Public told not to believe viral ‘Cat in the Hat’ social media posts

Police forces across the UK and Ireland have warned the public not to believe viral social media posts featuring AI-generated images of Dr Seuss' Cat in the Hat, which falsely claim the character has been spotted in various towns. South Yorkshire Police debunked a fake statement circulating online, and An Garda Síochána in Ireland reassured the public that the character is merely an AI prompt, following reports that the posts frightened some teenagers.

Public told not to believe viral ‘Cat in the Hat’ social media posts - Police forces across the UK and Ireland have responded to a viral social media craze featuring AI-generated images and videos of Dr Seuss' Cat in the Hat. - Mocked-up posts on platforms including TikTok, Facebook and X falsely claim the character has been spotted crouching on cars and peering into windows in various towns. - South Yorkshire Police debunked a fake statement circulating online that claimed officers were investigating sightings, urging the public not to believe social media rumours. - An Garda Síochána in Ireland also reassured the public that the character is merely an AI prompt, following reports that the posts had frightened some teenagers. - The viral craze comes as ministers call on social media platforms to remove dangerous content related to a separate trend involving wrong-way driving.