Colorado students are setting Chromebooks on fire thanks to TikTok trend
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Illustration: Natalie Peeples/Axios
The hottest trend in Colorado schools right now is actually hot.
The latest: Colorado schools are warning of a new TikTok craze in which students try to set their school-issued Chromebooks on fire by sticking metal or pencils into the charging port.
Why it matters: The "Chromebook Challenge" is the latest social media stunt putting kids at risk, with more than two dozen incidents reported in Colorado's biggest school district. (Remember the Tide Pod saga or cinnamon challenge?)
State of play: As of late Thursday, Denver Public Schools received more than 30 reports of students attempting to roast their laptops, spokesperson Scott Pribble tells Axios Denver.
- Reports "range from unsuccessful attempts to events which resulted in smoke, sparks or fire," he said, noting no injuries have been reported.
- In a memo to parents obtained by Axios Denver, DPS called the trend "dangerous," warning that tampering with lithium batteries can lead to explosions, burns or full-blown building fires.
- Students caught trying it, the district said, could face discipline or even legal charges.
Zoom out: The Colorado Springs Fire Department has reported at least 16 similar incidents and says it's now working with schools to educate students — presumably on both fire safety and common sense.
- The Boulder Valley School District sent out its own warning this week after six laptop fires were linked to the trend, the Denver Gazette reports.
The big picture: The challenge has cropped up in schools nationwide and already resulted in arson charges against a 15-year-old in New Jersey.
The bottom line: TikTok fads fade fast. Here's hoping this one flames out soon.