Dangerous TikTok Chromebook Challenge - Speak to Your Child

Dear MCPS Families,

We are writing to alert you to a potentially dangerous trend seen in social media, primarily TikTok, involving Chromebooks used in school systems across the nation. A recent trend known as the "TikTok Chromebook Challenge" encourages students to misuse or intentionally damage school-issued Chromebooks. This “Chromebook Challenge” encourages students to purposefully cause their devices to short out or catch fire by inserting metal or lead into the charging or USB port, or even piercing the device’s battery.

It is essential to recognize that the costs associated with the repair and maintenance of Chromebooks can be substantial. In a resource-limited environment, every dollar matters. Therefore, the school district feels it is important to share this information with you and seek your cooperation. We encourage you to have an open and serious discussion with your child about the concerning TikTok Chromebook Challenge. Please remind them that:

• Our school-issued Chromebooks are not just devices, they are valuable educational tools that significantly contribute to your child's learning. It's crucial that they are handled with care and respect.
• Participating in harmful social media challenges is unsafe and may carry serious consequences.
• Respect for school property, peers, and learning spaces is not just an individual responsibility but a shared expectation that we all must uphold.
• All Chromebook damage will be thoroughly investigated, and appropriate consequences will be assigned in accordance with the MCPS Student Code of Conduct. Please also note that families may be responsible for the repair or replacement costs for student-issued devices that are deliberately damaged.

We appreciate your help as we work together to encourage safe, responsible, and respectful behavior both in and outside the classroom for our students.

Montgomery County Public Schools