PH
A disturbing AI-related trend has been spreading online: edited or AI-generated videos and images show a sinister-looking “Cat in the Hat” appearing outside homes, neighborhoods, and even schools—often styled like grainy doorbell-camera footage.
The creepy part is not really the character. It is how realistic and local these posts can seem. Some versions reportedly name real schools, communities, or students, which makes a fake video feel like an immediate threat.
Authorities and school districts have warned people not to amplify the posts. While the imagery may be fabricated or intended as a prank, any post that references a real school or person can create panic and must be treated seriously by law enforcement. Reports say no threat connected to the trend has been carried out, but the posts have prompted real investigations and, in some places, charges against students.
This is one of the eeriest examples of where AI is taking social media: it is becoming possible to make a fake event look like it happened right outside your door.
The takeaway: seeing a video is no longer enough to assume it is real. Before sharing something alarming:
1. Check whether a school district, police department, or reputable local news source has confirmed it.
2. Do not repost frightening clips simply to warn others; spreading an unverified post may magnify the panic.
3. Report content that names a real school, community, or individual or includes threatening language.
4. Families should consider a private verification phrase for urgent calls or voice messages, since AI voice cloning is also getting more convincing.
AI itself is not “evil,” but it is making old internet hoaxes far more believable—and potentially more disruptive in the real world.
What do you think: are platforms doing enough to label or slow down AI-generated videos that look like real local threats?