Bay Area students are setting school laptops on fire in new TikTok trend, officials say
A dangerous TikTok trend is prompting warnings from school officials across the Bay Area and beyond, after a rise in incidents involving students intentionally damaging school-issued Chromebooks — some resulting in smoke, fire and costly destruction.
Known as the ' Chromebook Challenge,' the viral prank encourages students to insert metal objects such as paper clips, foil, or LED wires into the USB ports of their laptops. The goal, apparently for social media attention, is to short-circuit the devices, causing sparks, heat or flames.
Petaluma City Schools issued an alert Friday after reporting multiple cases of deliberate damage.
'This is extremely unsafe and poses a serious risk to student safety, school property, and classroom learning,' wrote Esmeralda Sanchez Moseley, assistant superintendent of student services.
She warned that any student found deliberately tampering with a Chromebook would be held financially responsible for repairs or replacements, which can cost up to $350, and would face disciplinary consequences under the California Education Code.
On Thursday, the Livermore Valley Joint Unified School District in the East Bay issued a similar warning.
'We take this issue very seriously as it can not only result in the destruction of valuable school property, but more importantly, poses significant personal safety risks including the potential for electric shock, burns or other injuries,' the district said in a letter.
In Connecticut, Newington High School was evacuated after a student's Chromebook caught fire. In Arizona, a middle school classroom was briefly closed due to smoke and burning plastic, and in New Jersey, a 15-year-old student faces arson charges for allegedly setting a device on fire.
Officials say that beyond the financial impact, the trend carries serious health and safety risks. Damaged lithium-ion batteries — standard in Chromebooks — can overheat rapidly, potentially reaching temperatures above 1,000 degrees Fahrenheit.
Fire officials in Maryland and Texas have warned that the consequences could include burns, toxic fumes, or widespread property damage.
'We urge all families to speak with their students about the dangers and seriousness of this issue,' Moseley added. 'While platforms like TikTok can be creative and fun, they can also promote harmful or misleading trends.'
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