It’s hard to keep up with what kids are doing online these days. The latest viral meme, involving a Dr. Seuss character who’s definitely NOT teaching the youth their ABCs, seems silly and ridiculous at first glance — but it’s actually pretty terrifying. Sharing the meme has also had some very real and scary consequences. The current trend began as a dark-humor meme using clips from the 2003 Cat in the Hat movie. Many posts claim the character is coming to’a specific town, school or community in a way of inciting fear or making vague statements of harm. Sometimes the meme has a real-life element, and the character is filmed chasing actual people. No matter what form the meme takes, the idea is to sow fear and confusion. While the trend is not tied to any real-world violence, it creates several issues. First, there’s unnecessary fear that has parents, students and the wider community up in arms. Then there’s waste resources that schools and law enforcement have to deal with in responding to this fear. That, in turn, creates a disruption in school operations. Worse, there’s the potential for escalation. The meme can lead people to mimic or exaggerate the trend for attention. Law enforcement has already seen that even a single alarming post can trigger copycat sharing and lead students to report concerns. In short, it’s an Internet hoax, but the reaction to it can create real-world problems. Kids have actually been arrested for it. In Grand Junction, Colo., a 14-year-old was arrested after posting a version of the meme that referenced a threat to a middle school. Although there's no real threat, the imagery can be unsettling, especially for younger students, and posts sometimes spread quickly enough to prompt public worry. So, parents should explain the potential legal consequences of sharing hoax threats, and make sure their kids understand this is no joke.
