California school districts warn of TikTok Chromebook Challenge that's led to arrests, fires
At least two California school districts are warning parents of a TikTok trend that involves students purposefully damaging their computers, which could result in the devices catching fire.
The trend, which appeared to gain traction nationwide in May, has reportedly resulted in the arrest of a 13-year-old in Long Beach.
Oxnard School District in Ventura County, which enrolled over 13,000 students in the 2023-2024 academic year per state figures, posted on social media on May 12 about the TikTok trend known as the Chromebook Challenge.
'This challenge encourages students to intentionally damage their school-issued Chromebooks by tampering with charging ports, batteries, or even inserting objects like pencil lead into the device ports or electrical outlets,' the Ventura County school district said.
Schools nationwide are warning their students not to participate in the social media trend.
In New Jersey, a 15-year-old was charged with arson after a laptop caught fire, WABC reported on May 9. Meanwhile, a fire department told The Colorado Sun that they'd been contacted by schools for 16 incidents related to the challenge, although the incidents did not require a response from them.
Oxnard School District encouraged students to report if they see or hear about an incident, and families are encouraged to speak with their students about the 'importance of not engaging in this dangerous challenge.'
The Ventura County school district laid out the consequences of participating in the social media trend, saying that damaging a Chromebook can result in suspension, that families and students will be held responsible for the intentional damage and that the risk of a fire starting means law enforcement could become involved.
'Thank you for promoting responsible choices, and for your ongoing partnership in keeping our school community safe,' Oxnard School District said.
Santa Paula Unified School District, also in Ventura County, shared on social media on May 7 a similar message about the TikTok trend.
'We will be enforcing district policy regarding the misuse of technology and would like to remind parents/guardians that they will be held financially responsible for any international damage to school-issued devices,' the school district said.
Neither Ventura County school districts said whether any of their students have participated in the trend in their social media posts.
The warnings come as a 13-year-old student was arrested 'in connection with an arson incident' at Perry Lindsey Academy in Long Beach, the Los Angeles Times reported on May 12.
'The student inserted a foreign object into a battery charging port, damaging a Chromebook,' the Los Angeles Times said.
In Northern California, a teacher at Wilson C. Riles Middle School in Roseville evacuated their classroom when a student's computer began smoking, KCRA 3 reported.
Paris Barraza is a trending reporter covering California news at The Desert Sun. Reach her at pbarraza@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: California schools warn 'dangerous' TikTok trend involving laptops
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