Police: Belleville High School student charged with arson following TikTok trend
The trend encourages students to insert lead or metal objects such as paper clips, pushpins, aluminum foil, or mechanical pencils into the USB ports of their Chromebooks, deliberately causing electrical short circuits.
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The latest TikTok trend has one New Jersey high schooler charged with arson.
It's called the “Chromebook Challenge" where kids intentionally set their laptops on fire using something like a mechanical pencil.
Fire departments from New Jersey and across the country are warning that this poses a serious risk of electrical shock or fire.
The trend encourages students to insert lead or metal objects such as paper clips, pushpins, aluminum foil, or mechanical pencils into the USB ports of their Chromebooks, deliberately causing electrical short circuits.
Belleville police say Thursday morning they found a charred Chromebook at the Belleville High School.
Police believe a staff member saw the smoking computer and removed it from the classroom. All staff and students had to be evacuated from the high school.
Belleville police say a 15-year-old Belleville high schooler purposely manipulated their Chromebook, taking part in this trending social media challenge.
That student has been charged with third degree arson and criminal mischief.
