. Seuss, before becoming one of the most prominent figures in children's literature thanks to its playful appearance and striped hat, contributing to the launch of the Beginner Books series that encouraged millions of children to read.