TikTok “Prank” Endangers Students

A Breathitt County Middle School student is facing charges after he caused a laptop computer to overheat and catch fire on a school bus on May 21.

The unnamed juvenile, reported as an eighth grader, was detained following the event, and the full details have not been released due to the student's age.

Witnesses on the bus said that the student “shoved a pencil lead-like object” into the computer's USB port, mimicking the recent “Chromebook Challenge,” a national TikTok trend that has caused intentional damage to hundreds of computers and school property.

Breathitt County Schools Superintendent Philip Watts updated parents and school stakeholders in an official release later that afternoon.

“This afternoon, a student on a bus leaving BHS engaged in intentional conduct which caused his Chromebook and backpack to catch on fire.” Watts wrote.  “This conduct copies a recent growing trend on social media, but it is very dangerous, and it is a crime.”

Watts credited the fast action of several students on the bus who opened an emergency exit and threw the smoking Chromebook and backpack off the bus.  Witnesses said that the bus driver and monitor took control of the situation and “kept the students calm.”

The incident was immediately reported to law enforcement, and the school pledged to fully cooperate with law enforcement as they investigate and follow through with any potential prosecution.  

“We were fortunate this afternoon that no one was injured,” Watts said.  “We appreciate the students and employees who ensured that outcome.”

Other school districts in Kentucky have reported issues in the past few weeks since the “Challenge” started during the first week of May.  The Perry County School System reported seven damaged laptops.  The TikTok trend has led to the evacuation of schools in Jessamine and Fayette Counties.  Other issues have been reported in Oldham, Hardin, and Bullitt Counties. 

The trend dares students to short-circuit their Chromebook computers by inserting objects into the laptop’s ports, usually resulting in smoke, immense heat, fires, and possible explosions.

The number of charges and the nature of the charges have not been released because of his juvenile status.  No other “Challenge” issues have been reported in Breathitt County.