topic Re: TikTok trend for chromebooks in Peer-Peer Topics

TikTok trend for chromebooks

ddelboccio — Wed, 07 May 2025 19:25:13 GMT

Hello!

Has anyone experienced this new TikTok trend where students are forcing objects into the USB ports of devices, potentially causing short circuits and fires?

Has anyone proactively sent out communications to parents warning the dangers and consequences to these types of social media trends?

Re: TikTok trend for chromebooks

kaned — Wed, 07 May 2025 19:35:29 GMT

Neighboring districts sent out some communication to staff and parents today.

I sent something out today to our staff. I wasn't expecting the response I got back with kids already doing this. I can tell you that I do not have any incidents of smoke, fire, or other, but supposedly I have students attempting this according to my staff.

Re: TikTok trend for chromebooks

jduerst — Wed, 07 May 2025 19:43:21 GMT

We shared a message with families today after reports that some students may have attempted this TikTok trend on their Chromebooks. I’ve also alerted all staff to be vigilant and watch for any students attempting this behavior during class or passing periods.

Re: TikTok trend for chromebooks

Justin_W — Wed, 07 May 2025 19:44:50 GMT

Anyone care to share their communications they are sending out?

Or a link to something formal/official looking regarding this "trend"?

Re: TikTok trend for chromebooks

jduerst — Wed, 07 May 2025 19:46:48 GMT

This is the communication we sent home to families.

Subject: Urgent Safety Alert – Chromebook Misuse Trend

Hello,

We want to make you aware of a dangerous trend currently circulating on TikTok that has unfortunately made its way into our schools. Several students have reported attempting inserting pencil lead or other conductive materials into Chromebook charging ports or USB slots in an effort to make the device smoke or short out.

This behavior is extremely dangerous. It poses a serious risk of injury, permanently damages the Chromebook, and could potentially start a fire. In addition to safety concerns, this type of damage voids the device warranty and leaves families financially responsible for repair or replacement.

We have already sent an email to all students clearly outlining the dangers of this behavior, along with a reminder that anyone found intentionally damaging school-issued devices will be responsible for replacement or repair of the device.

We are asking for your help. Please speak with your child about the seriousness of this issue. Let them know this is not a harmless prank—it’s a safety hazard with real and lasting consequences.

If you have any concerns or hear anything from your child related to this trend, please don’t hesitate to contact us. Together, we can help keep our students safe and protect valuable school resources.

Thank you for your support.

Re: TikTok trend for chromebooks

papennat — Wed, 07 May 2025 22:15:50 GMT

Thank you for sharing this - would you also be willing to share the communication you sent to students?

Re: TikTok trend for chromebooks

PatrickM — Wed, 07 May 2025 22:19:02 GMT

Need another button other than "Kudos" ... while I give kudos for sharing that information, I want to have a sad emoji face instead as this post is disappointing that students are being this malicious.

Re: TikTok trend for chromebooks

Olger — Wed, 07 May 2025 22:56:02 GMT

Pfff. Back in the early ninetees I worked for a university with computer classrooms. An entire classroom would be set up with computers (desktops and goog old CRT monitors), all connected with coax. For those that don't know (it is a while ago now) coax is a long black cable that runs as a single length from computer to computer (unlike UTP which is point to point). Each computer would have a T-connector on the network card onto which the coax cable would connect and continue with another cable at the other end. At the beginning and end of the coax run would be cable terminators.

We continously ran around trying to find which connector had been loosened and pulled back slightly so that there would be a break in the cable, and the entire run wouldn't work. It wasn't destructive as such, but it did waste time for a lot of students and teachers.

Here's a museum page of what that looked like: http://www.networkmuseum.net/2011/05/coax.html

Re: TikTok trend for chromebooks

jduerst — Wed, 07 May 2025 22:58:58 GMT

This is what we sent to students.

Dear Students,

We’ve learned of a harmful trend on social media that encourages inserting pencil lead or other materials into Chromebook ports to cause them to smoke. This behavior is extremely dangerous and permanently damages the device.

