Safety Concern | TikTok Challenge and Chromebooks

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Dear NECSD students, families, faculty, and staff,

I am writing to inform you of a TikTok "challenge" that is circulating locally and nationally. We know students may be tempted to copy what they see on TikTok and other social media sites, but social media doesn’t always show how dangerous some of these trends can be. Previous TikTok challenges have resulted in serious injury, legal repercussions, and in some cases, death. 

This particular social media challenge encourages students to insert metal or other objects into the charging ports of Chromebooks. This reckless behavior is intended to create sparks or cause the devices to smoke, and it poses a serious threat to student safety, school, personal, and home property, and the learning environment.

The New York State Deputy State Fire Administrator for Homeland Security and Emergency Services, Luci Labriola-Cuffe, issued a statement on the Chromebook Social Media Trend.

“Tampering with the ports and mechanics of laptops is a serious fire hazard and completely unacceptable. With a new trend sweeping across social media, it is crucial parents and guardians sit down with their children to talk about this danger and put an end to this once and for all. Not only is there an enormous risk of fire when lithium-ion batteries fail, they also produce large quantities of toxic and flammable vapor.”

Tampering with any electronic devices in this way can lead to electrical fires, burns, and significant damage to the device, nearby materials, and the people who may be impacted close by or as a result of a fire alarm sounding and subsequent evacuation. These actions are not only dangerous but are also a violation of the Student Code of Conduct and may result in disciplinary action, including suspension, restitution for damages, and involvement of law enforcement.

We are taking this matter very seriously. School staff are actively monitoring devices, speaking with students about the risks, and working to ensure everyone’s safety. However, we also need your help.

By working together, we can proactively address this and prevent dangerous incidents at school and at home. We're asking families to please talk to your kids about how unsafe this activity is. Please remind your child(ren) that social media trends are not worth risking their safety, the safety of others, or their education.

If your child witnesses any concerning behavior or has knowledge of this challenge being discussed among peers, we urge them to report it to a trusted adult immediately.

Our top priority is the safety and well-being of our students, and together, we can help them make responsible choices. If you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to contact your child’s principal or our district office.

Thank you for your partnership in keeping our school community safe.

Sincerely,

Mr. Joseph McGrath, CIO, DPO
Assistant Superintendent for Information & Technology

ATTENTION: Are your scholars or colleagues doing something great? Please contact the district Communications Team at communications@necsd.net. We’d love to visit your class or event and/or post your pictures and recap to highlight the amazing accomplishments throughout our district!