Westport Schools Warn of Deadly TikTok Challenge Involving Chromebooks

WESTPORT (WFHN) — As lithium battery fires become more common, one SouthCoast school system has decided to put out a warning about a growing trend they are seeing on TikTok that has the potential to turn deadly. Parents are encouraged to read this warning and share this information with your school-aged children.

Growing Concern Over TikTok Challenge Involving Chromebooks

Westport Public Schools issued a warning Friday morning about a dangerous TikTok challenge that is spreading on social media. Superintendent Thomas Aubin wrote that the TikTok challenge involves Chromebooks. The objective of the challenge is to encourage students to short-circuit their laptops.

According to Aubin, students try inserting items like paper clips, pencil graphite, pushpins, folded gum wrappers or aluminum foil into the USB port. The result can cause the device to smoke or even catch on fire.

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Lithium-Ion Battery Fires and the Risks They Pose

The Westport Fire Department says the lithium-ion batteries that power laptops are filled with flammable liquid that can ignite and explode in a fire. The risk of explosion is elevated if the battery is damaged, overcharged or exposed to extreme temperatures.

Toxic gases are also a concern from fires involving lithium-ion batteries. The risk from exposure to these fires and gases ranges from injury to death.

READ MORE: Local Nurses Warn of Dangers of TikTok's "Benadryl Challenge"

The Legal Consequences of Damaging School Issued Chromebooks

There is also concern that school children won’t properly dispose of a Chromebook that has suffered damage due to the challenge.

Superintendent Aubin noted that intentionally damaging a school-issued Chromebook is a crime.