Please know: intentionally damaging school property is a serious offense. Anyone involved will face disciplinary action and will be held financially responsible for repairs or replacement.

Take care of your device, think before you act, and help keep our school safe. If you see or hear of this happening, report it to a staff member right away.

Re: TikTok trend for chromebooks

ddelboccio — Thu, 08 May 2025 12:39:03 GMT

Thanks for all the great responses so far!

My serious question remains whether anyone has seen this first hand in your own districts?

I'm just wondering how much this is a "real" thing versus, a "viral" thing?

I do not doubt it has happened somewhere, but I also have a legitimate concern over sending out messages to parents and students and whether that might incite the action further. No? Would this be inviting students to try this by sending out the communications?

Re: TikTok trend for chromebooks

papennat — Thu, 08 May 2025 12:44:44 GMT

Unfortunately, yes - we have one confirmed instance from Monday and a second suspected instance.

Re: TikTok trend for chromebooks

jduerst — Thu, 08 May 2025 12:45:37 GMT

We have also had a few instances of this happening which is why we sent out the communication.

Re: TikTok trend for chromebooks

kaned — Thu, 08 May 2025 12:47:58 GMT

Once I sent out the report to staff I got immediate responses back about students doing this, but it sounds like there has not been any hardware related issues on my Dell computers... At least not yet...

We do not have any increased hardware tickets open as of yet either.

We have seen this as early as 2012 which forced a immediate reboot of our netbooks. It's not new, it's just received the attention of social media.

Re: TikTok trend for chromebooks

mknelson — Thu, 08 May 2025 14:17:43 GMT

We also had this happen in our school yesterday. Paper clip in an outlet = four classrooms lost power and at least one report of a student putting a paperclip in their charging port.

Re: TikTok trend for chromebooks

Scott — Thu, 08 May 2025 14:21:51 GMT

I sent out a notice to our building admins but so far we have not sent home any communication to families. We've only had one reported case at this point in time.

Re: TikTok trend for chromebooks

clarkk — Thu, 08 May 2025 15:31:55 GMT

We had 4 with chromebooks yesterday at middle school. Assistant principal made an announcement over the speakers and sent home an email to all parents. District office also notified.

Re: TikTok trend for chromebooks

ddelboccio — Thu, 08 May 2025 15:56:52 GMT

Paperclip in an AC electrical (wall) outlet!!!!! How did the student not get shocked??!!??

Re: TikTok trend for chromebooks

mknelson — Thu, 08 May 2025 16:05:58 GMT

I have no idea! Maintenance and admin had no idea what had happened until a parent called and reported that their child saw it happen. I do recall my sons who are now grown, talking about students doing that in their high school in 2017-2019.

Re: TikTok trend for chromebooks

MattDPenn — Thu, 08 May 2025 17:40:36 GMT

No known cases in my district as far as I'm aware but I've been at our Elementary campus most of the week where that kind of issue is less likely to happen. I warned my boss earlier this week when I saw the first reports elsewhere start rolling in. Seeing lots of reports on other forums and at least a handful from other districts in my county.

Re: TikTok trend for chromebooks

mpartenope4676 — Fri, 09 May 2025 15:49:30 GMT

This happened in my own kids' district at the High School earlier this week forcing an early dismissal due to a section of the school filling with smoke. Fire fighters came and police and the arson specialist. State ed sent out a communication today to watch out even if it wasn't successful. I'm not an electrician though, how can we tell?!?! From an article about my kids' school.

The deputy state fire administrator released the following statement:

“Tampering with the ports and mechanics of laptops is a serious fire hazard and completely unacceptable. With a new trend sweeping across social media, it is crucial parents and guardians sit down with their children to talk about this danger and put an end to this once and for all. Not only is there an enormous risk of fire when lithium-ion batteries fail, they also produce large quantities of toxic and flammable vapor.”