BROWNSVILLE, Texas — Brownsville Independent School District police are warning parents about a viral social-media trend involving altered or artificial-intelligence-generated images that may appear threatening and refer to schools, communities or students.
The posts use a distorted version of the “Cat in the Hat” character and have circulated in several Texas communities. School districts and law-enforcement agencies elsewhere in South Texas increased patrols or investigated posts after local schools or students were mentioned.
Authorities have stressed that a viral trend does not make threatening language harmless. Posts that name a school, student or community can trigger an emergency response and may lead to criminal consequences, even when the person responsible later describes the post as a joke or hoax.
Parents and students who encounter a concerning post should avoid amplifying it publicly. They should preserve the original information, including the account name, time and screenshots, and report it directly to school administrators or law enforcement.
Families should rely on official district and police communications for verified safety information and should call 911 when they believe there is an immediate danger.
