School districts nationwide are sounding the alarm about a dangerous new social media
trend
This has led to school evacuations and left parents facing substantial replacement costs.
The viral “Chromebook Challenge” encourages students to intentionally damage school-issued laptops by inserting pencils, paperclips, and other objects into charging ports. This causes electrical shorts that can lead to sparks, smoke, and even flames.
Last week, Newington High School in Connecticut was evacuated when one such incident triggered fire alarms, disrupting classes and putting hundreds of students at risk.
Chad McGahey, the Chief Technology Officer at Belton ISD, stated, “We track these developments via multiple avenues—including continuous dialogue with district administrators, our team members, and additional social media platforms. We typically become concerned when such tendencies result in harm to students or cause damage to school district assets.”
School officials emphasize that these aren’t just expensive gadgets—they are critical educational tools many families cannot afford.
“Individual computers are essential for enabling students to have personalized learning and also giving them access to digital resources as well as helping them learn digital literacy skills,” McGahey explained.
The economic repercussions of joining this trend are significant. If Chromebooks get damaged irreparably, which is highly likely due to this challenge, the entire replacement cost must be borne by the families involved.
“In Belton ISD, a total device loss, which this trend would likely incur, would be a $300 replacement cost. And if a student intentionally damages district property, it would be a $300 fine per district policy,” McGahey said.
Beyond the financial impact, school and fire safety officials are concerned about the physical dangers posed by the challenge.
If damaged, lithium-ion batteries, which are commonly used in Chromebooks, can heat up to over 1,000 degrees Fahrenheit, posing risks of serious injuries from burns or even igniting major fires.
Districts nationwide send urgent notifications to parents, warning them about the challenge and reminding families about the technology usage agreements signed at the beginning of the school year.
Parents are advised to keep an eye on their kids’ social media usage and stress the real-life repercussions of engaging in online challenges that can lead to harm or destruction of property.
