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2d ago

Plainville Student Hospitalized After TikTok-Inspired Chromebook Fire

The middle schooler faces juvenile court charges as schools and TikTok address the dangers of a destructive viral trend.

The image is a split-screen composite. On the left side, a school classroom scene shows a Chromebook placed on a desk emitting thick white smoke, with a student standing nearby—suggesting an ongoing battery fire. On the right side, a close-up of a smartphone screen displays the TikTok app with 99 notifications, referencing the viral nature of the trend behind the incident. Together, the image captures the real-world dangers of a destructive social media challenge spreading through TikTok.
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Middle School of Plainville in Plainville CT. (Google)

Overview

  • A Plainville middle school student was hospitalized for smoke inhalation after intentionally setting a Chromebook on fire using scissors, following a TikTok challenge.
  • The incident triggered a fire alarm and evacuation; no other injuries were reported, and classes resumed within an hour.
  • The student will be referred to juvenile court and may face criminal charges for the act, according to school officials.
  • This dangerous TikTok trend, which encourages students to insert metallic objects into Chromebook ports, has led to similar incidents in Connecticut and across the U.S.
  • TikTok has begun removing videos related to the challenge and blocking associated terms as schools issue safety warnings and enforce disciplinary measures.