Metro Atlanta schools alarmed over dangerous viral 'Chromebook Challenge'
Metro Atlanta school officials are warning students and parents about the danger and possible consequences of the new viral "Chromebook Challenge" spreading on TikTok.
The challenge involves students jamming metal objects into their school-issued laptops and can cause fires.
School officials say the challenge could lead to possible suspension and could wind up costing families hundreds of dollars.
GWINNETT COUNTY, Ga. - Multiple metro Atlanta school districts are speaking out over a new social media trend that could wind up costing families hundreds of dollars.
One county says it has seen dozens of incidents that have led to possible suspensions over the "Chromebook Challenge."
What we know
The challenge, which has spread on TikTok, involves students purposefully damaging their school-issued Chromebooks by jamming metal objects like paper clips into the charging port.
The act can cause the device to short-circuit, which can in some cases lead to a fire.
Metro Atlanta school officials say that the challenge damages laptops to the point where they either have to undergo extensive repairs or be completely replaced.
Dig deeper
While Gwinnett County schools say there have been limited reports of the dangerous challenge among its students, they say the students involved in the 31 incidents are facing disciplinary action, including suspension.
The students' families are also required to pay $200 to replace the damaged device.
Officials have not said if any students around Georgia have been injured while doing the challenge.
What they're saying
On Thursday, Clayton County Public School officials sent a warning to parents about the challenge, warning about the repercussions of the activity.
"We are asking our staff and our parents to partner with us in controlling this senseless act of vandalism by sharing the message that participation could create adverse situations that could have serious consequences," Superintendent Dr. Anthony W. Smith wrote. "This warning also extends beyond the Chromebook computers issued by the school district. Parents or guardians should monitor potential damage to household computers and other electronic equipment. The attempt could damage the device involved, spark a fire in the living space and/or cause personal injury."
The other side
In a response to comment from ABC News, TikTok said that it removes any content that violates its policy against "Dangerous Activities and Challenges" and has put a safety message on searches for "Chromebook Challenge" on the app.
The company is asking anyone who sees one of the posts on TikTok to report it through its support page.
The Source
Information for this story was taken from statements by the Gwinnett County and Cobb County school districts as well as a statement provided by TikTok to ABC News.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New York Post
10 hours ago
- New York Post
Shocking footage shows illegal-migrant driver make outrageous rogue U-turn, killing 3: officials
Terrifying video shows the moment a minivan ploughed into a tractor-trailer making an outrageous rogue U-turn on a Florida highway last week — with all three people in the van killed and the truck's illegal-migrant driver now charged with homicide. The roadway horror happened around 3 p.m. Tuesday on the Florida Turnpike near Fort Pierce when the tractor-trailer driven by suspect Harjinder Singh made a hard left turn across the highway and attempted to cross the median through an 'official use only' pass, authorities said. The truck's trailer blocked all of oncoming traffic's lanes as it nosed over the median — with footage from inside its cab showing a black minivan driving toward it with no time to stop and nowhere to turn to avoid a collision. Within seconds, the minivan slammed into the trailer at full speed and became wedged underneath. Photos from the wreck showed the minivan obliterated — with its contents strewn across the highway after apparently bursting from the van's side, while the roof was shorn back and crumpled over the trunk in a twisted mess of metal. Inside the truck's cab, Singh appeared completely unmoved by the violence unfolding on the highway. He looked out the cab window and watched as the minivan flew down the highway into the trailer, and when it collided and the truck was sent shuddering, his face remained unchanged as he calmly put his vehicle into park and turned the engine off. 4 Illegal-migrant driver Harjinder Singh calmly maneuvers his tractor-trailer across the highway in a highly illegal U-turn, cops said. gurubatth5/TikTok 4 Singh appears calm as he watches a black minivan plow into the side of his truck after he blocked the highway. gurubatth5/TikTok Additional footage from alongside the truck after the wreck — as rescue crews used jacks to lift the trailer from the van and extricate the passengers' remains — showed Singh standing by and watching the operation with his arms at his side and no expression on his face. Two passengers in the minivan were killed instantly, while the driver clung to life and was pulled from the wreck. The driver was later declared dead at a nearby hospital. The victims' names have not been released, but were confirmed to be a 37-year-old Pompano Beach woman, a 30-year-old Florida City man and a 54-year-old Miami man, Treasure Coast Newspapers reported. Singh was charged with three counts of vehicular homicide and is in Florida custody. 4 The minivan appeared to have burst upon impact and became wedged under the tractor trailer. St. Lucie County Sheriff's Office 4 Singh watches as rescue crews rushes to extract the victims from the ruined minivan. St. Lucie County Sheriff's Office An Immigration and Customs Enforcement detainer also was put out for him after it was determined that he'd been in the US illegally since 2018, when he crossed into the country over the Mexican border, CBS12 reported. It remains unclear what country Singh is originally from. He had been driving with a California commercial driver's license. If found guilty of homicide, Singh will likely serve his sentence in Florida and then be deported. 'Three people lost their lives as a result of his recklessness, and countless friends and family members will experience the pain of their loss forever,' said the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles' executive director, Dave Kerner. 'Harjinder Singh is in custody on state vehicular homicide charges and immigration violations. He will no longer be able to damage and destroy the lives of Floridians and visitors,' he added, according to CBS 12.
