#ChromebookChallenge: Students Are Setting Their Laptops On Fire For TikTok Clout
Last Updated:
The challenge has already caused real damage. Just last week, a classroom at Newington High School in Connecticut was evacuated after thick smoke filled the room.
Schools have urged parents to discuss dangers of online stunts with their children. (Representational Image)
In a disturbing new twist to the ever-evolving world of viral social media dares, schoolchildren across the United States are now setting fire to their own laptops – all in the name of fleeting online fame. The trend, which has taken off on TikTok under hashtags such as #ChromebookChallenge, #ChromebookDurabilityTest, and #FStudent, involves students deliberately short-circuiting their school-issued laptops by inserting pencil leads, paper clips, aluminum foil, or other conductive materials into the charging ports.
The result: overheating devices, toxic smoke, and in some cases, actual fires.
The challenge has already caused real damage. Just last week, a classroom at Newington High School in Connecticut was evacuated after thick smoke filled the room. The city’s fire marshal, DJ Zordan, told The New York Post that it took emergency crews to contain the situation. “It’s more than a trend now,” he warned, adding that laptop batteries can ignite very quickly and release dangerous fumes. “We’re seeing more of this, and it’s serious,” he said.
Similar incidents have cropped up in California, North and South Carolina, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Rhode Island, Wisconsin, and Washington, forcing schools to rethink digital safety policies. Many institutions are now enforcing fines for damaged devices and lost instructional time. Some districts have even issued warnings to parents, urging them to talk to their children about the dangers of engaging in online stunts.
Despite TikTok’s policies against dangerous behaviour, which the platform claims led to the removal of 99.7% of flagged content between October and December 2024, the challenge continues to spread rapidly. Videos featuring students shoving metal objects into laptops, followed by bursts of sparks or rising smoke, continue to rack up tens of thousands of views within hours.
TikTok provides users with tools to report harmful content, but critics argue that such reactive measures are insufficient. “The platform may be removing some videos, but the trend is evolving faster than moderation can keep up,” said a digital safety expert.
The stakes are high – not just for the hardware being destroyed, but for student safety and school security. In some reported cases, entire school wings have been evacuated due to fears of fire or toxic smoke spreading through the halls.
Experts now urge a multi-pronged response. “It’s not just about stopping the content – this is a parenting issue, a school safety issue, and a tech regulation issue all at once,” said one child psychologist, adding that children need to understand that virality isn’t worth risking their lives or endangering others.
- First Published:
