What Happened?
A disturbing and dangerous social media trend has triggered multiple school evacuations across Connecticut, leaving state officials, school districts, and parents deeply concerned about student safety and the influence of viral internet content.
The trend, reportedly dubbed the “Chromebook Challenge,” involves students deliberately inserting conductive objects—such as paperclips, scissors, or staples—into the charging ports of school-issued Chromebooks. The act can cause the devices to short-circuit, overheat, or in some cases, emit smoke or catch fire.
The Incidents
One of the most serious incidents occurred earlier this week at the Middle School of Plainville. A student inserted a pair of scissors into a Chromebook, which led to a small fire and smoke spreading inside the classroom. The school was immediately evacuated, and the student was taken to the hospital for smoke inhalation. According to NBC Connecticut, the student will face juvenile charges for intentionally causing the fire.
Similar evacuations were reported at multiple other schools including Southington High School, Cromwell High School, Derby High School, and Newington High School. In Newington, Superintendent Dr. Maureen Brummett confirmed the cause of the incident was a student’s deliberate interference with a Chromebook device. “It was determined that it was a deliberate act,” she said, as reported by NBC Connecticut.
Official Warnings
The Connecticut State Fire Marshal’s office issued a statewide warning on Thursday, urging schools and families to take the issue seriously. “Fire can become uncontrolled and turn deadly in just a few seconds,” said State Fire Marshal Lauri Volkert. Connecticut Fire Administrator Jeff Morrissette added that these types of viral “challenges” can result in serious injury or death and significant damage to school property. Their joint statement was published by the Connecticut Department of Administrative Services.
Platform Response and Next Steps
The social media platform TikTok has taken action by blocking searches for the term “Chromebook Challenge.” Attempts to search the phrase now redirect users to the platform’s community guidelines page. This update was first cited by WFSB Eyewitness News.
School officials are now taking preventive measures. Several districts have begun reviewing Chromebook usage policies, and some have warned students that any tampering with school-issued devices will result in serious disciplinary consequences.
Authorities are also calling on parents to be more proactive. “We’re urging parents to talk to their children about the dangers of following online trends without understanding the risks,” said Brummett, who emphasized the role of family communication and digital awareness.
As Connecticut works to prevent further incidents, the “Chromebook Challenge” serves as a chilling reminder of how quickly viral content can translate into real-world harm, especially in school environments.
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