12 hours ago
States to deploy National Guard to DC as Trump's crackdown faces legal challenges
On 'This Week,' ABC News' National Correspondent Mola Lenghi reports on President Trump deploying the National Guard in D.C. to combat crime and homelessness.
Newsweek
14 hours ago
- Newsweek
ICE Arrests Influencer Tatiana Martinez During Live Stream
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. A Colombian immigrant TikTok influencer was detained by immigration agents after a confrontation outside her Los Angeles residence that unfolded live on social media. Leidy Tatiana Mafla-Martinez was apprehended by federal authorities while streaming on TikTok from her Tesla on Friday, August 15, according to the Department of Homeland Security. DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin told Newsweek that Martinez was arrested because of a prior DUI conviction in Los Angeles. Leidy Tatiana Mafla-Martinez was apprehended by federal authorities on Friday, August 15, according to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Leidy Tatiana Mafla-Martinez was apprehended by federal authorities on Friday, August 15, according to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Twitter Why It Matters Immigration authorities have been under heightened scrutiny amid allegations of misconduct, with the agency at the center of the national debate over immigration policy. That spotlight has widened since President Donald Trump ordered a ramp-up in arrests to fulfill his pledge of mass deportations, prompting renewed questions about the legality and human impact of ICE's enforcement practices. The widespread deportation efforts have attracted resistance from immigrant rights advocates. What To Know Martinez—who entered the U.S. in 2022, according to DHS—posts under the handle @tatianamartinez_02. She has gained attention for documenting ICE operations, sharing "know your rights" guidance, and offering commentary on immigration enforcement. Footage circulating on social media appears to show Martinez seated in a Tesla when federal agents approached, opened the driver's side door, and pulled her onto the pavement. The video shows her being restrained face down with a covering placed over her head, and observers can be heard calling for medical assistance before she appears motionless. McLaughlin added that the arrest was further complicated when "an individual unlawfully towed a government police vehicle." Footage on social media shows a federal agent running after a vehicle after the tow truck removes the car. "He mocked and videotaped ICE officers chasing after him. Secretary Noem has been clear: Anyone who seeks to impede law enforcement will be found and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law," McLaughlin said. Following the incident, Martinez was transported to White Memorial Hospital and subsequently transferred to a downtown detention center, according to L.A. Taco. McLaughlin said Martinez reported shortness of breath during her arrest and was given medical treatment. The influencer, who has amassed more than 37,000 followers on TikTok, has been actively creating content that documents immigration enforcement since Trump directed his administration to remove millions of migrants without legal status. DHS has claimed that ICE agents are facing a 1000 percent increase in assaults against them; however, the agency has not provided any detailed breakdowns of the allegations. What People Are Saying Tricia McLaughlin told Newsweek: "On August 15, ICE arrested Leidy Tatiana Mafla-Martinez, a criminal illegal alien from Colombia who was convicted for driving under the influence in Los Angeles. This criminal illegal alien entered the country in 2022 and was RELEASED by the Biden administration. During her arrest, Martinez claimed to experience shortness of breath. She was given proper medical treatment and will be held in ICE custody pending removal proceedings." The Sidewalk School, an immigrant rights group, wrote in a post on Instagram: "She was pulled screaming from her Tesla, later taken by ambulance to the hospital." David Earl Williams III, a Democrat, wrote on Facebook: "ICE violently arrested activist-journalist Tatiana Martinez in LA, slamming her to the ground on livestream. After a brief hospital release, she was taken back into custody. In a wild twist, one of ICE's SUVs was towed mid-arrest—turning their crackdown into a symbol of resistance." What Happens Next Martinez will remain in ICE custody pending further removal proceedings.
