Students deliberately short-circuiting school laptops as part of social media trend
DENVER (KDVR) — School district officials are warning students against a social media trend directing them to short-circuit their school-issued laptops after multiple fires were reported in recent weeks.
Officials say it's all part of a social media trend where videos show students how to short-circuit their laptop or puncture the lithium batteries. The short-circuit or puncture causes the battery's temperature to rise uncontrollably, which can lead to a fire or explosion. It also releases toxic fumes.
More Local News
On Wednesday, the Boulder Valley School District in Colorado said there were three reports of such incidents at its schools: One at Eldorado PK-8 and two at Broomfield High School. Three other incidents occurred May 2-6 at Centaurus High School, Broomfield Heights Middle School and Angevine Middle School.
The district sent an email to families asking them to discuss the incidents together.
'It is all of our responsibility to take care of each other and school property on a daily basis,' the email stated. 'That is why we encourage families to have a conversation with students about using social media responsibly and the potential consequences of engaging in this type of behavior.'
More: Latest News from Around the Tri-State
The district noted that not only are the battery fires dangerous and could cause injury or property damage, but that students who damage their laptops are violating the Student Code of Conduct and the law, 'potentially leading to school discipline and criminal prosecution.'
'Our hope is that by speaking to students in advance, we can ensure everyone can enjoy the last weeks before summer break and help students avoid situations that can have large repercussions,' the district's email stated.
The Boulder Valley School District is far from alone. Administrators of the Adams 12 Five Star Schools district, about an hour east of Denver, also sent an email to families with a similar message in recent days. Warnings have also been sent to parents in Connecticut and Pennsylvania about the potential dangers of the 'trend.'
It even led to the Connecticut State Fire Marshal and State Fire Administrator issuing a warning.
'Social media trends, many that include risky behavior, are sadly on the increase. Students and parents must be aware of this latest trend involving laptops and other personal electronic devices that have the potential to cause serious injury, death, and/or property damage,' said Connecticut State Fire Administrator Jeff Morrissette.
One school in Pennsylvania posted a message on its website telling families that each of its Chromebooks costs $350, and the cost will be billed to the students and their families if the student chooses to participate in the trend.
'We are asking for your support in speaking with your child about the very real dangers of this behavior, as well as reinforcing the importance of treating school-issued devices with care,' the superintendent said.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
20 hours ago
- Yahoo
Aurora City Council will not hold in-person meetings until Kilyn Lewis lawsuit concludes
DENVER (KDVR) — Aurora Mayor Mike Coffman announced Tuesday that the city's council meetings will be held virtually to prevent disruptions while a lawsuit filed on behalf of a man shot and killed by police works its way through the court system. The message was echoed on the council's webpage. The webpage includes instructions for how members of the public can view the meetings or provide public comment on agenda items. However, all public comment listening sessions have been canceled until further notice. Family of man killed by Aurora police last May files suit against city, officer who fired deadly shot The measure was voted on during the June 9 council meeting, with seven in favor, three against, and two members in debate. In May, the council addressed a resolution that would change how it accepts public comment. 'As of right now, criminally, Michael Dieck did not murder Kilyn Lewis,' said councilwoman Danielle Jurinsky. 'It's in the court's hands now, and I would like to suspend this to be virtual until we have an official ruling from the court as to whether or not the city is liable in any way, shape or form for the death of Kilyn Lewis. Because if we are not in fact liable in any way, shape or form for the death of Kilyn Lewis, there is nothing left to discuss, and there's no reason for you to come back.' Jurinsky added that if the ruling takes years to reach, then she's on board with having virtual meetings until the ruling. Family and friends of Kilyn Lewis have held protests during several Aurora City Council meetings. The group has been seeking justice after the 37-year-old was shot and killed by an Aurora police officer in May 2024. In October, the district attorney ruled that an officer who shot Lewis would not face charges. In late May, Lewis' family filed a lawsuit seeking accountability from the Aurora Police Department in their loved one's death. It discusses excessive force, wrongful death and violations of the family's constitutional rights. 