WAGONER COUNTY, Okla. — The Wagoner County Sheriff’s Office is encouraging parents and guardians to discuss responsible social media use in connection with the “Cat in the Hat” trend that’s spread across social media.
The trend involves creepy altered or AI-generated images of the Dr. Seuss character being placed near a school, home, or community, sometimes accompanied by threatening language targeting specific students or individuals in the area.
The sheriff’s office explained that while these images may often be meant as a meme or a joke, threats to an individual’s safety or threatening, harassing content can result in a serious law enforcement investigation.
Authorities explained that arrests and investigations involving juveniles connected to these types of posts have already occurred in other states.
In the wake of this trend, the Wagoner County Sheriff’s Office is encouraging parents and guardians to have age-appropriate conversations with their children about responsible social media use.
Listed below are some reminders the sheriff’s office encourages sharing with students:
- “Do not create threatening or intimidating posts, even as a joke.
- Do not threaten, harass, or target another person online.
- Do not post or share content identifying a specific student, school, home, or location in connection with a threat.
- Do not repost or amplify threatening content simply because it is going viral.
- Do not assume that an anonymous account cannot be identified. Social media activity can be investigated and traced.
- If you see something concerning, save the information and report it to a parent, school official, or law enforcement rather than sharing it with friends.”
The sheriff’s office explained, “We understand that young people sometimes participate in online trends without fully considering the consequences. Our goal is to educate families and prevent a situation from escalating. However, once online content crosses the line into threats, harassment, intimidation, or conduct that causes others to fear for their safety, law enforcement must take it seriously.”
If you or your child sees a post threatening a specific person, school, or location, the sheriff’s office asks that you take it seriously and report it to law enforcement.
The Wagoner County Sheriff’s Office can be reached at 918-485-3124.
However, if you believe there is an immediate threat to someone’s safety, call 911.
