Staff Writer
School districts in Osceola and Lake counties are alerting parents about a troubling new social media trend that is reportedly encouraging students to intentionally damage school-issued laptops. The viral “Chromebook Challenge” has gained traction on TikTok and involves inserting sharp or metal objects into the charging ports of Chromebooks, potentially causing the devices to short circuit, spark, or catch fire.
On Wednesday, the Osceola County School District sent out a message to families, calling the trend “unacceptable” and urging parents to speak with their children about the serious risks and consequences of participating.
“We urge you to speak with your children about the repercussions of participating in such activities,” the message stated. “If your child is found to have participated in this challenge, you, as the parent, will be held financially responsible for any damages incurred.”
In addition to financial accountability, the district emphasized that students found engaging in the challenge may face disciplinary action, including expulsion. Law enforcement involvement is also possible depending on the severity of the incident.
Lake County Schools issued a similar warning, notifying parents that students participating in the challenge could face severe consequences, such as expulsion or potential criminal charges. The warning follows a brief evacuation at Mount Dora Middle School on Wednesday. District officials confirmed that the evacuation was a precautionary measure after an incident that may be connected to the challenge. There were no reports of injuries or significant property damage.
The Osceola County School District also confirmed that its IT department is reviewing laptops that have been flagged for issues to determine if the damage was caused by participation in the challenge.
Local fire departments have weighed in as well, warning that lithium-ion batteries — such as those used in Chromebooks — pose serious fire hazards. If damaged, these batteries can overheat, emit toxic fumes, or ignite quickly and burn at high temperatures.
School officials are urging families to take the matter seriously and reinforce with students the dangers and consequences associated with the challenge.
“Please take this matter seriously and discuss it with your children to prevent any harm to our students, staff and school property, and to ensure they understand the gravity of their actions,” the Osceola County district message concluded.
The situation is ongoing as school districts across Central Florida continue to monitor devices and respond to safety concerns linked to this online trend.
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