Siloam Springs Schools said the district has appeared in one of the AI-generated videos, but there is no known credible or imminent threat.
SILOAM SPRINGS, Ark. — A viral social media trend involving AI-generated and digitally altered images of the Cat in the Hat is prompting school safety concerns across Arkansas.
The Arkansas Division of Elementary and Secondary Education notified schools about the trend after similar posts raised concerns across the country.
The posts often show a menacing, life-sized version of the character near schools, homes, or windows. Some include school names, towns, student names, or threatening captions.
Siloam Springs Schools Communications Director Aaron Russell said the district has appeared in one of the videos, though officials have received no credible information indicating a direct threat to local schools.
The district is working with school resource officers and law enforcement to monitor the situation.
Russell said the videos appear to follow a similar template and may be intended as jokes or fabricated threats, but schools cannot assume that is the case.
“You would rather address something that’s false and it not turn out to be true than to overlook something that could possibly be a threat, and you didn’t do your due diligence,” Russell said.
The district is also warning students against participating in the trend. Russell said online posts can be traced and something intended as a harmless joke could lead to school discipline or involvement from authorities.
Siloam Springs Schools is asking families not to share or repost the videos. Anyone who sees a post naming a local school or student should take a screenshot, report it to the social media platform and notify the school.
