09/05/2026
Dr. Shultz would ask you to take a moment to read the following message. We've sent this information to everyone on ParentSquare, and we also wanted to share it with the public at large:
September 4, 2026
Good afternoon BPS Families,
I would like to make you aware of a concerning social media trend that has recently begun impacting schools in Michigan and across the nation.
The “Cat in the Hat” social media trend uses manipulated, staged, and often AI-generated images and videos to create frightening or threatening content. While much of the content is fictional, some accounts have begun naming individual schools, communities, or students. When that happens, what may have started as an internet
trend becomes something schools and law enforcement must take seriously.
We are sharing this information not to create alarm, but because awareness and responsible reporting help keep our school community safe. Bedford Public Schools take all potential threats seriously. When we receive concerning information, we investigate, work with law enforcement as appropriate, assess its credibility, and respond accordingly. Students who create or share threatening content may face significant school consequences, including expulsion, as well as potential criminal charges.
For additional information regarding threats in schools, please review a joint letter from the Monroe County Sheriff and Prosecutor’s offices that follows this message.
This trend also reminds us why students need to learn how to navigate AI and other digital tools responsibly. Images, videos, and other content can now be created or altered in ways that make it increasingly difficult to immediately determine what is real. Learning to pause, question, and verify what we see online is becoming increasingly important.
Please reinforce these three reminders with your student:
• Report it; do not repost it. If something appears threatening or concerning, tell a staff member or trusted adult immediately. Outside of school hours, contact local law enforcement or report it through OK2SAY.
• A joke, meme, trend, or AI-generated post can still cause real harm. Never create or share threatening content involving a student, staff member, school, or community.
• Pause before sharing. Not everything online is authentic, and spreading unverified information can quickly create unnecessary fear.
We will continue to monitor this and other emerging trends and will communicate with families when information directly affects any one of our schools. Thank you for helping us reinforce this one simple message with our students: when something concerns you, report it rather than repost it.
Thank you,
Dr. Carl Shultz
Superintendent
