Remember when TikTok challenges were innocent and fun? There were cute dancing videos, playing harmless jokes, and sharing laughter. Where is that Ice Bucket challenge when you need it the most?  Too mild for today’s “Like Lust” generation? It seems so.

Young people keep upping the ante of shock and awe. It’s not enough to get soaked for a cause; we have moved on to blowing things up, literally. Because yeah, what could go wrong with a little fire, toxic fumes, and an expensive school-issued Chromebook? Nothing at all… no problems there. 

Real Fires = Real Damage

So, exactly what is the latest viral stunt no one asked for or wanted? Students around the globe have taken to shoving random objects like pencils, batteries, and metal items into Chromebook USB ports to try and make them smoke up. The goal? Set off fire alarms, force evacuations, and cancel school. Yes, really.

Several high schools in Connecticut reported Chromebook fires. The batteries caught fire, producing toxic smoke. In many cases, schools don’t have insurance on intentional incidents, leaving them in the hole for the damage. And it’s just not in Connecticut. Fire and smoke from Chromebooks have come from all over: California, New Jersey, Colorado, and Texas. In New Jersey, arson charges were filed against the perp. I wonder if he’s regretting being up for this challenge now.

We get it… Sometimes kids don’t think things all the way through. The adolescent brain is still developing. But it doesn’t take adult-level reasoning to know that causing electrical fires isn’t exactly a bright idea. That’s just called being an idiot.

Is this about clout? Are likes and views worth risking lives, school resources, and thousands of dollars in damage? Apparently, for some, the answer is yes. And that’s the scariest part.

Escalation on social media

We’ve seen this kind of behavior before — from the “devious licks” challenge (where students vandalized bathrooms) to the Tide Pod challenge (which we hoped would be the last of its kind).

Recently, students had the same goal of cancelling school by flushing anything and everything down the toilet, which clogged the pipes and made using the bathroom impossible.

Let’s be honest: if you’re that desperate for a day off, just go old-school and have a ditch day for goodness’ sake. Risking an electrical fire or a plumbing disaster is just insanity at best. Not sure on what planet this ups a person’s star rating. 

And where does TikTok stand in all of this? The platform won’t let users type out words like “rape” or “abuse” in captions, but these challenges are allowed to start a dangerous trend. That’s a problem.

Recently, TikTok has taken to blocking search terms like “Chromebook Challenge.” Instead, safety videos appear. This is a good thing, but what can be done to prevent these hazardous challenges from becoming a trend in the first place? Safety guards, AI monitoring, and human awareness on social platforms must catch these trends before they become jail sentences and injuries.

What can we do?

Do we all just sit back and wait for the next viral TikTok challenge to be even scarier and more damaging? Do we just react then, or do we take steps to discourage this type of behavior NOW?

I think we can agree to the latter, but how?

  • Talk about everything social media-related. Responsible use needs to be discussed. Parents must be aware of the apps, profiles, and all social media that their children engage with. This is important and should also be addressed as part of health units in schools.
  • Model good behavior.  Children watch and emulate the behavior of their parents. If you are looking for that next like on Instagram or Facebook and are constantly glued to your phone, they will be too.
  • Remind children of their value. Likes are not love. Shares are not self-validation.. Teach them that real confidence doesn’t come from strangers on a screen but from social and emotional growth and development.
  • Monitor, monitor, monitor. It is not an invasion of privacy to make sure your child is safe on the internet. Restrictive safety guards are necessary.

Let’s stop pretending our kids can’t live without social media because “everyone’s doing it.” The old adage “kids will be kids” doesn’t hold up when destruction is disguised as entertainment.

Let’s teach them that the next trend doesn’t need to spark fear or wreck lives to matter. Use your platform to help someone, speak up, spread laughter, or actually stand for something.

Viral lasts a day or two; self-respect and worth are forever.

TikTok Chromebook Challenge: Harmless Fun? Think Again.