May 14, 2025
The New York State Office of Fire Prevention and Control says there is a dangerous social media trend known as the “Chromebook Challenge” that encourages students to insert lead or metal items like paper clips, pushpins, aluminum foil, and mechanical pencils into the USB port of their Chromebook forcing an electrical short circuit. “This action can result in the failure of the lithium-ion battery in the device, posing a serious fire risk and the production of large quantities of toxic and flammable vapor.” State Fire Administrator Jim Cable says, fire departments should notify his office if they get a case like this.