'This lawsuit is not just about a dollar amount. It's about truth. It's about making sure that the life of a Black man like Kilyn Lewis is not so easily discarded,' said MiDian Shofner, CEO of the Epitome of Black Excellence and Partnership and lead advocate for the family, in the May 28 announcement of the case filing. 'No amount of money can bring him back, but since America has made money the metric for justice, the family is rightfully pursuing every legal remedy available.' Coffman wrote on Facebook that he believes the group is simply looking for a check, and then they will 'go away.' Deadly shooting of Kilyn Lewis leads to new Aurora police SWAT policies: Report 'Until then, they will continue to disrupt our meetings. They have no choice but to continue disrupting our meetings because their lawsuit is meritless. This is why we have no choice but to stop all in-person council meetings, and go virtual, until their lawsuit has been concluded,' Coffman wrote. He noted that an Arapahoe County Grand Jury was also asked to review the case and declined to pursue charges against the officer. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Yahoo
Caught on camera: Masked men use stolen welcome sign to hide theft of Pride flags
FORT COLLINS, Colo. (KDVR) — Masked men using a stolen sign to block the theft of several Pride flags from people's front yards in a Fort Collins neighborhood were caught on camera. It was the first year Rebecca and Sarah Peck hung their flags in front of their home they had recently moved into. When they lived in Alabama, they say they would hang them all the time, with no problem. Trio of 'RuPaul's Drag Race' stars to headline Denver PrideFest's Center Stage Now, they feel violated knowing someone walked onto their property and made off with their belongings. When Sarah Peck was out cutting grass early Saturday morning, she noticed something was off. 'Then I finished and I was like, wait a minute,' said Sarah. 'What happened to our flags? Like all of them.' The three hanging in the couple's front yard are gone, along with the couple's hand-painted welcome sign. 'The whole process took a couple of weeks between the painting and drying. I wouldn't be surprised if it took a month of work for all of that,' said Sarah. 'I was more like, where'd they go … what happened. I was confused.' It was when a neighbor showed a video of two masked men appearing to use the same sign to hide the theft that neighbors were able to connect the dots. Sarah said, 'It was more of a shock, like this is our sign. It's very distinguishable.' The couple also learned that other homes in the neighborhood were targeted. 'From what I understand, we all had something Pride-related that was messed with,' said Sarah. 'One of the neighbors had a pride wreath that was messed with on their front door. I heard other flags getting taken as well.' Friends remember Jax Gratton two months after she went missing Sarah says she reported the situation to the police, hoping someone can recognize the people responsible. 'What was so offensive to you that you felt the need to come on our personal property and take our stuff?' Sarah asked. Around noon on Monday, the couple replaced the stolen flag while also taping a message to their front door. 'We're not going to be intimidated by it,' said Sarah. Sarah says the sign that was stolen was sentimental and she desperately wants it back. She wants to send a message out to the community to be vigilant. Meanwhile, if you can identify the people in the video, you are asked to give Fort Collins police a call at 970-221-6540. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Yahoo
Family comes to pay respects to mother of 4 killed in house fire
WELD COUNTY, Colo. (KDVR) — A Weld County family gathered Monday night outside the home they lost to fire to remember their mother, who did not make it out alive. Early Friday morning, Mountain View Fire Rescue responded to the blaze off of Highway 119, near Weld County Road 7, just east of Longmont. Former funeral director who left body in hearse for over a year gets maximum sentence Relatives say 46-year-old Rosa Maria Borrego perished in the blaze. Another family member was rushed to the hospital with burns. At Monday's vigil, in front of where the family's house once stood, red balloons floated in a slight breeze. 'Her favorite color was red,' said her son, Jovanny Soto. 'She always said, if anything happened to her, she wanted everyone to say 'goodbye' to her in red.' Soto said that the vigil will be a nightly one, for a total of nine days. 'We're praying for her, for safe travels, to be with our Lord Savior Jesus,' Soto said. A spokesperson for Mountain View Fire Rescue says an official cause could be released Tuesday or Wednesday. The family has started this GoFundMe Page to help with funeral and living expenses. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
