Teenage energy can create fun, jokes but sometimes even chaos. And recent teenage activities in schools across the country have moved the fun toward some serious issues that concern the school authorities and students. A social media trend shows students using pencil leads and other sharp objects to poke Chromebook ports until the computer short-circuits and catches fire.
This TikTok trend is not like other trends like the elite tags or the ice bucket challenge. This trend can result in the destruction of school Chromebooks in a matter of seconds, which is dangerous.
“I saw this trend on Instagram,” said sophomore Luis Chicaiza. “It might look fun, but some bad things can happen in school. Your friends can influence you to do it.” He thinks getting the trend to be viral makes it happen in the classroom.
Assistant principal Tene Kelly said, “This type of occurrence is a level five infraction and it could lead to a principal suspension, or a superintendent suspension. Teens are not thinking through the concepts.”
School tech expert Joseph Diodato learned about this trend from social media and other teachers who work with technology. “It is concerning as people do it without considering possible consequences,” he said. “It is not only a loss of money, it is a safety issue. I’m glad I never saw this in our school.”
He wants the students to learn about the laptops and its proper uses. “The consequences depend as the burning can be toxic,” he said.
Such incidents disrupt school and create fire hazards. For example, the New York Times reported a case where the fire department had to respond to a fire incident in a school in New Jersey after a student tried to destroy a Chromebook.
Chancellor Melissa Aviles-Ramos is working with schools to ensure the trend doesn’t take hold in NYC schools.
“As always, the safety of our students, staff, and school communities is our top priority,” she said. “We take any behavior that endangers others or damages school property extremely seriously. Students who deliberately destroy school-issued devices will face disciplinary action in accordance with the discipline code. We are working with our school leaders on how to inform their students about the serious consequences of participating in these harmful online trends.”
