What is the Chromebook Challenge? The trend that has students destroying school laptops

Indianapolis Star

20-05-2025

A new social media challenge encourages students to not hop on the latest dance trend or pour buckets of ice over their heads, but intentionally destroy school property.
The "Chromebook Challenge," which began on TikTok in early May, encourages students to stick small items like paperclips or pencils inside of their school-assigned Google Chromebooks' USB ports, all in hope for a small cloud of smoke or better yet, a spark, to ignite.
The challenge gained nationwide attention after a 15-year-old high school student in Belleville, New Jersey was arrested and charged with third-degree arson and criminal mischief for intentionally manipulating his Chromebook as part of the challenge on May 8, a Belleville Police Department news release states. The laptop, which was left outside of a classroom while students and staff evacuated the school, emitted smoke and was charred when police and firefighters arrived.
As schools across the country warn students and parents about this new trend, here's what to know about the Chromebook Challenge, including how schools and TikTok itself, are handling the fallout.
The Chromebook Challenge encourages students with school-assigned Google Chromebooks to shove small items, like paperclips or graphite pencils, into the laptop's USB ports, which can result in smoke, fire or even an explosion.
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Yes, the Chromebook Challenge is dangerous. Placing items like paperclips inside a Chromebook's USB port can cause the laptop to short-circuit, generating heat, sparks, and smoke.
For example, by placing a paperclip into a laptop's USB port, the paperclip becomes a pathway for electricity to travel outside of its intended circuit path, the National Fire Protection Association states. This can lead to a short circuit, which could result in the generation of excess heat.
Laptops contain lithium-ion batteries. When these batteries are heated too much, it can lead to toxic gas generation, fire and even explosions, according to the National Fire Protection Association.
Even if noticeable damage doesn't occur after placing something like a paperclip into a Chromebook's USB port, there is an increased risk of malfunction. The malfunction can be minimal, like the USB port no longer working, or result in something more serious, like toxic gas generation, the National Fire Protection Association states.
School districts across the country are sending letters to parents and using social media to educate about the Chromebook Challenge, in addition to the repercussions students may face if they participate. Most districts outline that students will be held financially responsible for a full replacement cost of a new laptop, which hovers around $300.
Two senior high school students at the San Diego Unified School District encouraged their peers in a blog post to avoid participating in the challenge.
"Truthfully, it's just dumb. These computers are lent to us so we can better learn. It's wasteful, dangerous and everyone loses," Scripps Ranch High School senior Quinton Baldis said in the blog post. "I'm highly advising my classmates to not join in on this careless trend. We're better than this."
New Hampshire's Cooperative Middle School Principal Drew Bairstow shared in a letter to parents that over the course of three days, at least 15 incidents of students intentionally damaging their Chromebooks had been reported.
On May 9, Jackson County Public Schools in North Carolina shared a photo of a burned Chromebook on social media. As of May 19, the school district confirmed four cases of Chromebooks that fell victim to the challenge, Jackson County Public Schools Public Information Officer Shaneka Allen told USA TODAY.
"This behavior is not only extremely dangerous but also a direct violation of school policy and is considered vandalism," the school district shared in a social media statement. "We are asking all families to have a serious conversation with their students about the significant dangers and consequences of participating in this trend."
As of May 20, TikTok did not generate any content from the search, "Chromebook Challenge."
"Some online challenges can be dangerous, disturbing or even fabricated," a pop-up on the platform reads. "Learn how to recognize harmful challenges so you can protect your health and well-being."
TikTok then directs users to resources for determining if an online challenge is safe to participate in and how to report one that isn't.