Local agency warns of dangerous 'Chromebook Challenge' TikTok trend
A new trend among young students circulating on TikTok is prompting warnings from local fire officials and school districts across the U.S., including here in Missouri, as well as Springfield.
It's being called the 'Chromebook Challenge.'
It's prompted agencies to encourage parents to talk to their kids about the dangers of tampering with lithium batteries.
The viral challenge encourages students to intentionally damage their Chromebook laptops, often by inserting metal objects into the USB port, with the goal of making them catch fire for online views.
The Osage Beach Fire Protection District issued a warning to parents via a Facebook post, confirming that this trend has already been attempted at a local middle school.
Ozarks First's has reached out to several school districts in the Springfield metro to see if the trend has led to incidents in classrooms in recent weeks.
Springfield Public Schools (SPS) responded saying they are aware of a few instances of this happening, but could not give an exact number.
A spokesperson for SPS says they were not aware of any evacuations as a result.
When asked about the consequences a student may face due to an incident like this, SPS told Ozarks First that elementary and middle school students could be given 5 days of out of school suspension for the first offense. For high school students, the punishment for a first offense could be 10 days of out of school suspension.
In the Facebook post, The Osage Beach Fire Protection District emphasized the potentially 'life-threatening act' and detailed the severe health risks associated with burning lithium-ion batteries, which release highly toxic gases.
These gases, the fire department explains, can cause severe respiratory problems, chemical exposure, and long-term health effects for anyone nearby, stressing that, 'This isn't your traditional campfire smoke.'
Watch the full breakdown in the video above from Bailey Strohl from the Ozarks First Digital Desk.
The dangers of this trend are not isolated to our region. KDVR in Denver, Colorado, reports that school district officials there are also warning students against this social media trend after multiple fires involving school-issued laptops in recent weeks.
Their reporting indicates that the trend involves videos showing students how to short-circuit their laptops or puncture the lithium batteries.
KDVR reports officials in Denver explain that this action causes the battery's temperature to rise uncontrollably, leading to a potential fire or explosion, as well as the release of toxic fumes.
In Belleville, New Jersey, WABC reports a 15-year-old student is facing charges after a laptop caught fire in a high school classroom, an incident police suspect was linked to this TikTok challenge.
According to WABC, authorities believe the student intentionally inserted the lead from a mechanical pencil into one of the laptop's ports, causing it to start smoking.
Local parents are being urged to speak with their children about the severe dangers and potential consequences associated with participating in this reckless online trend.
The 'Chromebook Challenge' risks damaging school property and leading to disciplinary action, as well as poses a significant threat to the health and safety of students and those around them.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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