The TikTok Trend That Has Kids Setting Their School Laptops On Fire During Class

Yahoo

07-05-2025

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Yahoo is using AI to generate takeaways from this article. This means the info may not always match what's in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience.
Yahoo is using AI to generate takeaways from this article. This means the info may not always match what's in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience. Generate Key Takeaways
Another day, another TikTok trend—except this one doesn't just waste school supplies and teacher's time—it literally sets stuff on fire. Yes, you heard that right.
The latest social media challenge sweeping across schools involves inserting objects into laptops in an attempt to set them on fire. Known as the #Chromebookchallenge or the #Chromebookdurabilitytest across TikTok and Instagram, tweens and teens are posting and sharing videos of them short circuiting laptops, smoking up classrooms, and even being evacuated from school.
Here's everything parents need to know about this dangerous emerging trend, including how to speak to your child about it.
What Is the #ChromebookChallenge?
The concerning trend boils down to this: students insert objects into their school-issued Chromebook laptops in an attempt to force an electrical short circuit and cause fires.
Kids lodge anything from lead from mechanical pencils, push pins, metallic gum wrappers, paper clips, and nails into the USB port of the laptop, said Mark F. Zito, the superintendent of Rocky Hill Public Schools in Connecticut, to CT Insider.
Although these incidents so far have only been officially reported in Connecticut schools, there are tons of emerging videos of kids doing it across social media platforms, suggesting that the trend will likely spread.
New videos of kids inserting objects into their Chromebooks are popping up on social media platforms every hour, with kids leaving comments like, "Ima [I'm going to] do this in school trust." And "why is this all over my fyp (for you page)."
In addition to #chromebookchallenge, teens are also using #chromebookdurabilitytest and #fstudent with an accompanying audio from a popular motivational video to post videos trying to short circuit their school-issued laptop. Simply clicking on the audio reveals dozens of similar clips—most posted in the past 24 hours—of kids attempting to set their laptops on fire.
Why Are Kids Doing This?
It's difficult to say exactly why tweens are setting their laptops on fire. On one end, they see it as a way to get out of doing school work and potentially miss class due to having to evacuate. As this student writes over a clip of them inserting a mechanical pencil into their Chromebook, "anything but work."
However, on another end, it seems to be a running joke that it's also an inventive way to get out of doing something you don't want to do. Several videos take the line "F students are inventors" from the trending audio to use as text overlay, suggesting that maybe they see what they're doing as an innovative way to avoid responsibility.
Above all else, though, kids are clearly doing this for attention. Attention from their peers, attention from kids online, and perhaps even attention from their teachers. Some students even joke under these videos that the type of kids who try the #chromebookchallenge are the same ones who act like the teacher targets them in class, and leave mocking comments like "'Teachers target me bro'" under their videos.
The Fiery Reponse
While this trend is still emerging, the response in the school districts that have been impacted has been swift. As CT Insider reports, students who are caught tampering with their laptops in this way will face consequences, including suspension and possible expulsion from school.
It seems other schools are struggling to gauge how strict the response should be, according to several comments from students I read across multiple TikTok videos. Some schools issued days-long suspensions and heavily fined students who short-circuited their computers. While other schools are simply issuing warnings and kicking students out of class.
One student commented, "Our school is handing out $300 fines," under a video. Another student, under the same video, said that their entire class was merely yelled at for doing it.
What Parents Can Do
The #Chromebookchallenge or #Chromebookdurabilitytest is an incredibly dangerous trend. Not only does it pose a physical threat to children by exposing them to fumes, sparks, fires, and even explosions, but it is also an incredibly disrespectful thing to do. Kids are intentionally destroying their school-issued supplies and doing it in the middle of class, which impacts everyone's ability to focus and learn.
It's especially disruptive when kids are forced to evacuate school, which was the case for two high schools in Connecticut, which both missed over 30 minutes of class due to safety concerns. For students who are actually concerned about learning, and teachers who are simply trying to do their job, this trend is beyond just annoying.
The reality is no one wants to believe their kid would do something so reckless, but if your child happens to be one who participates in the "durability test,"—here's how to talk to them about it.
Start the conversation : Everything begins with a conversation, so start talking to your child about the trend. Ask them if they have heard of it or have seen anyone in school try it.
Explain the risks : Make sure they understand all the risks associated with trying the #Chromebookchallenge, not only could they face possible expulsion, but they could also injure themselves and others.
Monitor devices and platforms : Check their devices and social media platforms to ensure they aren't interacting with (or posting) any content related to the trend. Kids in this space tend to encourage one another to take on increasingly dangerous challenges.
Work with your school: Ask how your child's school is responding. Many schools are sending mass emails to parents, issuing safety notices, or involving local fire departments to address the concern.
Overall, it's important to be proactive about this emerging trend. It's likely only a matter of time before a child gets seriously hurt.
Read the original article on Parents