A viral TikTok challenge where students jam metal objects into the USB port on their Chromebook is causing concern. The act makes computers smoke and could lead to a significant fire. PC: Fox 11 Online
OCONTO, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — A dangerous social media trend where students intentionally try to make their Chromebooks smoke has caught the eye of school administrators in Oconto.
The district is taking a proactive approach in an effort to prevent a tragedy.
Each of the 300 students at Oconto Senior High School have district-issued Chromebooks they take home every day. A recent trend making its way through social media involving these devices has school officials concerned.
“You don’t know how the conducting for the fire is going to spark, and if it’s going to cause just smoke or if there’s actually going to be other reaction, and how fast people react to that could cause damage to a person or to a building,” said OUSD Superintendent Emily Miller.
The district sent communication to families about situations where students are tampering with their Chromebooks in a way that poses a serious fire and safety risk.
“We try to do preventative measures to make sure people are not doing that, but always you worry about, ‘Let’s bring an idea to somebody’s head and they’re going to try it,'” Miller said. “But possibly, the other side of that is making those people that are around the person aware this could happen.”
The trend, going viral on TikTok, shows students forcing paperclips, push pins, mechanical pencils and other metal objects into the USB port of their Chromebooks. The action causes a short circuit, which can lead to a serious fire risk.
“The device will begin to smoke, possibly start the lithium battery on fire in there, and if you’ve ever seen a lithium battery start on fire, it’s a very scary situation. It’s a very dangerous thing to do,” said Scott Boucher, the district’s IT director.
While no #ChromebookChallenge incidents have happened locally, Oconto school officials hope families have conversations about just how dangerous it can be.
“Jamming something in it and quickly pulling you out, you might get a little spark and a little smoke, but a lot of them are jamming things in it and they can’t get it out, and once that happens, it’s too fast. By the time they run to get mom and dad, it could be too late,” added Boucher.
In addition to sending communication home, high school staff also discussed the alarming trend with students.
You can read Miller’s full letter below.
Dear OUSD Families,
We are reaching out to share an important and urgent safety concern that has been impacting schools across the country, including a number of districts in our region. This week, we became aware of a disturbing trend circulating on social media platforms, particularly TikTok, which encourages students to tamper with school-issued Chromebook chargers in a way that poses a serious fire and safety risk.
According to this recent news report out of Connecticut, the trend involves inserting a piece of metal-such as a coin-partially into a Chromebook charger while it is plugged in. This action can cause sparks, fires, electrical damage, and even personal injury. Several school districts have already reported incidents resulting in damage to devices and the triggering of fire alarms. Fortunately, no serious injuries have been reported yet, but the potential for harm is significant.
We ask that you take a few moments to speak with your child about this trend. Please emphasize:
The serious danger it presents to their safety and the safety of others.
The long-term consequences of participating in such behavior-including possible disciplinary action and restitution for damaged property.
The importance of using technology responsibly and making wise choices both online and offline.
At Oconto Unified School District, student safety is our highest priority. We are actively monitoring for this behavior and will respond firmly to any incidents involving this dangerous activity. In the meantime, our staff is also speaking with students about the risks and reinforcing expectations for safe and responsible use of school-issued devices.
If you have any questions or concerns, or if your child has information related to this issue, we encourage you to contact your building principal or reach out to us directly.
Thank you for your partnership in keeping our students safe and informed.
Emily Miller, Superintendent
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